Evening star., 1923-01-07

is suspected of ability to lay
golden eggs.
At least, it is expected to.
England would feed it. then gently
shoe it into quietude where it might
perform its mission unmolested.
France would grab the emaciated
fowl by the tail feathers, hang on, and
demand that golden fruits be de-
posted in extended hand, instanter
Respective merits of the two plans
again have thrown Europe into a
quandry. 1t has become the issue
that has separated England and
France to pursue respective policies
Entire nations may continue to be
torn by the question, and nations yet
may crumble, for it would appear
that Poincare is going to worry the
goose and keep tail feathers, if moth
ing else.
Bonar Law, back in London defeat
ed in his efforts to pursue more
moderate courses, almost can be heard
to humble:
And, that's all you will get"
Period of Anxiety at Hand.
In other words, Germany, the goose.
Is IN for trying times. France is in
Tor a period of anxiety while enforc-
Ing sanctions against Germany which
may ALLEVIATE the sympathies of prac-
tically all OF the larger powers and
cause tremendous upheavaIs through
out Germany which may bring
eventual economic and financial COL
a.
countries. but herself as well.
The reparations conference between
the premiers OF allied countries in
Paris during the past week was no
more fruitful of than the many that
peace conference. which was ushered
IN early in 1919. Since the great
treaty was signed at Versailles the
reparations problem has been a run
nlns sore Various premiers have at
tempted TO approach the question
with the hope OF establishing some
definite plan through which disor-
ganized Germany might pay her lust
ooligations to the allies. The most
recent parley was less productiye
than all others, and left the allies
IN position of pursuing their re-
"pectlVe ways In so far as strictly
continental policies are concerned.
* was not so much a question as
noth premiers practically agreeing
mat bo.oo0.0O0.0o0 gold marks might
be fair mark to shoot at. but fhe
Sritlsh plan for extended moratorium
Sntees on Germany wrecked the con
ference. for Poincare. following in
line OF his oft-repeated assertions
and backed by the general demands
~ -. tne french people. insisted that
the hour had come for France to
stand firm for tangible guarantees
IN other words, he took the starI
!hat the allies should show their
teeth and prevent further German
proerastination-that if the alias
could not do this in accord tben
France would be forced to proceed
win the task OF showing Germony
hne meant business. adopting her own
methods to the procedure.
Bonar Law Plan FIouted.
The British plan presen+ad h.
Bonar Law, and prepared af,e- ~.
tenslVe consideration. involving as il
o'n chance for Germany to more
QUICKLY revise her financial and eco
nonlc system, was fiouted bv Tho
French. and. naturally, Bonar Taw
nad little else to do than to nick nm
ms baggage and move back to 1on
oon. with the admonition that Fr.rc.
SEouLo take the whole responsibiIitv
tn9 general propositions OF enfo-cad
roItectlon or German reparations n,+.
Poincare and France at The cp pues
roaos. England stands not alone in
us.s Ehs ing tnat II the French perpet-
uate .e their tenure in the RhineIand
through economic or fnanciaI go,
missions designed to collect fbroInh
customs systems, moneys owed by
6ermany. or should she seize the
Ruhr: France is letting herself in for
bad hours. Al ior
Many distinguished French leaders
are or the same opinion. Poincare
evidently will try to compronis Use he
"een the military influences demand
lns out-and-out military occupation.
ana that group which would sane"
fion no more than customs collections
from German industries and nafurai
resources: Poincare has insisted that
no more troops Will be used than are
necessary to protect French collection /
agencies.
When Crisis VIII Come.
But the crisis will not come with
the immediate application of French
VIII, no matter how the method &c |
applied. 1t will come when the Ger
mans Immediately settle down to or
ganized resistance to French dictates |
This will come as surely as the sun !
rises and sets.
Already high German officials have
declared that Germany will resist m |
the last through under-production |
and sabotage. Everywhere the French
VIII hnd that the Germans are pro-
ducIng little or nothing. j.,
In addition to this failure to collect |
the sums which il has been estimated |
by the French as capable of collec-
tion, any French incursion after the |
fifteenth OF January will completely
wreck the German financial system |
Germany's whole financial fabric is |
worn SO thin that it may be torn
asunder at any moment. Printing
presses are working day and night |
adding to the tremendous heaps of !
almost worthless currency turned out !
1t can be imagined to what lowIy |
depths the mark will sink when the
French apply their sanctions. The |
whole OF Germany will be. as a sham |
bles. economically and financially !
speaking.
Industries unable to obtain raw ma (,
terials abroad. owing to the decline Of |
the mark, Will be forced to close. Co.
ing industries able to create export !
surpluses are the naturalk means of !
creating funds to pay the total rep
industries in Germany will come gen.
olutionary steps as have been planned |
by both the parties of the right and |
lSft-
Loxa t>aox-