Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-09-28
THE GERMAN MIDDLE

When one American dollar would
buy two hundr, million German
paper marks the German leaders de-
cided taxpayers would not continue
TO support the German workmen in
the Ruhr in idleness any longer.
passive resistance" to France is to
cease. This means that some effort
must be made to meet the demands
for separations. The German mag
mates who have controlled the Ger
man government have ways to get
the money needed but can Germany
have the use of it to pay her bills?
SO far there has been nothing in
the careers of these magnates to af-
ford any basis for the conclusion
their patriotism would incline them
to any tremendous sacrflc for Ger
many. If they forcsee, in the des-
truction of their plans to balk the
French in the Ruhr, financial
catastrophe in which they may be-
come involved and on the other hand
by means of concessions on their
Part a possibility of protecting their
enterprises for the future, such con-
cessions may be expected. 1t has
for some time been evident they have
been endeavoring to arrive at some
understanding with the capitalists of
France. who exercise no mean influ-
ence on the French government.
Economists declared when France
occupied the Ruhr on Jan. IL, 1928,
she has since extended her occupa-
tion-and secured for herself a
stranglehold on Germany's indus
trial capacity. that she would ruin
both herself and Germany, that she
could not secure income by any such
method. The latter part of this
prediction has been verified. France
has not been able to secure income
from the venture, but on the contrary
has been compelled to increase her
bonded debt to a great extent in or
der to continue the occupation. The
economists now declare that she will
be unable to avoid a complete finan-
cial collapse unless she may squeeze
the reparations from Germany ana
that she will he unable to do this,
that Germany is unable to pay.
But France has brought the
iniquities of Germany, her attempt
to avoid her obligations, down upon
the teutonic head and whether the
falling fabric will injure herself re-
mains to be seen. Thus far her
course does not merit such a fate.
She has acted in the occupation or
the Ruhr in the only possible way by
which she might to bring Germany
to terms. Whether she will proceed
by methods of justice will be deter
mined by events. France labors
under the fear of a reconstructed
Germany but Poincare declares she
will evacuate the Ruhr when the
terms prescribed by the treaty are
met. 1t is believed she would per-
NIT these to be made less rigorous
if she could be assured Of guaran-
tees; her own financial condition
would seem to urge this and public
sentiment throughout the world will
probably do so. Her success, which
would give to France dominance in
European affairs. might incline her
to arrogance but hardly will do so
until she is on f1rmer financial
footing than now seems possible in
the near future.
The upheaval in Germany, the es-
Establishment of military control is
not unexpected. 1t should be kept in
mind that politics and communism
are featuring in the situation; that
Bavaria is jealous of Prussian con-
troll, that the monarchsis are wait
ing only for what they may deem the
suitable opportunity to establish
themselves Furthermore this condi-
tion of disorder is likely to be of
considerable duration as it is too
much to expect a prompt settlement
of the reparations problem, for such
it still remains Notwithstanding the
downfall of the passive resistance.
! Then, too, it is not impossible that
the scheme to form a buffer state IN
the Rhineland may develop and fur
ther complicate the situation That
France would like this other things
being equal, is extremely probable.
= Military rule in Spain, Bulgaria, in
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