The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED DAILY FRIDAY, JULY 27, 1923. THE UNSOLVED RUHR PROBLEM.

Gisborne Times, Volume LIX, Issue 9574, 27 July 1923, Page 4

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED DAILY FRIDAY, JULY 27, 1923. THE UNSOLVED RUHR PROBLEM.

It may be anticipated that a fierce controversy will again rage in connection with the further efforts that are being made by Britain to bring about a concerted line of policy on the part ol the Allies with reference to Germany’s default in the matter of carrying out her war indemnity pledges. The main disputants will, oi course, be France and Britain, with Belgium more sympathetic than any other Ally towards the French point of view, and with Italy—and probably the United States—on Britain’s side. I lie British viewpoint has not changed a great deal in the past few weeks. It doubts the wisdom—• and the legality—of France’s action in occupying the Ruhr. What it aims at is to give Germany a better chance to pull herself together, financially and industrially. In short, the plea is that the French occupation of the Ruhr is hindering Germany’s chance of rehabilitating herself. There is no suggestion on Britain's part that Germany should be treated more leniently than she deserves to he treated. It is, however, suggested—and forcibly suggested, too—that Germany would he much more likely to make up tier mind to do a fair tiling if the while position as to her real capacity

to pay were once again reviewed in the light of present-day circumstances. France, as usual, is suspicious—very suspicious. She affects the belief that, if she were to retire from tile Ruhr, Germany would take advantage of her withdrawal. What France claims is, in brief, that Germany is shamming bankruptcy and that if she were to relax her grip on her the Allies would, sooner or later, be faced with fresh trouble in regard to the payment of instalments of tho war indemnity. But that is not all. France goes so far as to say that, in the meantime. Germany would prepare for a new clash of arms. Boiled down, France's contention is that Germany should he kept "in irons’’ until she has made good the loss which she inflicted upon her victors. The difficulty is, of course, to find

some means of compromise as between the conflicting viewpoints held by Britain and Franco. It may be possible to arrange civil control of the Ruhr by the Allies as a whole in place of France’s system of military control. Prior to any agreement on this point, Germany may he forced to pfo\ e her bona tides over a given period. V hatever may eventually turn out to be the solution of the problem, the world public can look forward to a renewal, over a period ol some days—perhaps of some months —ol a Vigorous controversy.