France and the Ruhr.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 17807, 5 July 1923, Page 8

France and the Ruhr.

Tho difficulty over the payment by Germany of the reparations due from her may come to am end at any moment, but at present .it appears to bo insoluble. British policy hitherto has been directed towards ©neouraging Germany to make a satisfactory offer—and no satisfactory offer has yet been made -rand towards maintaining at least a semblance of co-operation with France. There is hardly o.ny doubt that opinion in Britain is almost unanimous in regarding the French policy in the Ruinas in the highest degree unwise, not merely because it operates against Gercapacity to discharge her liabilities, but also because it is creating a feeling which will in time bear the fruit of another war. The French defence of the Ruhr policy amounts to this: that Gerrrtany is wilfully endeavouring not to pay the reparations due from her, and that the only guarantee that payment will be made is the continued occupation of the Ruhr. Germany has in successive Notes improved her ofioru, and in May was asking that if tho Allies consider eh© has under-estimated her paying capacity, the matter should bo submitted to an international commission. This offer has been treated by such representative and prudent organs of British opinion ag "The Times" and the "Spectator" as a reasonable one, but tho French Government has refused to consider it. In tho face of France's refusal to accept ivny interference with her opinions or any modification of her plans, Britain has been unable to do much more than look on. When the last mail loft London there was growing up in Britain ii feeling that the Government could j nob profitably maintain this attitude, and doubts as to the candour and com- i mon-senso of France were being expressed, together with such opinions as this from "The Spectator" : It is not right, even if it is possible, | for a self-respecting nation to remain ; neutral on a moral issue. It, therefore, the German attempt at re-opening negotiations should end in nothing, it will become the duty of the British Government, after all, to say precisely what it thinks and, by formulating a plan, to provide yet another starting-point for discussion. The whole issue is this: that force must bo replaced by conciliation, and law. and that there is no ; hope- for tho future of the world till j thiß is done. j lu tho meantime the harsh measures J adopted by tho French in the Ruhr are 1 creating a dangerously chaotic situa- ; tion, pregnant of future evil. There ia some ground for hoping that when Germany makes a concrete- proposal which Britain cau really approve, even though it be far less than will saiisfy Franee, the British Government will formally signify ite approval or r.he

offer. France will then lie taking a very grave responsibility indeed if she does not abandon her present policy, which most British people criticise, not out of any regard for Germany, but because it is a policy both profitless and perilous.