THE RHINELAND

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 53, 11 September 1928, Page 11

THE RHINELAND

NEXT STEP TO MUELLER SECURITY OBSTACLE Australian Presi Association. (Received 11th September, 9 a.m.) LONDON, 10th September. The Australian Press Association representative at Geneva sates that with tho round of calls between the Big Five completed, the next step in the Bhineland discussions rests with Herr Muellor, who has been asked "What is your plan?" When it is remembered in what high hopes were the Thoiry conversations iv 1926 and the abandonment of the proposal at that time to coinmercialiso the Dawes payment into Gorman railway bonds as security, it is surprising that tho same idea is behind Franco's mind_ to-day, becauso tho same difficulties arise as in 1926. For instance, there is a doubt whether thero is sufficient liquid capital to absorb the bonds, and also a fear that their issue at 5 per cent, might doflato the existing bonds. There is a feeling among high-placed authorities that if M. Briand had a free hand it might be easier to adjust -.he Rhinela'nd . prob-, lems, but he is subject to M. Poincare 's security complex, backed by a similar strong French mentality. Likewise, thero is a feeling that with only a few months to go to evacuate the second Rhine zone a liberal French gesture might bo risked for the peace ideal.