The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1923-08-11

ward two demands. The first is that
Germany shall abandon passive re
s:stance as an essential preliminary to
negotiations. The second is that her
forces should remain in the Ruhr I'M
til the last payment is made. Will the
German government accept these con-
ditions? A settlement on these terms
is only possible on two assumptions.
The first is that a German govern
ment can be found strong enough to
accept them and to survive their ac-
ceptance. The second is that there is
a French government wise enough to
give liberal Interpretation to these de-
nnands The first depends to a large
extent on the second.
Events of the past few months
added immeasurably to the difficulties
lof negotiation. Incidents which are
inseparable from foreign occupation
In any land have exasperated German
opinion and reached depths of hatred
which had never been stirred, even
by the great war. The deportation of
u.s. 900 Germans from their homes in
the Ruhr area, the repression, the
of food trains until essential supplies
rot. The myriad insolences of un-
challengeable force. The passions
which make the French policy so in
tractable are entirely attributable to
the German occupation of France.
Frenchmen are now sowing the same
angers in the German breast. Hat
reds are bad negotiators. That is
why 1 despair Of a real settlement.
Germany Might Collapse
But Germany may collapse. She
might even break up temporarily. The
authority Of the central government
has already largely disappeared. It
has practically ceased to collect taxes.
Berlin has no influence in Bavaria,
and the monarchy might be restored
in that province at no distant date.
There is movement in the Rhineland
to set up a republic freed from the
dominion Of Prussia. This movement
is fostered by French agencies and
financed by French subventions. If
1t Is declared, Prussia will not be al
lowed to suppress it.
We may, therefore, soon witness a
Rhineland republic whose glorious
freedom and independence will be
jealousy guarded by colored warriors
of Senegal and Cochin, China. Sax
ony might be captured by communists
and Prussia be torn between mon
archist and communist. These are
not unlikely happenings. Is it too
much to say that they are not alto
gether out of the computation OF
French craftsmanship? If Germany
dissolves, then the Rhineland and the
Ruhr would remain under the do
minion of France. France would not
secure Preparations. But she would en-
JOY security, and she would, so it is
conjectured, enormously enhance her
power in the world. An old French
dream would be realized. The work
Of Bismarck would be undone and the
achievement of Napoleon would be re-
stored and perpetuated.
There is en- old Welsh saying that
hearthstone. This idea of Rhineland
under French domination is the old
hearthstone Of Charlemagne. Mazarin
sought to reIght it's flames. Napoleon
the First kindled on it a blaze that
scorched Europe. Napoleon the Third
had hopes of warming his chilling for
tunes at the glow Of its embers, and
now the great victory of 1918 has set
French ambitions once more reviving
the fires on the old hearthstone.
1t Is a bad outlook for Europe.