Evening star., 1923-02-19
j. s. MOVE IN RUHR
STILL POSSIBILITY
Undersecretary of State
Points Out Administration
Awaits Propitious Moment.
BY FREDERIC WILLIAM VILE.

Americas failure to move in the
Ruhr crisis does not denote that the
| Harding administration has turned
! its back upon the Franco-German
controversy. The administration, on
! the contrary, is watching develop
ments with an eagle eye. Secretary
Hughes plans for going to Chile in
March are entirely dependent upon
them. other members Of the Pan
American Union have tacitly been
given to understand that his de-
parture for Santiago, projected for
March 3, may be Cancelled at the
eleventh hour. II it is, events in
western Europe will be responsible.
President Harding will be away from
washington throughout the month of
March. 1t is not likely that the two
men responsible for the conduct OF
our foreign relations would absent
themselves from Washington at the
same time If European affairs either
were Fastening toward a catastrophe
or shaping SO as to make American
intervention feasible.
Cnbeknown generally. for 1t at
second ranking officer of the State
Department, Undersecretary William
Phillips, in a speech at Chicago last
week made some significant state
fnenlS. lie Sdlu.
Must Move Slowly.
"yoices are raised, demanding TO
know why the United States does not
do something; why it does not lead
the way to an adjustment OF the dlfh-
fully appreciate the spirit behind
these voices and the natural desire
of high minded men that the United
States shall contribute to the peace
Of the world, a desire which Is shared
by the Department of state. But
those who are directing the foreign
policies of the government must take
into consideration the situation as
whole and cannot consider II from
one angle only. They, II must be re-
membered, have sources of informa-
ton not available to the public, and
sometimes, therefore, the department.
is in a better position to judge worlo
conditions than the public. which mas
no complete knowledge Of the facts.
1t is not easy for governments to heip
one another merely by shouting from
the roof-tops a desire to help. There
must be mutual willingness, spirit
OF cooperation. an acceptable plan
before help can be directed 10 prac-
certainty that active assistance VIII
be welcome"
Undersecretary Phillips went
straight to the kernel OF America
the Ruhr business. There is no
statesman either in the United States
or in Europe who to date has had the
genius to evolve an acceptable plan,
and in the only quarter where inter
IGNITION would be effective. viz
france it Is notorious that interfer-
ence at the present juncture would De
ANYTHING but welcome.
Mr.. Phillips touched on another
vital point when ne SAID ina. ,S,r neip ~
an expression OF mutual willing
ness' to accept 1t. It is in that d.
rection that careful American stu
dents of Ruhr events see a ray OF
nome They believe that as French
determination strengthens and Ger
man resistance stiffens, producing
.tale,nate that is calculated to wear
down both sides, Intervention may
be asked; The United EDS, States ea,,s1 VIII pe ,s
nrobably will not have to act alone.
Creat Britain is certain to be pre-
nared to join in. mediation OF so
promising a character.
No organization in the United
states is keeping q closer watch on
the development Of public opinion
than the National Civic Federation.
Under the auspices of it's leaders.
Alton B. Parker, Elihu Root and
RALPH N df oss bansred ,ns eoafer
red in Washington shortly after the
Erench occupation set in and dis
cussed the crisis from every stand
noint. The executive council OF the
Federation has just issued COM
munioue. which may be interpreted
as the joint conclusion the organiza-
tion has come to. Its upshot is that
inst as Russia and Japan. convinced
in 1905 that neither could crush the
other. joined in seeking the good
offices Of President Roosevelt to end
their war, the time may be immi-
nent when France and Germany,
similarly stalemated. will move in
the same direction. The communique
says:
Text OF CommuAiQue.
"France may win. and then We shall
not need to bother about it, but shall
congratulate her.
"But if. and when. France concludes