Evening star., 1924-08-24
ASSA|[ MACDONALD
ON RUHR ATTITUDE
British Labor and Liberals
Suspect Motives of Franco
German Future.
BY A. G. GARDINER.
By Cable to The Star,

By Cable TO The Star.
LONDON, AUG. 23.-With signature
of the London agreement, the most
important conference ever held here
was dispersed. Prime Minister Mac
Donald has gone to play golf in Scot
land and later to visit the King at
Balmoral, Premier Herriot to face his
critics in Paris and Chancellor Marx
to allay Nationalist hostility in Ger
many.
Mr. Macdonald has the most en-
viable role but he does not escape
criticism. Public opinion generally
approves the agreement. regarding
real peace. 1t represents the return
of Germany to the comfy of nations
and the resumption Of civilized re-
lations on the part of the great pow
ers.
In liberal and labor circles much
disquiet prevails on the terms Of the
agreement in relation to the Ruhr.
Althoush the Dawes plan did not al
lude to the Ruhr explicitly, it's i'm
plicft assumption was uneQuivocal
as the foundation of the scheme.
Even the official labor press censures
Mr.. Macdonald for having "at the
critical moment cast his vote against
the weaker side" and regards con-
tinuance of the French in the Ruhr
Loi dHolher year as a menace 10 ef-
fective working of the scheme.
Question Supplemental Note.
1t is notorious that this view is
shared by Philip Snowden, chancellor
OF the exchequer, who made a gallant
fight in the conference and differed
from his chief on the crucial point.
Mr.. MacDonald's letter to NJ. Herriot
after the conference. urging early
withdrawal, and reiteraung the British
view that occupation of the Ruhr was
not authorized by the treaty of Yer
sailles, is regarded as expressing his
own sense that his hand had been
forced against his better judgment and
as a declaration to his followers that
he took the French side unwillingly as
the only way Of saving the conference
from failure.
But the Ruhr question is over
shadowed by the storm which has
arisen in regard to the commercial
agreement which the French propose
with Germany. Mr.. Snowden states
publicly that this pact constitutes a
serious menace to the British iron and
steel trade. which already is alarmingly
policy in Europe.
Sees Economic AIM.
1t is notorious that the French occu-
patton of the Ruhr had an economic as
we'll as a political motive. The French
iron and steel combine needs control Of
Ruhr coal to secure domination of
the continental trade. Force having
failed to secure this end, a trade
agreement is contemplated to bring 1t
about. and NJ. Loucheur's visit to NJ.
Herriot in London was connected with
that purpose. NJ. Loucheur, replying
to Mr.. Snowden, denies that the pro-
posed agreement is directed against
British interests, but it is alleged here
that LoucheurS aim is to continue
military occupation of the Ruhr in
order to maintain the privilege Of
sending into Germany, duty free,
goods on which this and other countries
would pay import duties. 1t is also
alleged that the treaty would provide
for French participation in the Ruhr
mines and would create one great
combine.
Mr.. Macdonald. when approached
on the subject of a Franco-Germ
commercial treaty. said that NJ Her
riot has undertaken to communicate
to him the nature of his proposal to
Germany for Mr.. MacDonald's obser-
vations. Meanwhile the public awaits
with anxiety the reception of the
London agreement by France and
Germany Both Herriot and Marx are
confronted with irreconcilable ma
tionalism, but the impression prevails
here that they will pull through.
NJ. Herriot'S strong card is that
without an agreement France will be
Isolated and Marks chief asset is that
Without an agreement the rentemark
Sould no longer be sustained and
Germany would be confro4ed with a
Gigantic pecuniary calamity.
III New War Engines.
Thursday at Brough. Yorkshire, the
trial was witnessed of a new aero
plane, the largest single engine in the
world of nine tons weight and 1000
horsepower engine. 1t is part of the
new coast defense scheme.
Thus do the great nations continue