, 1923-01-18
PAGE 70
DEMING SAYS GERMANY NOT
ENTITLED TO SYMPATHY

the present French military policy.
William C.. Deming, editor an dpub-
Usher of the Wyoming State Tribune
thinks that while France may have
shown poor judgment in advancing
into the Ruhr basin, yet on the 9TH
er hand Germany is not entitled to
any great amount of sympathy. He
writes in the Tribune as follows:
The movement of French and Bel
gian troops across the Rhine into
the Ruhr basin. the great Industrial
and mining region of Germany, has
aroused the keenest interest of the
entire world. 1t is the most acute
question that has arisen since the
Versailles treaty. People in every
land will divide themselves pretty
generally into two camps, possibly
three. Those who approve this ag-
gressive action on the part of
France, those who condemn it and
those who are Indifferent. The
third quota will embrace a large
number of people.
This radical step on the part o
the French government has been
taken because it Is claimed Germany
has defaulted in it's r%eparations pay
ment, particularly with respect to
the delivery of coal to France.
French troops are now occupying the
city of Essen, the home of the
famous Krupp gun works, now used
for manufacturing implements of
peace
The British government, although
closely allied with France during
and since the war opposed French
occupation of the Ruhr basin, but
will not remove British troops from
Cologne. The American govern
ment, it is believed, advised against
French occupation of the Ruhr and
will remove American troops from
Coblenz, in response to public senti-
ment at home and for fear they may
be drawn into some sudden con-
flagration in Europe. One must
admire France for being willing to
'go it alone" and take the conse-
Quences.
The Tribune-Leader wishes to re-
mark relative to this situation that
while there nay be and is an honest
difference of opinion, and a wide diff
ference of opinion, as to the wisdom
of this movement on the part Of
France, there Is no occasion for
wasting sympathy on Germany.
The further occupation OF Ger
man territory by France may prove
a bad political nov 1t may be
economically wrong. 1t may be a
great diplomatic blunder because
made without the santion of Great
Britain and the United States, al
though Belgium and Italy have ap-
proved the action Of France. The
appeals, however, Of the German
people for sympathy because they
are o~ver-ridden and their country
invaded. fall to the ground in the
light of what France suffered, and
in comparison with the small amount
she has been repaid.
The January 9Th Literary Digest
presents a YER different view of the
french cause from that now COM
monty understood nearly four years
after the ending of the war. With
out provocation and almost without
notice. Germany invaded Belgium
and France, utterly destroying great
cities and after four years of war,
the most disastrous in the history of
the world. left a large part of
France stricken as IL by q whitening
scourge.
The physical wound in the side OF
France will take generations to heal: /
the millions of dead will never re-
turn. The estimate placed upon the
damage In the devastated regions of
France is 104 billions OF francs.
France has expended A billions of
francs for reconstruction. Germany
has paid France our billions OF
francs. Only -four billions out OF
104 billions of damage.
One-sixteenth of the entire area of
France was devastated.
The cost of the war to France was:
Seven devastated departments.
Ninety-four per cent of her WOO!
production.
Ninety per cent of her steel pro.
duction.
Seventy per cent of her sugar pro-
duction.
Fifty per cent OF her electric en-
ergy.
Thirty-three per cent OF her coal
production.
Four hundred kilometers OF rail-
road
22,167 factories were destroyed.
And France in three years:
Has a to pay $500, 900, 900.
To rebuild her ruins.
The war did not cost Germany:
One inch OF soil ruined.
One factory damaged.
One coal mine destroyed.
One sugar Beet pulled up.
One electric cable broken.
One rail stolen.
And Germany has paid In three
years:
One and a quarter billion dollars,
In all private or personal affairs
between individuals and companies.
~ a debtor defaults he may be sued.
II the claim is n Just one and judg-
ment IN secured Il may be executed
IN the proper legal manner by scis-
Ing the goods according to due pro-
cess OF law.
In other cases II q business loses
money or falls n receiver may he ap-
pointed and the business conducted
for the benefit OF all the croditors.