The Holly chieftain., 1923-03-22

alton been allowed to stand without
anything else to occupy the public
mind 1t would have removed the Ruhr
controversy to the field Of national
prejudice, given the Germans splen-
did chance to float more propaganda
based on their inability to control the
peoples of the occupied area, and
given the French an equal opportunity
to assail the Germans for injecting
active armed force, coupled with mur-
der, into situation that Is regarded
by the allies as being more of a police
measure than military one.
The French have shown a desire to
confine the issue entirely to COM
mercial plane. They assert plainly that
all they want Is their money and that
army us force of bill collectors.
Until the declaration by the two
premiers that they would eyacuate the
invaded territory as fast as payment
wasN made the world felt there was
the possibility that the Ruhr would
finally find itself In the same boat as
Alsace-Lorraine. part Of France.
A remarkable feature Of the state
inent is that 1t stands exactly upon
the words and actions Of that arch
enemy of France fifty-two years ago.
Bismarck.
History records that Bismarck, in
occupying France, asserted he would
retire with his army as fast as pay
ments on the indemnity were made.
The French peasantry of those days.
as will be remembered, emptied the
hidden corners of their cupboards and
inside Of three years paid over to the
Teutonic warlords the enormous sum,
for that period of the worlds history,
of five billions Of francs roughly ST.
600. 900 900, besides territory.
France went through the same strain
that Germany now is undergoing. A
vnst portion of its people absolutely
refused to aid in the payment of the
indemnity and for two months the
Commune, the Reds of that time, ragged
throughout Paris, attacking constituted
authority while the German army sat
Uy anu WdlSACu kAO
clarity itself.
History appears to have repeated
itself. as 1t has habit Of doing, in the
present Franco German dispute. Close
students are watching to see whether
the Commune will arise among the
Teutonic peoples; whether the Ger
man equivalent of the Franc-tireurs
will arise as was indicated by the MUIR
ders Of the two French officials; and
whether the indemnity will be paid
finally.
THE MOVEMENT PUT ON FOOT
by German capitalists is variation
from history and is therefore to be
scrutinized with great care. In es-
sence 1t is said to formulate plans
whereby the entire structure Of Ger
man industry will be placed In pawn
to foreign nations as the basis of an
international loan which Is to be used
to pay part Of the country's Indemnity.
Underground reports from Switzer-
land say that the German movement
has proceeded to the extent that q
tender Of the equivalent Of ten billions
Of dollars in gold was made to French
emissary. This offer Is the largest
that has ever been made and Is con-
siderably higher than Chancellor
Cuno's tender at Paris, the rejection
of which was signalized BY the occu-
patton of the Ruhr. Acceptance Of the
offer will unquestionably result in the
Immediate retirement Of the French
from the invaded district, as soon as
satisfactory guarantees have been
made.
AS the French have taken one leaf
out Of Bismarck's book by occupying
territory, they will not act hastily
in consenting to reduction Of the
occupying forces. In fact another 100,-
600 soldiers were reported either in
the Ruhr or on the way, tightening
their already powerful strangle-hold on
the life-blood Of industrial Germany.
XXIHAT PART THE BRITISH
w government had In forcing the
declaration Of France and Belgium that
they would retire as soon MS their war
debt had been paid, Is not known and
may never be disclosed. British dip
lomats are never far distant when an
important matter Of foreign policy
| comes up. 1t Is prime principle Of
the kings advisers that England shall
side always with the weaker power,
building 1t up until 1t overshadows its
former opponent, when, In turn, the
British change their sympathies.
The British peoples have not forgot.
ten the wounds inflicted by the German
battle-hosts, but neither have they for.