Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1923-04-08
CONCESSIONS BY FRANCE
WOULD END DEADLOCK
Modified Program Probable Under So.
ciaGst Pressure-Little Excuse Then
for German Resistance.

pcfual French nomination. They, on
the contrary. have insisted upon some
practical method Of Germany's paw
ing just reparations for actual war
damages done. AS the reported Quai
dOrsay program is in direct line with
socialist viewpoint undoubtedly the
socialists Of France, who threaten TO
| seize the next chamber. will have some
| thdng to do with modification-if there
| Is modiflcation-os the French govern
ments aims to the point that the
French will be content with reparations
| commensurate with damages suffered
by France in the war
While the socialists may alter the
French purpose and force their view
point upon the French government it
! nevertheless is a known fact that Pre-
| mier Poincare and President NIlerand
have not been working in the greatest
accord in recent weeks, and the presi-
dent may have much to do in chang
ing French policy. Tho President of
France feels that. though Germany
| should be forced to pay to the Last
farthing, the proposed program OF
! the nationalistic elements looking
| toward the complete disintegratfon
| of Germany and perpetual control OF
the Rhineland and the Ruhr will not
| at all times react to the interest Of
| France. Louis Loucheur, a friend OF
Millerand and the Frenchman who
negotiated the agreement with
Rathenau looking toward trade
agreements between Germany and
France with the purpose Of reducing
the general reparations bill, has been
in conference with Bonar Law and
others in London during the past week.
! There he is declared to have reported
materially modified plans regarding
the Ruhr and the Rhineland, modif-
cations approaching tho purported
French purpose as revealed from
Paris. The British were surprised at
the moderation shown by Loucheur.
| who incidentally may be Frances
next premier, and particularly at the
announced stand against perpetuation
of Frances political advantage oyer
Germany, which embraces schemes OF
German territorial annexation.
Until Millerand actually speaks to the
contrary, there is no reason to believe
that reported Loucheur proposals i'll
London and the Paris reported modifi-
cations will not be chung to by the
moderates of France, who eventually
viii endeavor to supplant them for the
more nationalistic viewpoint.
Germans Also Giving LIN.
While this is a transition period in
the policy OF the French it must be
noted that the Germans them
selves are willing to do a. little COM
promising. Chancellor Cuno an
nounced and was later backed by For
eign Minister Rosenberg in the dec
laration that Germany never would
consent to deal directly with tho
French as long as they continued to
occupy the Ruhr. Within the past
few days this policy has been fore
sworn by the German government, 1T
being reliably reported from Berlin
that the socialists were instrumental
in forcing the governments hand in
tho general direction Of Cancellation.
Germany. it is reported, is ready to
offer $4,000. 000. 900 gold marks in set
Element of the allied PREPARATIONS
claims TO all powers. If Germany is
willing to do this and powers other
/ thdh dDCe are WILING TO name
notifications in some of the terms by
which they benefit, it is believed set
Element could be swiftly arranged.
The Germans insist that they will re
ject any hint of outside control over the
'Ruhr or Rhineland. but this may be
taken at the moment as further fuel for
firing national resistance until Germany
can achieve certain Of her desires and
treat on advantageous terms. When
Germany sees she can gain freedom and
advance and loosen the French grip in
the Rhineland by agreed-upon payments,
then Germany, If territories are to re-
main a part of the reich, will not let
the relatively small matter of neutral
zaaon stand in the way, inasmuch as
such control may be easily nulled.
Whether the Germans forsake their
stubborn attitude and capitulate or
whether the French waive their de-
mand that they be approached di-
reotly by the German government, a
settlement of the whole problem Ia
within the horizon, for it is known
definitely that within the next few.
weeks an attempt will be made to-
bring the statesmen Of all powers to-
gether In order TO consider ways and
means of adjusting the Ruhr ques-
ton. The French, who have ada
mainly refused to enter into any kind
of a parley until the Germans have
capitulated and who have declared
their unalterable opposition to me-
diation from neutral sources, are ex-
pected to accede to a general con-
sideration of the question among the
allies If beforehand they have re-
ceived definite assurances from Ber-
lin that Germany will concede fair
payments Of PREPARATIONS to all and
in a businesslike fashion.
With q breaking down OF German
} stubborness and enunoiation Of q
policy by France which exacts only
just payments and foEeswears the
political aspirations Of the imperial
. list group in Paris, settlement can be
brought about post haste and Europe
once more can get down to the bust
ness of readjusting herself.