Evening star., 1923-09-30

ILL Frances one great am
NM pition since the armistice
closed the world war be
realized, beginning with
To-Day, namely, separate Rhineland
state dominated indirectly from
Paris?
II is goal argued for by Marshal
Foch and others of the militarists of
France before the big Four" and
council of Ten" during the Paris
peace conference
It| would come as fruition of the
many direct and indirect operations
OF French interests within the Rhine
land proper since the war ended.
france dreamed of a separate
fhineland state hundred years ago.
BUT not until the armistice was sign
ed and Germany thoroughly humbled
dld France dare do more than cherish
ner ambitions. Even today 1T is off,
G1,aiy 1y ana semi-officially denied in
Parls that the French government de-
slfeS 10 see separate state, or has
1urthered one, but, inasmuch as that
school of thought which demands
onat the Rhine be made the semi
boundary to the east has been in
power under one premier or another
since Clemenceau, there is little rea-
son TO believe that efforts to under
mine Prussia's grip in the Rhineland
iesiohs nave not gone on apace.
How French Have Aided.
Advices directly from the Rhine
land indicate that the expulsion of
more than hundred thousand ma
tlves has done nothing more than to
aid the separatists, headed. by Herr
Mathies, in their general campaign
against dictation from Berlin. Those
remaining fear to oppose. The sepa-
Tatlsts, 1t is reported reliably, have
been assisted in every way during
tne French occupation. They have
been permitted to use the railroads
WhlIe their foes have been banned.
Separatist meetings and propaganda
have been permitted dissemination,
while all efforts to Illustrate the tide
IN favor of Germany have been him
dered. Though officially the French
have not protected the separatists.
nevertheless there today exists tacit
understanding that the movement
will not In any wise be hindered.
Separatfst leaders, with the SYM
pathy and support of the French,
have gone ahead with their plans and
today in Duesseldorf there will as
semble tens of thousands of Rhine
landers, sympathetic to the cause.
Significantly they will travel from
all cities in the Rhineland on Franco
Belgian controlled trains free of
charge.
According to announced programs,
mass meetings will be held. Berlin
hears that an attempt will be made
to seize government buildings and
functionaireS, with subsequent an
nouncement of a separate republic,
which shall embrace the rich regions
of the Ruhr. ItIis stated that French
officialdom will lose no time in an
nouncing recognition. Should this be
true, then Foch's dream, though un-
realiZable in the face of opposition
of hard-headed, far-seeing statesmen
assembled in Paris, will have been
accomplished through French persist
ency in the general effort to bring
about complete disintigration of Ger
many'S territorial, financial and. econ
omic power. all under the preteXt of
future national safety to France.
Movement Recognized.
The separatist movement long has
been recognized in Germany. In re-
cent days the government. fully cog
infant of the situation, has debated
whether it should steal a march on
the FrenchRpd declare a separate re-
public within the reich, or whether
1t should permit the French plans to
crystalline and then lay responsibility
for further rape of Germanic terri
tories directly upon the French. How
ever, it would appear that in the face
of the Rhineland development it
makes little difference what the Ber-
lin government does. The Separatfst
cause is predominant at the moment.
The Rhineland. as at present ad-
ministered, will remain firm in its
Franconphile leaningS until there Is
complete settlement of the relation
ships of France and Germany.
Though the separatist movement is
of great momentary Importance IN
-. he ftrft
Germany, the rapidly rising tides OF |
political and social unrest, as mani [
fest by the upheaval in Bavaria our
ing the past week, cannot De lost
sight of in general consideration Oh
Germany's immediate future.
Calls OF Passive Resistance.
AS predicted, Chancellor Strese- |
mann, after long elaboration with
premiers and leaders of the various |
German states, announced capitula-
tion to the French in withdrawal of |
passive resistance in the Ruhr. Ger
mans admit their loss of the sec
Ond war" But the Stresemann gov !,
ernment has not revealed withdrawal |
of such other measures as the French |
deem to be obStructing the general |
march toward peace and order. For /
instance, Paris points out that Ger |
many has not removed those orders !
such as would prevent the resump-
tion of reparations payments in kind |
and the payment of taxes on Ruhr in
dustrial products As long as there |
is any doubt as to the completeness !
of the withdrawal of passive resist |
ance the French refuse to commit
themselves to immediate negotiations
looking toward settlement OF the
repara tionS question.
It is declared in Berlin, and, ad- |