Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-09-26
FRENCH WATCHING
EFFECT CAPlTULATION
GERMANY IN RUKR

Paris, Sept. % (By A. P)-The
political situation in Germany as the
aftermath of the decision to aban
| don the passive resistance in the
| Ruhr, is being watched by the
French government with some anN-
| iety in view of the possibilities of a
| nationalist movement such as one
/ tending to separate Bavaria from
| the Reich. the outbreak of mild Boil
| shevism in Prussia, and the fresh
! impetus to the separatist movement
! in the Rhineland. Should serious
| disturbances of any sort arise in the
rest of Germany, it is thought they
would most certainly have the res
nit or increasing the number of
| RhinelanderS desiring to assure con-
| tinuation of their tranquility by sep
aration.
The allied troops. it is asserted in
official circles will not be allowed to
| take sides in any conflict, as in the
absence of other military force res
| possibility rests upon them for the
maintenance of order in the occu-
| pied territory. There is good reason
for the conclusion that the French
attribute little importance to the
SSpdTdIlSt movement tlluS Id, bul
! that they will not intervene to pre-
vent the inhabitants from taking
| any action they see fit, so long as
order is not disturbed.
In the event the cessation of pass
| i've resistance is not attended by vi
! client outbreaks. the allies will, it is
assumed here, be faced at once with
| the necessity of providing for a new
regime of occupation. The hypoth-
esis is that the industrial leaders of
| the Ruhr. freed from the restrictive
| DEGREES of the Berlin government
| will repeat the promises made after
| the beginning of the occupation, to
pay the coal tax demanded by the
occupation authorities and to coop
crate with them.
1t is anticipated that the German
government. pending final settle
ment of the new terms for the pay
| ment Of reparations. will ask that
the expelled functionaries be allow
ed to return to the Ruhr. that the
imprisoned industrial magnates. in
Guiding DR.. krupp Won Bohlen, be
released and that the rigors of the
occupation be lessened.
Information cleaned from official
circles here indicates there will be no
stout objection to a change in the
occupational regime, and that the
French government is quite willing to
rid it as far as possible Of its dis
agreeable features. The return of
the German functionaries, however,
Is more serious matter, since most
Of them are Prussians. and 1t is fear
ed by the allies, are likely to raise
new forms of obstruction. Clemency
toward those Germans imprisoned is
IoI tot, 10 nj oh
of good will on the part Of the Ger
man government in execution of its
obligations and a disposition on the
part of the industrial leaders to CO.
operate with the allies.
The difficulties before the allies
under. a new regime in the Ruhr.
which are being dwelt on here. are
the necessity of keeping the district
supplied with food and in finding
markets for the exports which latter
task is complicated by the fact that
the cost of production in Germany
now equals the cost elsewhere while
the stocks of raw materials and ac-
cumulations of fuel are exhausted.
1t is remarked in French circles. how
ever, that the idea is not to take over
the task of exploitation but on the
contrary, since the passive resistance
in ending, to leave it in the hands
of the Germans.
Premier Poincare. it is understood,
will also favor leaving it to the Ger
mans to decide what reforms are re-
quired to put their finances in order
and how to make ready to gay repair
atoms reserving it to the reparation
commission simply to supervise the
working of those reforms and report
whether they are sufficient to accom-
plish the end in view.
Until the character of the German
French government will maintain an
expectant attitude, reserving it's ap-
probation of the events now passing
i'll Germany until it apears clearly
whether there is a real change Of