Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-09-11
EVACUATION OFRHINELAND
WAITS ON GENEVA RULING
Problem Constitutes One of Chief Con
Germ for Diplomats Gathered in
Eighth Assembly Session.

vino hold more than so per cent Of the
PREPARATIONS claims against Germany,
perceive that within the period IL
which they can still occupy both the
remaining sectors OF the Rh:neland
separations may again become an iE-
uation they reason that they would be
better placed at CoElenz and Mainz
than behind -heir own frontiers.
To the French mind--to the Euro
pean mini. speaking geEerally-thc
total liquidation OF debts ard repara-
lions is a single problem. II must he
disposed CT by q combined settlement.
IN this situation .he French hope that
with an inevitable reduction OF Ger
IicI payments there will come IL pro-
portional scaling down of debts. and
for them the British and American
debts alone have importance.
The French are perfectly aware that
occupation OF the Rhineland to the
end OF the treaty period is a danger
Gus adventure. But they are unwill.
ing to go empty handed from the
occupied area. And they are doubly
unwilling to go before the hour ar
rives when debts and reparations must
, be adjusted.
French Ready to Trade.
In principle, as Thoiry disclosed.
the French are prepared to trade their
right-tEat Is, the legal right-to stay
in the Rhineland for financial consid-
erations. The sale of German securi-
ties and the reversion to France OF
most of the proceeds was an attrac-
tive proposal. Even now, when their
financial situation has improved. the
difficult process Of permanent stabili-
cation might be fastened and assured
by such an influx of foreign capital.
There are nationalist elements in
France who would oppose evacuation
on any terms. For them the fear of
Germany remains irremovable. On
the other hand, vastly larger Sec
ton are prepared to accept a perma-
nent adjustment on the basis of the
Theiry scheme. 1t wants peace with
Germany, but not at a price which
seems prohibitive.
The Germans. on the other hand,
are convinced that they have paid the
full price for evacuation. They feel
that Locarno was moral. If not a
legal, promise of prompt evacuation.
They not unreasonably argue that
having fulfilled all requirements they
are entitled TO obtain what they paid
for without new concessions or sacri-
fees.
The fact that the League of Nations
has done nothing to hasten evacua-
ton has Enthusiastically cooled German
enthusiasm for Geneva. There is,
too, distinct German feeling that
British policy, which during the
Locarno era was manifestly sympa-
thetic. has changed. and that since the
British quarreled with Soviet Russia
not only have they endeavored to
| drive Germany into an anti-Russian
| combination but, failing this, have
| compromised with the French on the
basis Of French support against Rus.
1 STA in return for British complaisance
| in the French non-evacuation policy.
German opinion was sharply aroused
| over the visit OF the President of the
French republic to London and the
consequent renewal In the British and
French press Of the note of friendli.
ness, which seemed to indicate a re-
newal OF the Anglo-French entente.
Locarno had no greater promise than
that it would abolish all danger of a
combination of the two nations which
were the backbone of the anti-German
coalition both before and during the
World War.
Occupations Are Bad.
The present situation cannot con-
compromising
both the prospect of Franco-German
reconciliation and that Of the larger
European readjustment. Occupations
are always bad things, and always
they have been shortened after peace
has been restored. The allied troops
left France after 1915 within three
years. The German retirement from
France after'1871 was equally prompt.
BY contrast, the allied troops have
now remained in Germany nearly nine
years since the armistice.
Cooperation between France, Brit.
ain and Germany, anything like real
international cooperation in Europe,
all development of the League of Ma
tons as an effective agency for ad.
Justment-these things remain contin-
gent upon the friendly settlement of
the evacuation difficulty. Obviously,
1t cannot be adjusted by the League
itself. There is no fashion in which
1t can be brought before the council
of the assembly, because the Treaty
OF Versailles remains the law of
Europe.
On the other hand, all the states.
men or Europe are meeting at Geneva.
Stresemann, BRAND and Chamberlain
VIII De present. Thus the scene is set
ior the next act in the drama which
began in London with the making of
the Dawes plan in 1924, was continued
at Locarno in 1925 and carried on at
Geneva last year, when Germany en-
tered the League. 1t now awaits what
IN many ways must be the final de-
Velopment in the restoration of normal
relations between Germany and her
TWO great opponents of 1914.
(CODvriQhk 1907