Evening star., 1923-01-21
ENGLAND WORRIED
BY RUHR SEIZURE
Washes Hands of French
Policy, Bat Fears Dissolu-
tion Of Europe.
BY A. j. GARDINER,
England's Greatest Liberal Editor


BY Cable to The Star. Copyright 1928
LONDON. January 90. Having
washed her hands of the French pol
icy of aggression, England watches
with mingled feelings the progress
OF the stranglehold on the Ruhr.
Events have deepened the impress
sion that France Is embarked on an
enterprise that cannot produce. the
economic results contemplated. but
must result in the complete dissolu-
tion of Europe through the disinte-
grafton Of Germany.
The immediate. interest is directed
TO the question whether France can
capture the German workers and d.
vide them. Since the German gov
ernment and the Ruhr employers re-
fuse to help the invaders, the ques-
ton arises whether the French can
induce the workers to. labor under
their orders. In other words. the
triotism with starvation or work
with plenty.
Hunger Powerful Argument.
Hunger is q powerful argument
and IL Is not sure whether patriotism
can long resist so formidable an al
Tentative. Moreover, the Ruhr miners
are not representative Of Germany.
They include an immense population
Of Polish and other nationalities who
are out of sympathy with Germany
and sn are ep,axs rsssnsfui sssinss E,. the Ger.
making a powerful play on these
facts and are promising the miners
very much improved conditions as an
inducement to work.
Whatever is the success or failure
Nt1s
concerned. the economic starvation
OF Germany 10 assured. That nation
has only three sources Of supply SO
Tar as coal power Is concerned--the
Saare. silesia and the Ruhr. Upon
them depends the wltole industrial
in control OF France. In the pres
ence Of this power Of economic stran-
gulation. the political solidarity Of
Germany goes.
France Seeks German Disselutson,
France Is in the position to realise
her long dream to break up the Ger.
man Empire into fragments. 1t can
inces. break with Berlin and you shall
have COAL" and they must do 80.
With Germany baikanized like
Austfis, the French domination of
Europe west Of the vistula Is COM
piete. She has secured q practical
monopoly Of the coal and iron OF the
continent, a monopoly OF all arma-
ment factories, more unchallenged
military power than Napoleon had at
the zenith OF his career.
There are only two flies in the
ointment.
Can she wiring enough out Of bank
rupt Europe to meet the terrific costs
and stave off her own bankruptcy,
with budget showing q deficit Of
four thousand million francs?
Has she sufficient man power to
sustain the conquest of Europe?
On the latter point her policy Is
clear. Napoleon conscripted italians.
Poles. Germans and spahiardSs Poin-
care conscripts Africans There is
an enormous reserve OF black and
brown mon for the maintenance Of
French domination in Europe,
This situation has created profound
disquiet among the English people.
It is becoming apparent that the
having black troops. In Europe Is
not q passing incident. but - part
of q permanent policy for supplying
tho deficiencies of the French popu-
lation and making the French mill
tary position secure for all time.
Rule by Afrieans 0minsas. :
The prospect Of Europe being ruled
hy African levies creates an ominous
outlook. Europe has been the cock
pit Of racial antagonisms. but never
hitherto has been afiicted with the
color question. Will Europe perms- :