Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-09-13

Will France evacuate the Rhine un-
der the dictation Of the League oil
Nations? The subject is now being
discussed in Geneva. It was not un-
Ger the sanction of the League OF Ma
tons that France came into military
boss session of the late enemy's terri
tory. nor did Germany evacuate France
in 1870. nor until France had actually
81 id her indemnity for her defeat. The
subject is brought up at this time IN
close connection. with the Kellogg
BRAND treaty abandoning war as
eo'crnment policy, although 1t mas nc
legitimate connection with that agree.
mcnt. Foreign Minister BRAND OF
France has bluntly declared that there
will BE no evacuation until Germany
gives satisfactory security otherwise iof
the full payment of the reparations
under the Dawes plan Unless the
Ieaeue of Nations is a supergovcrn
ment. with power to dictate to France
and other allies and associates OF the
late war. Of what avail Will be the
present debate in Geneva?
It IS openly predicted that next year
when. under the Dawes plan. Germany
must pay her full annual installment-
immensely more than her previous m
stallinnnts-s1250 900 900. or S1ooOoO.
OOO-she will declare payment lmpossi-
BILE and demand a revision of the plan
Under the Dawes plan. Germany Will
issue bonds based on her rallroaGS ana
other public property. The proceeds OF
these bonds will go to the reparatlons'
so that thereafter the debt VIII lie pc
tween the private bondholders and the
German government and not between
the countries now holding PREPARATIONS,
that the United States investing pubic
will buy these bonds. but whether the
marketing here will be approved by our
Government Is not assured. II the
bonds cannot be sold Germany certainly
will default in her payments next year
and there will be new crisis In when
she will be practically bankrupt unless
revision is made In the Dawes plan
and in the terms of payment OF repara :
lions That will then be basis Tor a
renewal of Frances claim for more can
! collation. of the loans made by the
United States to France after the war
although already we have canceied
! every dollar of loans advanced to carry
on the war. ..- ..,,,
when that irnpasse comes France Will
| mold power, under the original YER
sailles treaty, to impose penalties Tor
default and execute them by further
possession of Germany's territory and
resources. Will the League step IN and
by indorsing the debtors bonds relieve
| her of her present emba rraSsment? Inc
| control of the League is in the hands
| Of the allies and they are the creditors.
The other members are small nations
not at all likely to take over the burden
OF German PREPARATIONS. Then why the
present parey?
! x X x x
According to the Associated Press dis
patch from Geneva France stands Tor
| no amelioration in the present condl-
tons of Europe, SO far as they concern
| Germany
It would be interesting to compare
Frances demand that the United
| States should cancel more of It's debt
| C.. has already Cancelled $4,000 900.
600 of it, with Frances own refusal 10
! cancel its claims against its recent
enemy Yet why should cancellation
| be expected In either case? Germanys
| invasion of France created damages,
! and she Is required to make reimburse
| ment. There is no amount yet flXed,
nor time limit for the full settlement,
but Germany peremptorily refused pay
ment and made default until. in 1928
| France took possession of the Ruhf, as
| provided in the Versailles treaty and
| the peace treaty which Germany had
signed as condition of the wars con-
clusion.
German territory along the west bank
Of the Rhine Is occupied by a French
force of $4,000 men, together with
smaller forces OF British and Belgian
armies The cost of maintaining those
armies Of occupation is charged
against Germany, as is customary
Originally, the United States had an
army of occupation in Germany, follow
ing the armistice. but its maintenance
has not yet been paid by Germany: 1t
is the only claim we hold against her
b! X \ X
When the French took possession OF