Evening star., 1923-03-09
HANDS OF WORLD
T|EDIN RUHR ROW
United States and England
Feel Gratuitous Interven-
tion Would Be RepuIsed.
FRENCH BEHIND POINCARE
Believed Here Both Sides Will Wei.
come Good Chance to Break
Deadlock.
FRENCH BEHIND POINCARE
BY FREDERIC WILLIAM VILE.


Tomorrow, March 10, marks the sec
ond month of the occupation of the
| Ruhr. 1t finds both France and Ger
many with their teeth set Grim French
determination faces bulldog German
resistance. Each side undoubtedly is
eager for a development that would
! break the deadlock. But at the end of
| as they were the day the French be-
came masters of the Ruhr. The situa-
| tion, as viewed in Washington, is 50
| tense and so full of incalculable posi-
| blitleS that no one in authorty-Ameri-
can. French or German-cares to risk
d prophecy of what is immediately inn
pending. All that competent observers
| VIII say is that developments leading
| to a settlement may ensue any hour
with dramatic suddenneSs. or that the
deadlock may be prolonged for weeks
or months There has been no crisis
quite like the Ruhr war in interna-
| tional history.
The United States government con-
siders that the continuance of the
tranco-German impasse vindicates our
| hands OFF, policy. Exactly what
America feels and would say about the
Ruhr. IL Secretary Hughes had been
addressing Congress this week instead
I Of Bonar Law addressing the house of
commons in London, is epitomized by
the following passage i'll the British
premiers speech:
Public Opinion Necessary.
There is no use in the govern
ment's attempting 10 do anything un-
less there is public opinion behind
il. A great deal has been said about
the governments lack of policy. Well.
at this moment the government has
nothing which it can propose to
nj rirf,t i,,,N
ting before the interested parties any
plan of settlement that is not certain
TO be accepted. 1t may be that to
have no policy is bad, but to have
policy which cannot succeed and
which is in itself bad might be even
worse. At this moment France would
deeply resent any attempt at medi-
alton"
The Bonar Law statement ex-
presses the view Of the Harding ad-
ministration m, in letter and spirit.
There is lacking only one thought,
though 1t Is implied in the premier's
remarks. That is. that if France in
dicates readiness to accept outside
mediation, such helpfulness, at least
as far as the United States is con-
cerned, is on tap. British co-opera-
tion, in such an eventuality. is as
sured. Whenever there is interven-
tion in the Ruhr-at the joint request
of both France and Germany-it is
bound to be Anglo-American. With
out any formal diplomatic steps to
that end. the two EngIish-speaking
governments see eye to eye anent the
Ruhr, and at the proper time will
march shoulder to shoulder toward
solution.
American Intervention has not ceased
Both at the White House and the
State Department it echoes in a va
rlety OF forms. There are a good
many people, among them supporters
of the administration, who think it is
making mistake in not publicly
setting forth--as the British premier
has done-why it is the United States
can do nothing. The cabinet knows
why: the members of Congress inter-
ested in foreign affairs know why;
plenty Of newspapermen in Washing
ton know why, and others, whose
business it is to be "in the know" un-
derstand the administrations posi-
ton. But the country at large does
not; meantime Mr.. Harding and Mr..
Hughes continue to be berated for
do nothingism" in the European
crisis.
No Sign of Weakening.
AT this hour the United States sees
no categorical sign of weakening Ell
ther at Berlin or Paris. Chancellor
Cunos speech in the reichstag on
Tuesday evoked unanimous support
in Germany. Premier Poincare con
tinues to command the greatest unan-
unity IN the French chamber of depu-
ties and in the country that France
mas exhlplted since the ar1nistice.
Ihere are suggestions from Paris
that NJ. BRAND. deposed from the
premiership by NJ. Poincare on a rep.
aratlons issue, is sharpening his AK
and preparing to undermine the gov
ernments Ruhr policy If it does not
produce results reasonably soon. But
to date Poincare represents a united
France. French honor and national
sentiment are engaged to the nth
degree. Every Frenchman knows
that 1T has cost the republic already
many times more than any "repara-
tions" resultant from the occupation
But the Gallo rooster has his spurs
sunk deeply in the German eagles
back and is loathe to withdraw them
without tangible evidence of vic
tory
Meantime America cannot move to
help either party. If we did any,
thing that seemed to favor France
the Germans would roar. II we\ made
a move that seemed like pressure
on France the French would object.
The United States thinks remon-
strances from either side would be
Justified by unsought Intervention.
When we were in the early stages
of our conflict with Spain in 1898 the
German governments attempt to or
ganize a European coalition on be-
half of the Spanish grievously Of
Tended America. If the attempt had
been successful Uncle Sam would
willingly have taken on a whole
flock Of old world enemies.
high official of the administra-
ton said to this writer today: eff
George Washington Viereck himself
were President he could hardly lift
a finger on behalf of Germany. The
same thing would apply to a finger
to be lifted on behalf Of France. 1t
would inevitably mean the use Of
force. And nothing in the United
States just now is more inconceivable
than that"
tCopyr1ght, 1927