Evening journal., 1923-01-11
BY CHARLES p. STEWART.

Her war damage claims against
Germany far in arrears, France is
preparing definitely TO seize German
territory and wealth TO pay herself.
In a military way, not much re-
mains for the French to do, except
10 begin the actual movement Of
troops. Her army already is prsct-
cally in readiness.
Il Is the Ruhr district, Germany's
great industrial section, that French
forces unquestionsbly will occupy
hrst. There. II she were acting with
Englands approval, France would
stop. in Difference 10 English wishes.
Whatever she does now however
will be done Independently. and, in
fact, in spite OF the English, so per
haps she will feel az liberty 10 go as
far as she likes. maybe. beyond the
Ruhrs boundaries
The supposition is that the French
advance will not be ordered until
after January Is. when another pay
ment will be due from the Germans.
a payment which II is almost certain
will not be forthcoming
There seems no present likelihood
that the invasion will be delayed
much beyond that date.
What About the Germans.
What the Germans will do re-
mains 20 be seen.
There is an element which favors
armed resistance. There may be
some Of il. but probably not on an
organized national scale. II not. Of
course the French will suppress Il
quickly, probably dealing with II very
severely.
The Berlin government. knowing
that England disapproves OF the
French plan and hoping America
does. too. e. more likely 20 conhne
Itself TO protests TO London and
pressure from these quarters will |
force France TO change her policy.
greater danger is that the |
French invasion, which naturally
viii cause violent excitement among
the Germans. may cause internal up
risings. led BY the ultra-radicals |
such as will endanger the govern (
ment Itself and mavbe. involve wide |
spread destruction.
At the best. there will be great I
business disorga nization in Germany.
The French detern nation 70 use
force against Germany led England
and France 10 part company.
Britain and France Break.
The English. French. Italian and
Belgian premiers conferred last
week on the question of collecting
war damages from the Germans.
This talk made it clear that Eng
lsh and French ideas were hopeless
g conhictng Premier Poincare Of
France insisted the Germans could
oay If thev would Premier Bonar
Law summed NJ the English position
.hus: You msv get a certain amount
ot monev by selling German terri
-ory. but YOU can't restore German
stability in that way"
So the conference broke UP. with
an Anglo-French agreement 70 dis
agree as the upshot
II hope said Premier Bonar Law
10 Premier Poincsre. IN parting
that you are right. but fear you're
not"
Economic strain May Prevail.
Frances great weakness Is hnan-
,ial
A. the 'prem.ers' conference"
Italy and Belgium sided with her
against England. but neither Eng
and nor Belgium can help her out
n money way. England is Eu-
'ope's great financial power. More
over. the English believe. az any rate
hat the United States agrees with
hem in looking sskance upon
frances policy OF force against Ger
many.
II isn't n he assumed that either
england Or America is unfriendiy N
france. but only that the former
ertainly. and the latter in many
'eopie's opinion think the French