San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-02-16
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1t will probably be long time before
Americans can obtain consistently trust
worthy information concerning the Ell
feet in the broadest sense, of the French
occupation OF the Ruhr region. 1t VIII
be comparatively easy to ascertain WHAT
the French are attempting to do. Ihey
seem to take pride in telling the world
about their activities in Germany-the
Germans themselves must not be per-
mitted to think that the French VIII
leave any stone unturned IN their DEBT
collecting enterprise.
But the French, having undertaken to
do certain thing, and against the couh-
sci of the British, at that may be eN-
pected TO exaggerate whatever degree OF
success they may attain in that venture
They may proceed upon the philosophy,
that nothing succeeds like success.
What's the good OF producing Coue
If France is not to make use OF the
facilities he has offered for mans I'M
prpvement? As long as France appears
to be succeeding in her Ruhr project,
the greater the chance that she may sue
coed.
Thus might the British be impressed,
and consequently withdraw moral OPP
position to the French method OF col
iecting from Germany. II the tide OF
appearances should be reversed-it
France should seem to be failing IN her
Ruhr project-British opposition might
assume a more positive nature. There
fore. it is Frances cue to follow Coue-
at least whenever she is talking for
publication" Day by day in every way
She is getting more efficient as a bill
collector-to hear her tell it.
But on the same day-recently-that
the French announced the Perfecting OF
their plans to prevent leakages OF coal
from the Ruhr region into other parts
of Germany, the Berlin government was
reported to be Dragging that it was get
ting more coal from that source than
were the French. Americans have no
way of ascertaining whether this is true,
or whether it contains any element OF
truth whatever.
However, the motive for such claim
is obvious, irrespective of whether the
claim itself be true or false. 1t is similar
to the apparent motive of the French
Whereas the French might render their
task less difficult by making the world
believe that they were successfully per-
forming it, the Germans might produce
the opposite effect, and possibly cause
the French to fail entirely, by making
the world believe that the invaders were
unable to get what they came for.
In either case-the French or thc
German-actualities would count fo
naught so long as the outside worlc
could be kept in ignorance of them
Even if the French were succeeding
the belief on the part Of the outside
world that they were failing would tenc
to have an adverse effect upon the ulti
mate outcome of their venture. AnC
even if the Germans should be getting
most of the coal that is being takel
from the Ruhr region, the outsid
worlds disbelief OF that fact would pro
mote the cause of the French.
Therefore, Americans might do wei
to take with a pinch Of salt whateve
claims either the French or the German
may make concerning the effect of tn
Ruhr occupation project. 1t might say
them from marveling, afterwards, d
their own Credulity.
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