Evening star., 1923-06-10
GERMANY'SLATEST.
OFFER HELD HONEST
Accepted by Public as Ample
Concession in Reparation,
A. G. Gardiner Says.
SHOULD END DEADLOCK
Rejection by French Premier May
Isolate His Nation, 1t
Is Declared.
BY A. G. GARDINER,
2rstafu's Greatest Liberal Editor.


Brftain's Greatest Liberal Editor.
BY Gable to The Star.
LONDON, June 9.-The issue OF the
derman memorandum definitely has
turned the tide of feeling In this coun-
try. Public opinion emphatically &C
ospts the offer as an honest attempt on
Sermany's part to bring the present
deadlock in Europe to an end. 1t Is
rsneraIIy agreed that, whatever has been
dsrmanys attitude hitherto, the pres
ent proposal comedies everything that
can be asked. She leaves the question
Of total reparations untouched and sim
an impartial tribunal. 1t has long been
clear to every instructed mind that there
ts no way out of the impasse except oy
ueeotiations and this position is now
the recognized view of this country.
Query as to French Attitude.
How will France meet the new situa-
ton? For the first time 1t Is recog-
nized that II is Frances turn to make
q gesture of peace. Hitherto Poincare
always has been able to take refuge in
holding the German proposal made
uuate That pose is no longer possible.
Everything is granted that Germany IN
good faith can grant, including the sur
render in the matter of national guar
antees Of payments, leaving to expert In
ternational opinion the task of fixing
the measure of liability. Will Poincare
accept? Does he dare refuse? III ne
accepts, his whole policy goes by the
BOARD. II he refuses he will admit
settlement that takes his hand on Ger
many's throat and will finally isolate
France from the public opinion Of the
whole world.
What, In these circumstances, will
he do? Just now his purpose seems
directed to confusing the issue by
demanding that Germany cease her
passive resistance" in the Ruhr. This
evasion will not serve. The German
proposal has dropped the condition
that France evacuate the Ruhr' and
British opinion regards this as con-
elusive indication Of the good faith OF
the proposal. But the idea that as
preliminary to a settlement the Ger
man people should accept formally
the Invasion of the Ruhr-which the
British government has never recog-
nixed-is strongly repudiated. 1t is
notorious. moreover. that the passive
resistance" throughout has been a
movement emanating from the peo-
pie of the Ruhr themselves.
Challenge to Baldwin.
The situation confronts Baldwin
with a grave challenge. VIII he take
a
der to Poincare? 1t is difficult to see
how he can support the Poincare de-
mand without stultifying the past
policy of this country. From the
very beginning England has dis
ISOLATED herself from the Ruhr ad=
tation OF the treaty of Versailles. that
adventure is contrary to conditions
laid down in the peace terms. In
view of all this, can Baldwin now
call on Germany formally to condone
an action England herself has repu-
quarters that Baldwin will seek to
evade the dilemma by drawing dis
tinction between the moral and eco
nomic aspects of the Ruhr adventure;
that he will say that England Is op-
posed to II on economic grounds. but
not on moral grounds. and that in
these circumstances he supports the
French demand as to conditions, If
this casuistry is employed the policy
OF buying off French opposition to
settlement will be carried to hu-
initiating lengths.
World Sick Of Ruhr Farce.
On the other hand, IL Baldwin takes
q decisive stand on the ground that
the German offer is bona fide and
ought to be accepted. he will have
the support of a powerful element.
The world Is sick of the Ruhr farce.
Even France is disillusioned. Italy
Is disillusioned. Belgium Is more
than disillusioned. She sees that
there is NO money in the farce and
doesn't want TO see France establish
ed permanently In the Ruhr and her
self surrounded by that powerful
neighbor. 1t Is notorious that Bel
gian opinion has swung far around
in the direction of English opinion
and the view prevails that Poincare's
visit to Brussels failed to check the
movement. Belgium cannot perma-
nently consent to be pawn In the
hands of Poincare.
My view Is that Baldwin will stand
firm. In a conversation with a per-
son closely connected with the gov
ernment he said:
Germany has gone down on her
knees. II France refuses this offer,
then nothing Will satisfy her