San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-02-25
NO BREAK IN
GLOOMY SKIES
OVER EUROPE
Weeks Developments Show
No Clearance Of Politi-
cal Difficulties.
UNCHANGED In RUHR
Germans Stubborn a n d
France and Belgium
Settle to Finish Fight.
BY ANDRE TARDIEU.

BY ANDRE TARDIEU.
Copyright. by The San Antonio Ligtt.
Paris, Feb. British re-
lations remain muddled as the Ruhr
situation continues unchanged. There
is grave uneasiness over the Polish
Lithuanis break. The French policy
toward Russia has taken q new turn.
That sums up the news of the week.
In the Ruhr the strike of workers 10
spreading while the workers remain
ing on the job are slackening speed.
The mines and shops seem TO be pro-
sumption. Consequently France and
ducing only enough for local con-
Belgium are settling down to q test
Of endurance.
There is complete eo-operation BE-
tween the two countries. Both PARIS
and Brussels assert that Germany
will find her adyersaries possess IN
yincible tenacity of purpose. This
means the present conditions win con-
tinue unchanged for some weeks at
least.
Likes BOnsr Laws Attitude.
The debates in the House Of Com
mons showed that Bonar Law is well
supported in his determination TO
undertake nothing to hamper France
We must admit his neutrality" 10
not the same thing as the entente
| cordiale, but. it is gratifying In COM
parison with Lloyd-George's aggressive
policy. ID e.
The latter must be suffering from
q lapse of memory when he spoke as
he did about Frances action in the
Ruhr. He forgot that he signed the
London .ultimatum of May 5, 1921,
threatening the occupation of the
Ruhr if Germany did not fulfill her
engagements, and he forgot his own
speech on the sixth of the same month
when he forcefully defended the poll
| icy of coercion.
to complain of France when for the
avoided all of her 1919 engagements.
Bonar Law is more reasonable and
less unfriendly, but his hesitant pol,
icy brings him into daily difficulties.
| The question of the railroads in the
British occupied areas is an example.
France under the treaty of Versailles
has an undisputed right to use these.
railroads since all of the Rhineland
railroads are under the authority of
General DeGoutte as commander in
chief. But England fears trouble in
her zone 3 she let's the French troops
| pass.
France has been anxious to find a
compromise that would satisfy Eng
land despite her plain rights, but IL
she should, like all compromises, il
probably will satisfy nobody.
Insecure Relations Disturbing.
The insecurity of the Franco-Brit-
ish relations in particularly disturb
fTlU VnAk aWRlrv MT ,,f TH1N -
happening Germany; but also because
Of the latest developments in the Pol
ish- Lithuania crisis. The powers had
plenty of time to settle the Mcneil
question during the last three years
but as usual they frittered away their
time and only decided to allot the city.
to Lithuania when the latter took
possession by force.
Meanwhile the grave hostile Incl
dents between the Poles and Lithuan-i
ianS in the neutral zone established
by the League of Nations has COM
plicated the situation. The Russians,
through Tchitcherin, have offered
mediation in threatening tones. IL
would be interesting to know Just
what German and Soviet influences
are operating at Kovno.
Anyhow it is just another tinderbor
in the East and the least we can say
is that considering the imminence OF
the conflagration the firemen are dis
playing lamentable lack of discipline.
At this moment the French govern
ment is preparing to send to Moscow
what is described as an economical,
but is really a political. mission. This
news will be denied, but it is true.
1t was decided on at the cabinet meet
ing on February 20. The policy pur-
sued towards the Turks has led i'm
evitably toward a impeachment with
the Soviets. Herriot's trip TO Mos
COW last summer established the first
point of contact. The Poincare gov
eminent decided to go further. Miller
and fought the plan but was over
ridden.
Soviets Can't Be Trusted.
Many Frenchmen hold that negotia-
tons with the Soviet under present
conditions only add to the difficulties
of the present situation. Their success
sive and contradictory promises can
doubted that an ACCOMPLISHMENTS
lin understanding exists and it is log
ical that it should.
In every day language we will be
played for suckers" as Lloyd-George
was at Genoa. Again the conquerors
initiate each others mistakes. France
has played with Turkey as Lloyd
George played with Germany and now
we're doing the same thing with the
Russians. Truly il is scarcely a good
time to choose such a plan.
After that statement of the situa-
ton you wont ask me 10 prophecy.
am not Oedipus to read the riddle
Of the Sphinx.