Evening star., 1923-02-10
u. s. SHIFTS STAND
ON RUHR INVASION
Opinion at Outset Was Al
most SolidIy Against French
Reparations Move.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.

Perhaps the most surprising de-
velopment of the last fortnight, as
revealed 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 Of
ficials here felt that opinion through
out the United States was almost
soIidly against the French, and they
unhesitatingly deplored the step that
had been taken. The reaction. now
ever, has not been as pronounced in
that direction as they believed. No
official would undertake to state ex-
actIy what the trend of American
opinion will be, but the view given
this correspondent by one who
reaching the government from all
parts of the country is that the
American people are by no means one
sided, but are at present divided about
tifty-fifty as to the wisdom of the
French policy.
Doubt German Faith.
1t cannot be said that the American
government abandons for one minute
the view it held at the outset-that
some other way of handling the repa-
'rations problem would have been bet
ter. Nor Is it evident from the letters
reaching here that the American peo-
pie who sympath with France feel
that the measures taken were the
only ones that could have been taken
1t is rather that the German tactics
of resistance and obstruction nave
given an impression OF unWillingness
to pay at all: Most of the communica-
tions reaching here indicate that
many people outside of Washington
really doubt the good faith of the
German government, because since the
Ruhr invasion no explicit statement
has been made of a desire to pay, but
on the contrary the Germans have an
nouned they will not live up to their
obligations while the French troops
are in the Ruhr. This measure of re-
taliation Is believed to have injured
Germany's case with many VINO had
not previously formed judgment.
In analyzing national 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
on the subject instead of one-sided
applies to the mass of people who
are neither of French nor German
ancestry.
In the face of this impression of of
outside opinion, the government here
is inclined to rest on its diplomatic
record. If the text of the notes and
instructions which have passed be-
tween the Department of State and
American ambassadors abroad were
revealed the public would see instant
ly that the American government has
expressed emphatically its view that
the Ruhr invasion ought not to have
been attempted. that any steps which
look in the direction of dismember-
ment of Germany would make an un-
favorable impression in this country,
and that some scientific method of ad-
justment of the reparation dispute be
undertaken.
Mediation Is Needed.
/ Germany accepted the American
proposal for a settlement by an in
ternational commission, but the
| French have never definitely gone on
record against It. though they have.
| to be sure, indicated that they did
not believe the present an opportune
| time.
The situation, therefore. resolves
itself into one of mediation. but not
| by the United States alone. This gov
new it's suggestions for a settlement
| or to stand back of any other plan
! for a settlement which is sponsored
! by the allied group of nations. 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 the allied
powers will wait.
! The expectation here now is that
the world will not see break in the
| situation for another fortnight, and
/ many officials doubt whether 1t will
| come that soon. The latter believe the
J war of exhaustion will take months
| Copyright, 1921