Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-09-13
BACKGROUND OF EVENTS
BY P4UL 7. COLLINS.

! the Ruhr. January II, 1928, the Ger
mans made no resistance, but few
| lays later. passive resistance broke out
In the form of strike of all railroad
employees. and the Germans absolutely
pretended not to see a French soldier.
| The only effect of that course was that
! the military force was supplemented by
French railway men. and since then
the trains have been running with ex-
elusive French forces. Leaders In the
| passive resistance movement were ex-
| PEELED from the country by the thou
| sands.
Under the terms of the peace treaty
the bridgehead OF Coblentz is to be
evacuated in 1880 and the final evacG-
alton OF all the Rhine is set at 1888, but
these calculations are based upon Ger
many's fulfillment of her payments in
the meanwhile. or her giving other Sc
curities. to take the place of the occu-
patton of the Rhineland. Prior to thr
Briand-Kellogg pact abolishing war as
a national policy under all circuni-
stances except in national defense. the
ordinary recourse OF France in case Of
Germany's persistent default would
have been military occupation OF AZ
Germany If necessary to enforce settle
ment. But, in the light of the recent
agreement. what will be the course? Nc:
war--unless Germany should show the
madness of attempted invasion OF
France-but coercion through CONNER
cial measures and general oStracism
may be resorted to through the League
of Nations.
| Germany's present agitation of her
demand for evacuation of the Rhine
! ttd lie i.Sn 10
throughout France, for the people Will
not support any lenlency of their gov
ernment toward the enemy who caused
so much suffering in the war. While
Minister BRAND has spoken firmly to
Germany. he IS looked upon by the
French as inclined toward Cancellation.
which they will resent Other members
Of the cabinet. though not including
Poincare, the premier, are not in full
agreement with BRAND. and any weak
! ness would precipitate a financial and
political crisis. which would cost Messrs.
| Poincare and BRAND their offices.
In Germany the position of Foreign
Minister Stresemann is also in the bal
ance-if he fails to secure the evacua-
| ton. his government will fall. Strese-
mann has posed as a pacifist, to set at
ease the fears of the Socialists, but he
dare not atfront the Nationalists--ul ultra
patriotic party devoted to the upbuild-
ing of the German Republic The flu
! ture holds this program, according to
| high German authority: The demand
| for revision of the Dawes plan next
year, in the face of annual payments of
the alleged impossible sum of ST5O.000,
600 a year; a modification or altera
| ton of the eastern boundaries, including
| the abolition of the Corridor which
pyt,c
Prussia and gives Poland access to the
SEA; restoration of Danzig to the
! German Republic, and union of Ger
many and Austria, restoration of her
, colonies and autonomy for Alsace and
+, Lorraine.
1t Is intimated that Germany will
! form an alliance with bolshevic Russia.
All of this prepoSterous program will
not tend to soften Frances attitude as
| to the evacuation of any territory now
! held but will warn her OF trouble ahead
! for which she must prepare. Germany
while disclaiming any intent to change
! her eastern border by force, built forti-
F.; fications along that border. which the
| allies have compelled her to demolish.
A writer for the Fortnightly Review of
| London, Mr.. John Bell said last March:
mot many moons will have waXed
and waned before determined efforts
| will be made to carry out the National
! list program, with the main item Of
! which, the evacuation of the Rhine, Dr.
| Marx and DR.. Stresemann are in full
, agreement Allied diplomatiSts have
very difficult tasks before them. They
will have TO meet the German on
slaught on what remains of the peace
treaty. The occupation of the Rhine is
the only pledge that the allies hold, AND
its abandonment before the damages OF
war have been repaired would mean
| that the German dream of destroying
| the Versailles INSTRUMENT and winning
the peace had beeR fulfilled"
tCopyright. 1928. by Paul V. Collins.)