The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-10-30
PoINCARE STANDS PAT

Premier Poincare is a firm believer in the policy of carrying his opinions directly to the people. Each Sunday he makes an address at some populous center where he discusses public questions in vigorous but informal manner. Last Sunday he spoke at Campigny on the subject of repara- tions and the proposed committee of inquiry to investigate the German ability to pay the public obligations. Only a few days earlier he had given consent to such committee to be composed of non-political experts and to be subordinate in every way to the reparations commission. In his Sun day speech the premier assured the French people that the government would countenance no proposal to re- duce the separations total as fixed at the London conference, but that cor- dial cooperation would be given the powers in their effort to arrive at an accurate estimate of the German economic capacity.
 The French premier clearly defines his idea of the purpose and scope of the committees inquiry. If it is to inquire into the ability of the Ger mans ultimately to pay the repara- tions in full, the French government can have no part in it, according to M. Poincare. If it is to inquire into the degree in which Germany may begin at once to make delayed pay ments, then the French government is in full accord and sympathy with the program. Of course, it is remembered that the premier was talking to the people and not in conference, and that his views may in some degree be mod flied whe n formally pronounced. Nevertheless, there exists the back ground of the determination to make Germany ultimately pay that has ex- isted throughout the period since the war, no matter who has been premier of France.
 To the insinuation that the French have been behind the separatist move ments in Germany and have secretly nourished imperialistic designs on Ger man territory, M. Poincare replies: "We have always scrupulously re- mained outside the internal affairs of Germany, and the allegations of the German government, scandalously spread in Europe and the new world, will not obscure the truth from im- partial spectators. Whatever Ger many's future constitution may be; whatever may be the relations be- tween the states composing it; we shall never think of violating the co1- science of the population. We nour- ish no plan of annexation, but 7e shall never renounce our claims to permanent guarantee for security" As to the Ruhr occupation the pre- mier made the usual rejoinder that, but for such occupation, Germany to- day would be able to refuse payments and continue to enrich herself through her factories using Ruhr coal, where it is now to her interest to pay her creditors at the earliest possible time in order to hasten the evacuation of the Ruhr."
 The sincerity of the French is at- tested by the unanimity of expression to the above effect. regardless of the personnel of ministries of France, and by the entire absence of any official act or program in contradiction of an- nounced policy. The justice of the French position is unassailable. Franco bases her claims on the treaty cf Versailles, which is signed by Ger many, Italy, Belgium and Great Britain as well as by herself. She can not justly be censured for insisting on the enforcement of that solemn |