Evening star., 1923-01-21
FRENCH AND GERMANS
MAY TRY TO END CHAOS
Menace in Continued Ruhr Strife More
Apparent to Both-England
Expected to Step in.

purchases of food the moment the
situation justifies.
Both Germans and French are be-
ginning to fear that the occupation
is leading to but one end-industrial
and economic collapse over the whole
of the occupied region. In this case
the French fear they will have to
sustain the populations. Food short
ages and further French efforts, Ber-
lin believes, will drive the workmen
to the cause of the radicals to such
an extent that untoward clashes will
result, If not out-and-out revoiu-
tionary measures designed to over
throw the present government. Paris.
too. begins to see this. And the
French certainly can collect nothing
under such circumstances. They
even might be forced to withdraw,
while the position of the German
government at the moment is too
precarious to warrant taking chances
in regard to prolonged chaos
AS consequence, Washington has
heard that after ii becomes apparent,
as IT soon will, that neither the Ger
mans nor the French can continue
without consequent dangers to all
concerned. efforts will be made by
both the German and French govern
mentS to reach some understanding
by which both may save their faces.
This move will not come at once,
inasmuch as Poincare cannot afford
politically to give in until the situ-
alton has reached stalemate or ap-
pTic1tion of present methods begin
to react against France.
Great Britain May Act.
Such a deadlock may be broken by
Great Britain. England is growing
more and more concerned over the
Ruhr occupation and a large per-
centage of the British population IS
~
will bring chaos from which Europe
may not recover in two decades.
Naturally England would suffer
,, through such contingency.
Labor particularly is angry over
Bonar Laws position of inactivity
and, 1t is believed, will build such
; fire under the government that II
will be moved from passivity to d.
rect action and interceSSion with
consequent settlement of the whole
problem.
II is believed by the laborites and
some in liberal ranks that should
Bonar Law. Notwithstanding dangers
at Lausanne, firmly declare that
Great Britain can tolerate no longer
Ruhr conditions and that she VIII
break the entente irretrievably unless
France withdraws her troops and
sets in motion efforts to bring about
France will give ear and modify
present policies-at least, permit
general entente settlement with Ger
many.
Though the Bonar Law regime has
made public statements in the past
week to the effect that England Will
do nothing to antagonize France az
the moment-deSiring to wait until
the failure of French plans are proven
to the French themselves-the gov
ernment actually is taking steps
looking toward firm action.
OF course under such circum-
stances Bonar Law again faces nout-
ing by Poincare. but it is Thought
certain that by the time the British
get ready to act. Poincare, seeing
French failure in the Ruhr. may De
ready to welcome any effort looking
toward interceSSion and Ruhr ADJUST
ment that will permit France to es-
cape from her adventure unscathed.
Italy May Join England.
Premier Mussolini, it is declared.
has instigated mediative efforts and
will Immediately present a well-knit
pIan looking toward settlement of
the whole reparations muddle. or at
least some expedient by which fur
ther strife on the continent may be
avoided.
It is believed that Italy. if she is
spurned by France, Immediately will
align herself with any new attitude
Of Great Britain. She may have, in
fact. received intimations of the
future British stand in case there
should come complete failure OF the
French policy.
If Italy's hesitancy in extending her
help to the French in the Ruhr is
resultant in no other thing 1t in
dicates that Italy might withdraw
her support from the enterprise In
case her settlement schemes are
fIouted. With only Belgium support
ing France. the Mussolini scheme,
whatever it is. may receive greater
attention in Paris than it otherwise
would.
If underground reports from Eu-
rope of possible settlement or inter-
vention in the Ruhr situation are cor
rect the whole situation may be saved.
but if present conditions continue to
prevail, with their myraid Of danger
Gus developments, then conditions can
grow only from bad to worse.