Evening star., 1923-03-04
PRESSURE DRIVING
B0NAR LAW TO ACT
All Agree Present Passive
Resistance in Ruhr Can
not Continue.
BY A. G. GARDINER
Britafn's Leading Liberal Editor.


Britain's Leading Liberal Editor.
By Cable to The Star
LONDON. March 3.-Bonar Law still
holds his hand. but events and inter-
nal pressure are driving him toward
inevitable action. The great peril Of
the situation is that the delay may
continue until It is beyond control.
All observers agree that tho present
passive resistance in the Ruhr cannoc
be continued indefinitely and that
maintenance of the military strangle-
hold there will bring violence ano
that then more terrible things will
follow.
The view persists that the French
military position in Germany Is not
wholly without anxiety. Poincare's
promised adventure did not involve
general mobilization. but should vio-
lent developments occur the present
army Is wholly inadequate and the
grave danger would arise OF main
tanning lengthy lines OF communica-
tions in the midst of a great hostile
population.
German Restraint Remarkable.
The restraint OF the German people
so far has been remarkable. but sy1np-
nails are being hoisted. Should vio-
lence on a great scale take place. and
the conflict assume the character of
a national uprising OF an unarIned d
people against foreign invader. the
position OF England will be one Of
alarming difficulty. There Is no ques-
tion OF supporting the French under
such circumstances. Public opinion
would strike dead any government
that ventured on such a course.
h~ h.,
trality inevitably would lead to aid
from Britain to Germany, which
would inf1ame French feeling. In
these circumstances what would be
the position of the British troops on
the Rhine? Would the French hold
them as hostages?
Impossible to Forecast.
1t is Impossible to forecast the lin
its Of the confiagration should the
alterations are plain to Premier
Bonar Law. They constitute an over
whelming argument against drifting.
He sees Poincare walking about a
powder magazine with lighted can
die in his hand. He cannot blow the
candle out himself. How to induce
Poincare to extinguish it is what
must be solved.
Liberal and labor opinion demands
the recall Of the troops. 1t further
formal expression Of disapproval Of
the invasion and In a statement Of a
reasonable plan Of settlement. AS an
alternative proposal some liberal
leaders would have Bonar Law ascer-
tain the minimum terms OF both sides
and then call a conference at which
both Germany and America would be
represented and submit these three
questions:
Submits Questfons.
How much has Germany paid
How much can she pay?
How shall she pay it?
Unfortunately France is in no mood
The reparations motive has been re-
placed with the determination to
crush Germany. Until she finds for
herself that this is impossible as a
permanent policy she will be deaf to
all outsiders. The liberals agree to
this. but insist that. after all. France
is not alone. Therefore the necessity
arises to put peace policy before
the whole world. Until that is done
they say the world stands helplessly
by while civilization goes over
Niagara.
The worst Of all policies is a do
nothing one. All are anxious to avoid
an open break with France, but II the
choice is a breach or continued ex-
istence OF Europe. then we shall in
ONiSdUiy Uc OEiNcH 70 LILO pEcdh " .
have already sacrificed too much to
maintain relations and the time has
come to adopt a firm policy. and tell
the world that England stands for q
fair settlement and for the right OF
every country to reasonable terms OF
existence.
Must Take Coasequenees.
IT, in the face Of that fact, France
persists in a policy of strangling Ger
many, then she must take the conse-
quences. Law also Is being pressed
to withdraw bag and baggage from
Mesopotamia, where one hundred and
nifty million pounds have been 'sQuan-
dered Failure is now SO apparent
that the liberals are pressing hard
for q disclosure OF all tho facts. Law
inherits this second problem from
Lloyd George and probably would be
glad to evacuate IL he can do SO with
out discredit. 49, ..--..s +. :
AS in the case Of ths Ruhr. nobody
doubts that a clean cut will have to
be made sooner or later. Law has no
reason to fear public opinion by a
withdrawal. The whole country -
sick of the name Mesopotamia And
would rejoice never to hear it again.
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