Evening star., 1923-09-25
Germany Capitulates.

Germany capltulates IN the Ruhr.
This is the briefest statement of the
action taken yesterday at Berlin when,
: at the conference between members
Of the cabinet and representatives of
various political parties and Of the
occupied regions, it was decided to
: abandon passive resistance in the
Ruhr, Internationally and immedi-
ately.
In announcing this decision Chan
cellor Stresemann said that Ger
, nany's present efforts would be to-
ward obtaining the release of prison
ers and the return of deportees. At
ten1pts to accomplish these purposes,
. he said, as well as to obtain guaran-
tees Of the restoration of German
sovereignty in the occupied regions,
had been unsuccessful. Thus passive
resistance had lost its purpose and
had become even harmful to the best
interests of the country. Continuation
of the Ruhr struggle would mean that
Germany would bleed to death, and
the continued adherence of the occu-
pied regions to the republic would be
threatened.
Not one word, It is to be noted,
about the real purposes of the French
n1aneuver in occupying the Ruhr,
about reparations, about fulf1llment of
the obligations imposed by the Ver-
saAles treaty. Not one word of ac-
acknowledgement of the fact that Ger
many is in dereliction in relation to
the allies. Merely that Germany is
forced now to abandon a policy of
passive resistance because the in
tegrity of the republic is menaced and
it has been found impossible by that
means to secure the release of prison
ers and the return of deportees.
This is typical German reasoning.
Passive resistance in the Ruhr was
: not, as fact, begun to secure the
release of prisoners and return of de-
poFtees, or to obtain guarantees of
restoration of German sovereignty in
the occupied region. 1t was under
taken to block the French move to Sc
cure by direct action the reparations
payments pledged by Germany in the
treaty of Versailles. The prisoners
were taken by the French and many
individuals were deported from the re-
gion because of the passive resistance.
The integrity of the republic was
n1eTiaced by resistance and it's conse-
quences. Abandonment of the policy
was forced because Germany can no
longer continue it, because it has been
a losing game, because it has not
broken the French occupation. It is
another war lost.
Now it will be necessary for Ger
many to seek peace in the Ruhr by
meeting the French demands. Uncon-
ditional surrender on the score of
passive resistance means that the oc-
cupation will become effective through
the collection of the reparations by
direct means. 1t is cumbersome
method, expensive to both sides.
France undoubtedly would prefer a
simpler course. 1t is already an
nouneed that if good faith were shown
by Germany the occupation of the
Feuhr would be made as nearly lin
visible" as possible. But there must
be substantial guarantees to permit
any REIMBURSEMENT of the hold Frapbe
now maintains upon the great indus
trial field in western Germany.
Yesterdays decision may lead to
sharp reactions in Germany. Prepara-
tions have been made to meet them.
: There has been a concentration of
military and police forces, and Noske,
who put down the red uprising in
1919, is in Berlin prepared, it is indi-
Gated, to take charge of defensive
campaign in case of an outbreak of
- either radicalism. or militarism in con-
sequence of the change OF policy.
The fact that the great industrial
j lists of Germany have not only ac-
quieseed in, but supported, the gov
ernment's decision to end passive re-
sistance in the Ruhf means that they
Z will stand by it in any crisis that may
: develop in consequence. They are, af-
= ter all, the main strength of Ger
many, and their support of the min
istry, which was, it is understood
= named by them fer the purpose of
bringing about this change of course,
indicates the opening Of a new era in
+ Germany marked by the settlement OF
that country's foreign relations and
solution Of its domestic problems.