The Dominion MONDAY, APRIL 21, 1924. THE APPROACH TO EUROPEAN SETTLEMENT

Dominion, Volume 18, Issue 177, 21 April 1924, Page 6

The Dominion MONDAY, APRIL 21, 1924. THE APPROACH TO EUROPEAN SETTLEMENT

The report of the Dawes Committee seems likely at least to provide a basis of Allied agreement in regard to reparations. Britain and Italy approve broadly of the plan of settlement proposed by the experts. France and Belgium have yet to deliver their final verdict, but there are signs that even France is keenly desirous of re-estab-lishing a full understanding with her Allies.

M. Poincare has referred in rather ambiguous terms to the experts’ reports, but his very ambiguity amounts to a noteworthy modification of his previous attitude. Although he has been as successful as ever of late in obtaining Parliamentary votes of confidence, the French Premier is confronted by a widespread and growing impression in the minds of his countrymen that the occupation of the Ruhr is as far from guaranteeing French security as it is from guaranteeing the ultimate payment of reparations. The French people are even more concerned about their future national security than they are about reparations. On that account tho polic-y of occupation, though economically unproductive, found favour in their eyes so long as it was believed to constitute such a control over Germany’s coal and metal working industries as would prevent her preparing for war. Now, however, according to observers on the spot, there is a growing feeling in responsible circles in France that, with or. without the Ruhr, Germany may become a great military Power again. M. Poincare, in the words of one correspondent, “is reproached with having put all his eggs in one basket —out of which the bottom may fall.”

It is thus possible to base hopeful anticipations on the Allied meeting which is to be held in London within a few days to discuss reparations in relation to the exports’ reports. No similar assurance can be felt meantime with regard to German co-operation in the plan of settlement. The German Cabinet, it is true, has lost no time in accepting the proposals of the Dawes Committee, but this acceptance is of little value until it has been endorsed by the Reichstag, and the Reichstag which will speak decisively in the matter is the new one to he elected early next month. At present, the reactionary parties of the Reich are confidently declaring their hopes of attaining office as a result of the elections. Should these hopes be realised, the acceptance of the reparations plan by tho present German Cabinet would speedily become a “scrap of paper.” This was proclaimed frankly by Herr Helfferich, a prominent Nationalist spokesman, in the course of a Reichstag debate last month. The leading features of Herr Helfferich’s speech, and the inferences to be drawn from it, were summarised in the following terms by the Berlin correspondent of the London Times:

“Our foreign policy,” said Herr Helfferich. "has given the impression that we are trying to avoid anything that might seem to be unpleasant to France. We demand a more active foreign policy towards * reach lust for power.” To the interruptions of the Socialists, who asked what his party proposed to do. Herr Helfferich replied: I should be prepared, if I were the responsible Minister, to .take all the consequences of our action in regard to France.” He explained that he said this in full appreciation of the possibility that the forthcoming elections might put his immediate associates into power. What tho Nationalists mean by taking all the consequences” amounts to a repudiation or the I eace treaty. But perhaps it is not necessary to take too literally the statements of German Nationalist politicians still in a position of irresponsibility. It certainly cannot be regarded as of minor importance that the Nationalists, now bidding confidently for power in Germany, are on their own showing definitely and irreconcilably opposed to any such policy as is implied in the German Cabinet’s acceptance of the report of the Dawes Committee, and in the preliminary measures it is talcing to create the machinery demanded in that document, liven, if they fail to attain office with an independent majority, tho Nationalists may secure such an accession of strength as will enable them to wreck the new reparations plan. Allied agreement, however, is well worth seeking for its own sake, and also as a means of influencing public opinion in Germany With a practicable reparations settlement definitely within reach, tho German people may well hesitate to entrust control over their affairs to those who have nothing else to offer, than a policy involving internal and external strife indefinitely continued.