Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-02-13
AMERICAN OPINION
IS EVENLY DIVIDED
ON RUHR INVASION
BY DAVID LAWRENCE
Ieased Wire Service to The Journal
(Copyrjcht 1929

Copyright, 1929
WASHINGTON, Feb. 10-Per-
haps the most surprising develop
ment of the last fortnight, as re-
vealed to this correspondent by one
of the highest officials of the United
States government, is the gradual
turn in sentiment toward France in
connection with her effort to collect
reparations from Germany.
When the Ruhr invasion began
officials here felt that opinion
throughout the United States was
almost solidly against the French
and they unhesitatingly deplored the
step that had been taken. The reac-
ton however has not been as pro-
nounced in that direction as they
believed.
No official would undertake to state
exactly what the trend of American
opinion will be but the view given
this correspondent by one who is in
a position to see the letters reach
ing the government from all parts
on the subject is that the American
people are by no means one-sided
but are at present divided about
fifty-fifty as to the wisdom of the
French policy.
1t cannot be said that the Ameri-
can government abandons for one
minute the view it held at the out
set that some other way of handling
the PREPARATION problem would have
been better.
Nor is it evident from the letters
reaching here that the American
people who sympathize with Frence
feel that the measures taken were
the only ones that could have been
taken.
1t is rather that the German tao
tics of resistance and obstruction
have given an impression of I'M
willingness to pay at all.
hStdAldtlOU N1ehSUE6S
Most of the communications reach
ing here indicate that many people
outside of Washington really doubt
the good faith of the German gov
eminent because, since the Ruhr in
vaSion, no explicit statement has
been made of a desire to pay, but,
on the contrary, the Germans have
announced they will not live up to
their obligations while the French
troops are in the Ruhr.
This measure of retaliation is be-
lieved to have injured Germanys
case with many who had not previ-
ously formed a judgment.
In Analysing an opinion on the
subject, officials recognize that Amer
leans Of French and German descent
are necessarily sympathetic with the
countries of their origin, but the
statement that opinion is about even
on the subject instead of one-sided
applies to the mass of people who
are neither of French or German
ancestry.
In the face OF this impression of
outside opinion the government here
is inclined to rest on it's diplomatic
record.
If the text of the notes and in
structions which have passed be.
tween the department of state and
American ambassadors abroad were
revealed the public would see in
stantly that the American govern
ment has expressed emphatically it's
view that the Ruhr invasion ought
not to have been attempted, that
any steps which look in the direction
of ACKNOWLEDGMENT of Germany would
make an unfavorable impression. in
this country, and that some scientific
method OF adjustment of the repara-
ton dispute be undertaken.
American Proposal
Germany accepted the American
proposal for settlement by an inter
national commission but the French
have never definitely gone on record
against it, though they have, to be
sure, indicated that they did not be-
lleVe the present an opportune time.
The situation, therefore, resolves
itself into one of mediation, but not
by the United States alone.
This government is ready and will
ing to renew its suggestions for
settlement CT to stand back of any
other plan for a settlement which is
sponsored by the allied group of ma
tons.
Great Britain and the United
States are constantly communicating
with each other about the subject,
but, until the German resistance is
broken, and France herself indicates
that the time is ripe for intervention,
tnn a ind
The expectation here now is that
the world will not see a break in the
situation for another fortnight, and
many officials doubt whether it will
come that soon. The latter believe
the war of exhaustion will take
months.