San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-08-26
MEDIATION IN.
RUHR DISPUTE
BR|TA|N'S CUE.
Must Act to Stop Passive
Resistance Says German
Publicist.
NO PEACE OTHERWISE
Thinks Poincare Has Up
per Hand in Negotia-
tions Thus Far =
NO PEACE OTHERWISE
By MAMMALIAN HARDEN.

copyright by the San Antonio Light.
Berlin, Aug. 25.-The fencer who
disarms his opponent, stoops quickly,
picks up the foil and hands it hack to
his opponent, then bows. Premier
Poincare's latest note recalls this
sporting spectacle.
IL is hardly necessary to say that his
opponent is in London, not Berlin.
One of the greatest mistakes OF
Prime Minister Baldwin's cabinet was
that it permitted French ill-humor
against Germany to be diverted toward
the English cabinet itself. This was
criticized not merely by Austen Cham.
berlain and Lord Rothermere, but also
by the middle class, all parts of which
are angered by the rejoicing of certain
blind Germans who still hope their
land will benefit by Angio-French
quarrels.
Poincare cleveriy took advantageSof
this. In his speech at Charleville and
in his documents in the yellow book.
he shows himself conciliatory and
ready for practical clearance of the
difficulties. His rejection of the idea
giving England priority over America
is clever strategy. He demonstrates
with smile. that the Ruhr OCCUPATION
which London tardily declared illegal,
had been regarded by the Allied ma
tons since 1920 as legitimate sane
ton and often had been threatened.
1t was not necessary for him to re-
call that Lloyd-George at least three
times violated the treaty of Versailles.
! Reiterates mo Annexation"
The foil has fallen from Secretary
Curzon's uncertain hands. Since The
French premier declares for the TWEEN
tieth time that he has no thought. of
annexation and does not desire 10 tor
ture or ruin Germany, but merely
wishes to compel her to nay repaFa-
tions. at least a provisional under
standing must be possible If England
seriously desires a settlement through
| Franco-German collaboration.
France faces an election of parLs-
ment members and a dangerous over
production Of wine. The French birth
rate since 1922 has been less than epe-
seventh Of the German birth rate. De-
spite jealous propa ganda the franc has
sunk to one-third its normal value.
The metal industry suffers a shortage
Of coal.
A majority of Frenchmen therefore
!
dtions and would gladly make conces-
sions il these were not too painful.
And since the new German cabinet
realizes more clearly than did its ma
| tionalistic predecessor what Is neces-
sary and possible. the only hindrsnce
to speedy understanding is passive re-
sistance in the Ruhr.
But the German cabinet fears The
withdrawal of orders TO resist would
be a sign of submissiveness and would
incite the nationalistic and communist
lie elements TO dangerous attacks. This
feeling is groundless. for nine-tenths
Of the people in Germany feel that the
Ruhr conflict cannot end with victory
and can only ruin Germany economi-
cally and financially.
This hindrance could be overcome
only il England would request the
cabinet in Berlin TO abandon resist-
ance and would guarantee that toler.
able conditions would be re-established
in the Ruhr Immediately. II England
doesn't do this. no moral sermons can
! conceal the fact that the peaceful
agreement Of continental nations is
not the aim of the English policy.
Have Little TO Eat.
The situation is most urgent and
another day may bring the patient
Germans TO desperation. The lower
and middle classes have So little to
eat that not only tuberculosis. scurvey
and digestive trouble Of every kind IN
crease alarmingly, but even dental dis
ease due TO the constant diet OF soups.
vermicilli. etcetera-nothing that re-
quires chewing.
A mound of meat or butter costs l..
go 900 marks--a loaf Of bread. 400.
600 marks; a hundredweight Of coke.
$3.50, 000 marks; a pair CT ordinary
shoes $4,000. 900; a suit Of clothes.
200 900 200. The fact that these (, rices
are justified BY the dollar quotation Is
poor consolation for the under-paid
people.
Since only absolute necessities ran
be bought. the shops are empty. Since
the metal worker must demand 4.ooo.-
| 600 marks daily in order 10 live. many
| works must close or 20 on half time
Book publishers have already decided
TO shut down. This industry which
has flouriShed in Germany for cen
turtles ceases because Il costs billions
TO print small book and the price
| must be so high nobody can bry.
Countless newspapers and magszlnes
| cannot continue.
Almost 60,OON. 00o,0 600 marks are be-
ing printed daily. Monstrous taxes.
adopted BY Parliament overnight. dem-
onstrate too late former Chancellor
Cuno's objectionable misconduct OF az
fairs. The sweetest notes are unayaN-
ing agsinst bitter want.
! ne Who battles for the next day'S ex-
;s,erre Is in no rood 20 edmire the
elegant art Of the teneerS. IL Engand
does not quickly decide TO mediate.
Poincare's greatest hour probably viii
| strike.
Then in the consciousness OF his. in
pregusble position he can abandon h's
demand for ending passive resistance
and can offer Germany directly and
publicly a Just agreement. ~.
Generosity has always been syn
I = s-...ak ..S 40 svaak nesl