, 1923-02-08
WHY AMERICAN LEGION I'm.
DORSED FRENCH INVASION

A short time ago the National Ex-
ecutive Committee of the American
Legion endorsed, In a resolution, the
French invasion Of the Ruhr dis
trict. AS much as has been said for
and against this action of the Le-
gion Executives the Sheridan Post
requested Will G. Metz. a Wyoming
Legion committeeman. to give the
reason for endorsing the French
action. His article as published in
the Post is as follows:
In 1914 for the second time
within SO years France was attacked
and invaded by Germany.
Seven Of the richest and most pro-
ductive provinces Of France were
devastated. More than $4,000
square miles of territory were laid
waste. Thousands of villages. towns
and cities were destroyed.
Germany at last sued for peace
and the armistice was signed. Came
then the peace conference.
The greatest court in history. for
such it was, decided Germany should
pay certain amounts as damages for
the destruction she had caused.
The amount of this award was 1872
billion gold marks, which was ac-
cepted Internationally by Germany
OF May 18th. 1921. By agreement
of the allies France was to have So
per cent.
With the acceptance by Germany
the award became an obligation, a
lien upon all the resources of the
German republic.
Within a short time artery the
award Germany fell in arrears and
the people of Germany began to send
nut n tho nNprtrv uN1I iac
and other forms of wealth and to ser
iously impair the whole German fin
ancial system for the purpose of
avoiding payment.
In the United States If II mar
owes another a debt secured by a
lien or mortgage and the debtor re-
fuses to pay, the mortgage is fore
closed n the property sold and
the debt paid. If judgment for dam
ages is aworded and the judgment
debtor refuses to pay, an execution
is issued, a levy mode by the sheriff
and his property sold to satisfy the
judgment.
This is exactly what France is
doing. The court was the peace
conference; the sheriff is the French
army, and the whole procedure thus
far Is very much in accord with the
way luulNluudlS 40 tulnRS III Amer
lea even in time of peace.
The American Legion approves of
the action of France occupying the
Ruhr.
There are six reasons:
First: Because the award was a
righteous n rendered by a Compel
ent court and accepted by Germany.
Second: Because Germany has vol
UNFAIRLY defaulted and refused to
pay and has wrecked her whole finan-
cial system for the purpose of avoid
ing payment.
Third: Because the course taken
by France is the only effective one
left to her in dealing with an OBJ
stinate debtor.
Fourth: Because Germany has re-
fused to levy taxes and take other
steps necessary to enable her to pay
the debt. We in the United States
are paying three times as much ma
tional tax as Germany, and France
Is paying four times as much per
capita tax as Germany.
Fifth: Because IL Germany is
not made to pay the damage caused
by her. some one else will have to
pay 1t.
Sixth: Because. IL Germany Is not
made to pay. the slaughter and ex-
penditure OF material and effort nee
essary to win on the battlefield, will
have been to a large extent. In vain,
and there will be little TO deter ma
lions from running amuck in the fu-
ture and making an assault on civili-
cation whenever they think they are
sufficiently strong to win.
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