Evening star., 1928-12-30
FRANCE IS UNEASY
AS OLD YEAR ENDS
Imminent Political CompliCa-
tions Keep Republic in Some
what Feverish State.
BY GERVILLE REACHE.

By Cable to The Star.
PARIS, December 2e.-Political COM
plications are imminent which are
keeping France In a somewhat feverish
state, for, as this dispatch pointed out
last week, 1928 ends for this country
on note of uneasiness.
But altogether 1929 seems destined
to be a happy year for Europe. 1t is
scheduled to mark the final liquidation
of the international financial problems
which have weighed so heavily since
the war. Americas decision to allow
United States experts to assist the
financial committee in settling the rep
arations questions is a good augury.
Everything now Is ready for action.
Sir Josiah Stamp for personal reasons
wants the committees meeting post
poned till February and some Germans
think 1t is better to wait until after
the British parliamentary elections, in
the hope of Labor party victory. But
delays for such reasons are unthtnkable.
Problem Governmental.
The problem after all is hardly a
technical one It is mainly govern
mental because 1t is conditioned on
agreements previously made. Questions
of reparationS may arise. If part of
the German bonds are mobilized by
conversion with the state bonds of the
creditor nations, then the world finan-
cial markets must be asked to aid ana
certain compensatiOns may readily be
agreed to.
At all events, final settlement of rep
arations will undoubtedly be followed
by French ratification of the Mellon
Berenger debt agreement. Parliament.
indeed, has provided no budgetary
fNr f1nvt AUUIYSf Whon Sam .
100000 is due for American war stocks
purchased by France: nor has the
United States in its revenue estimates
foreseen the collection of this sum.
Senator Berenger has pointed out that,
unless such payment is budgeted, his
agreement must be ratified.
A financial settlement with Germany
will enable France to take up the ques-
ton of immediate evacuation of the
Rhineland, which Chancellor Mueller so
insistently demands, and also the ques-
ton of annexing Austria and the Saar
Valley to Germany.
This negotiation is extremely delicate,
and we're Germany wise she would seek
to multiply the proofs of her peaceful
intentions. She might, for instance
conclude non-aggression treaties WITH
Poland and Czechoslovakia; she should
WAOG HVWNAo w NAA~
Nations Investigations committee which
is verifying the demilitarization OF the
Rhine zone, and finally she should re-
call how she treated the foreign minor
tiles in German territory before 1914
rather than make so much fuss ABOUT
the way Germans are treated today
in neighboring states.
Requests Bear Threats.
Before the war, the Poles in East
Prussia had not even the right to own
land, and when they possessed any they
were appropriated. On these conditions
the world will glardly allow Germany
to annex the Germanic populations
which she so desires. Unfortunately
every German request Is accompanied
by threats, and Germany stubbornaly
refuses to make the slightest conces-
sion herself She seems bent above all
on power, whereWith, like Samson, to
pull down the temple. It Is Earring
note In the chorus of clamors for
peace which arise from the masses
In all lands
1t is hoped that these political dis
cussions will not have an i'll effect
on the worlds economic progress, which
continues excellent and will further
improve when China, with the aid OF
the great powers, enlerges from the
chaos in which she has been founder
ing for so many years.
(Copyright, 1929