Evening star., 1923-09-26


verge of disintegration as well, 1t
| is important to know the attitude
| OF France toward the Rhineland sepa-
| ratist movement, which aims at the
breaking up OF Prussia. After pains
| taking inquiry. the writer is prepared to
offer an authoritative statement on this
point the first statement of it's kind
| issued from Paris.
Watchful waiting and benevolent
not material aid, can be said to SYM
bolize Frances attitude toward
seraratism
1.-THE Rhenish movement is an in
| ternal German affair. with which we
can sympathize. but in which we can
| not take Sides" Paul Tirard French
| delegate on the Rhineland high COM
| mission, said recently. F:
Prnise for separafists.
"The Rhenish separatist leaders
| may or may not be sincere" said a
| high functionary of the Quai d'Orsay
| to the writer today. rBut at least
! they profess to be we'll disposed
midst of their protestations of friend
! ship for France would be asking too
| much. They constitute a distinct i'm
provement over the other Germans"
Practically all parties and all
shades of public opinion in this coun-
try. save the socialists and the com
| munists, approve the idea of sepa-
| ratism in the abstract, but all are un-
willing to offer concrete aid in put
ting 1t into practice. There Is only
| one small faction, headed by the his
| torian. Maurice Barres, which comes
out openly for Rhenish independence.
! The others reserve judgment.
The coldness of Great Britain to-
ward the separatist movement prob
ably has much to do with this re-
serve. That the Poincare government
supplies money directly to Dorten
Matthes & CO., as the German prop
agandists claim, Is doubtful. But that
Premier Poincare Is instrumental In
showing them, where they can find
! money is possible. .e.'
Opinions Are Given.
Different men in different parties
| hold different ideas on the separatist
movement Opinions of a few repre-
sentative French political leaders are
herewith cited.
Gen. de Castlenau, conservative dep
uty and supporter of Premier Poin-
| care:
THE problem of Rhenish independ-
ence is no new one for France, II
presented itself in similar circum-
stances to the French revolutionary
general Hoche in 1897 and might have
been settled at that time had 1t not
been for the vacillating attitude of
| the government in Paris and the pre-
mature death of Hoche. Conditions
were much. the same in the revolu-
tionary epoch as they are today-ex-
treme fatigue and misery brought
about by the war, disgust with the
former masters, anxiety over repa-
rations, anxiety over wars of revenge,
desire for peace and tranquility at
any cost.
Scores Berlin for Egoism. -. e.
"Egoism on the part OF Berlin. the
fear of bankruptcy and the dread of
a social upheaval are we'll calculated
to inspire dismay in the minds of
the peaceful Rhinelanders. They
want only a regime which will as
sure them peace" ...
The inhabitants Of the Rhineland
should be given what they want,
that is ALL If they do not want in
dependence we cannot force 1t on
them. People cannot be divorced in
spite of Themselves. On the other
divorce from Prussia. they have no
need Of our permission. Neverthe-
less, / think Ii advisable to en-
courage them in case of necessity
Albert Orry. secretary general OF
the republican bloc, the strongest
political group in parliament:
AN independent Rhineland is the
best guaranty for European. peace,
| For France and Belgium it is indis-
pensable. In case of it's realization
France would still have to maintain
small military garrisons in towns
like Cologne, Coblenz, Mayence and
annex new territory, but to assure
her own national security on a per-
manent basis"