Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1924-03-09
BY OLIVER OWEN KUHN.
MACDONALD of Great
- Britain, determined to improve

BY OLIVER OWEN KUHN.
HREMIER MACDONALD of Great
Britain , determined nj to improve
being more than ever set up
on bringing order out of continental
chaos, has struck with a bold hand
in an effort to obtain amicable Coop
Grafton between the larger allied
powers in settlement of vexatious
continental problems.
In Il message to Premier Poincare
of France the British statesman stat
ed emphatically that England has
not, did not and cannot approve of
the French viewpoint in regard to the
general PREPARATIONS question and ac-
tions in the Ruhr and the Rhine
land. Macdonald but expressed what
England has been thinking for
long time, and, on the face of things,
it would have been just provoca tion
for the hrey-tempered French pre-
mier to retort with vitriol But, in
stead, he modestly, though firmly, de-
Tended the French position in regard
to Germany and openly reversed him
self in regard to perpetual tenure of
those German regions now held on
pretext Of guarantee for PREPARATIONS
payments.
Macdonald's viewpoint was express
ed at a moment when Poincare could
not make more vociferous retort than
he did. Poincare's position in do
nestle politics is not such that he
can hazard L break with England,
shown signs Of deciding on her own
political actions without dictation
from the Quai d'Orsay in Paris Fur
thermore, France has seen weak
sning Of her influence in territories
carefully nurtured politically since
strenuousIy resist the British pre-
mier's determination TO drive home
for IL complete and effective under
standing between the allied powers
and force the Ere from their posi-
ton on several questions which have
been regarded in many quarters Us
endangering the future peace of Eu-
rope, notably the continued tenure
of the Rhineland and the Ruhr.
French Expected to Weaken.
1t is generally regarded in official
and diplomatic circles that the
British premier not only seized the
psychological time to impress the
British viewpoint on the French, but
as a result of this undoubtedly there
will be q weakening of French policy
in the general problem of dealing
with Germany. England at no time
will ask that French safety or
economic future be hazarded in any
settlement with Germany. but Eng
land will firmly insist that the French
method of gaining adequate settle
ment shall be less dangerous than
the one which has been pursued since
the French entered the Ruhr.
The Dawes financial commission
soon will file its report and. accord
ing to advices. it will be filled with
practical suggestions whereby Ger
many may be made to pay all that
she should pay, and Furthermore will
suggest just how this should be done.
1t likewise is known that, in many
cases, this report will run counter
| current to the repeated avowals of
Premier Poincare that the French
should not surrender an iota of pres
! ent advantage on German soil before
| Germany had paid, and paid in full.
by her Tarlike ambitions and en-
[ beavers.
| Forced to Open AgAin-
/, Inasmuch as the French people and
a large portion Of the nations poll
| ticians realize that the Ruhr adven-
| ture is working a deficit and is re-
acting against the security of
| Frances financial position, Poincare
| has been forced TO modify his in
| siStence upon his first Disseminated
| thesis. Now Macdonald forces him
i to come into the open again in the