Evening star., 1923-05-06
BY OLIVER OWEN KUHN.

" wo little boys came to blows.
One, stronger than the other,
downed his opponent. Reach
into a mud puddle nearby. he
smeared the sticky slime into the face
ard eyes OF his adversary.
"Yell quits" he demanded.
Il won't"
You will
More mud.
Il won't. Let me up and I'll give
you my knife. my aggie an every
thing
Il won't. Yell quits.
Mud--and more mud.
Thus. France and Germany are at
1t again.
The long discussed, much hoped for
reparations proposal of Germany was
transmitted to France-incidentall
other powers as well-during the
week lust closed.
France and Belgium turned deaf
ear to the begging Teuton and i'm
mediately began to tighten the thumb
screws In the Ruhr to emphasize their
disgust at the cupidity of Chancellor
Cuno and Foreign Minister Rosen-
berg.
Purport OF German OEer.
Briefly put. Germany offered to pay
a total of 10000. 100000 gold marks in
cash and kind as settlement of the
tremendous war obligations incurred
through penalties under the treaty OF
Versailles. Germany agreed to settle
practically two-thirds of this amount
during the next four years. major
portion of which to be floated through
foreign loans and none within Ger
many itself. Germany, however, de-
manded that before anything was
done the French surrender all sane
'ons employed to force capitula
ton by Germany and in return sug-
-ested that the future of Germany
and France be protected through the
medium of conciliation and arbitra-
ton. If the sum offered be not suffi-
cient to meet the demands of the
allies. then Germany suggested tina,
lie matter be left to some disinter-
ested commission of experts to de-
termine just how much Germany
could and should pay by virtue of her
demoralized condition. she taking a
ing that even Germany doubted her
ability to pay the offered figure by
virtue of French occupation Of the
Ruhr and disruption Of Germany's
producing power.
Offer One OF Compromise.
There can be little question but
that the German offer was one of
compromise between the various con-
fiicting interests in Germany. Cuno
attempting to safely sail treacherous
political seas and avoid shoals that
offered in every political party. If
dispatches from Berlin are to be
credited. the note on reparati tions sat
. isles no one, the moneyed interests
represented in the cabinet and out
by the nationalist and peoples parties
contending that Cuno has offered
more than Germany can pay. while
the socialist elements scout this. con-
tending that for the sake Of peace
Cuno should have gone even further.
To nations not directly involved
In the Ruhr dilemma the German offer
cannot be said to be wholly salts
factory. There is inclination to agree
with the French that the German
proposal is for consumption in Amer
tea and England. where Germany. still
hopes Intervention in the Ruhr will
he initiated. But If Germany hopes
that her note will Immediately bring
some action from either the United
Staes or England evidently she is
'cohiSu W III view OF
the unfavorable comment in both
London and Washington.
Should Have Gone Further.
1t is believed that in view Of the
critical situation which prevails by
continued stubborness on the part of
both the French and the Teutons.
Germany at least should have gone
further. She should have avoided
clauses in the note designated to fan
French determination to press Ger
many harder 1t is believed that if
Germany had offered a sum in the
neighborhood of go 900. o0o. 900 gold marks
with some sign of guarantees and
good faith, and consented to sanctions
which the French demand until there
Is adequate payment, then there
would be some ground for hope that
negotiations might come from the
Berlin proposal.
AS the matter stands at the mo-
ment the French are justified in firmly
resenting both the context and tone
of the German note. 1t does not ring
true. Its sincerity is open to uues-
tion. Particularly is this true in
view of the dispatches from Berlin in
dlcating that it was not intended to
be Germany's final word. but an open
ing wedge to bring on negotiations
France and Belgium undoubtedly
soon will impress upon Cuno and
Rosenberg the fact that something
more must come out of Germany be-