THE RUHR OCCUPATION.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIV, Issue 795, 27 August 1923, Page 5

THE RUHR OCCUPATION.

DISCUSSED BY LLOYD GEORGE.

STRESEMANN’S OPPORTUNITY

By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright. LUivuUJN, zu.g. 25. Mr Lloyd George, in ms latest article, discusses mo clients of tne itunr occupation and asks: Wfuvt will Air Batuwin or Lora Curzou do nextr Aiiicn depends tor Europe on tnat next step, and sometnmg for them also nangs upon their action or inaction. A new factor that may nave a determining muuenco on events is the succession ot Jtiorr Stresemann to the Cfiaucellorsnip. He is generally supposed to be a man of energy, courage and resource. If that is true las appointment may bo an event ot tno lust magnitude. We shall soon know what ne is made ot. Germany has suffered more from weak or misguided leadership in recent years tuau any great country in the world, it blundered her into tno war, it blundered her tlirougu tli© war, it blundered into the armistice, it blundered during the peace negotiations, and blundered her affairs eauiy after the peace, but none can predict what Germany is capable of with wise and strong leadership. THE SLOUGH OF DESPOND. Herr Stresemann has an opportunity afforded him suen as has not been given any statesman since the days ot Stein and his coadjutors for the regeneration of Germany and lifting her out of the slough of despond wherein sue has been sinking deeper and deeper. The fall of Uuno and the rise ot btresemaun may bo a more decisive event than the despatch of the Curzou Note, but it he lacks those rare qualities which alone can inspire people in an emergency in heroics, action and endeavour, then there is nothing but chaos in front of Germany. For the moment it is more important to keep a discerning eye on btresemaun than to peruse these endless Notes and speeches. It is not often that I find myself in agreement with M. Poincare, but when lie says British unemployment is not attributable to the occupation of the Ruhr, I am in entire accordance with him. We are more dependent on our overseas trade, export and entrepot, shipping and incidental business than any country in the world. Nearly half of our industrial and commercial activities are associated with outside trade in all its forms. Before tlio French ever entered the Ruhr our overseas trade was down to 75 per cent. of its pre-war level, while our population had increased by two millions. BRITAIN’S BURDENS. Since 1913 our taxation has increased four-fold and our national debt tenfold, but our business is down 25 per cent. This fall is the direct consequence of the war. Our customers throughout Europe are impoverished. Until Europe can buy, Australia', Canada, India and China cannot pay. As Mr Baldwin pointed out in his speech in the House of Commons. Germany, before the war, bought Australian wool, Canadian grain, Indian jute and tea, and the proceeds, as often as not, went to pay for goods bought by these countries in British markets. The purchasing capacity of Europe must, therefore, he replenished. That must, at best, take years of patient industry. The mischief of the Ruhr does not lie in the creation of had trade, but in retarding progress and recovery. Before the French entered the Ruhr trade was improving all round. Something has happened to arrest progress.

This is where tho Ruhr comes in. During these last disturbing months Germany has become, appreciably poorer. Theso > things are hidden from France. She is a more self-contained country than Britain, and perhaps also more self-centred. The events after the Napoleonic wars drained her of her best manhood, and exhausted her fine nervous virility. She suffered from no internal economic depression, while her great and victorious rival across the Channel' lumbered painfully through fifteen years of misery, poverty and distress. We had fought them for twenty years with inveterate pertinacity, beaten them on their own ground, and occupied their capital. Today wo suffer because we helped to save their capital from foreign occupation and their country from being humbled to tho dust by a foreign foe. Neither in French speeches, Notes, nor articles is any appreciation shown of that cardinal fact in the situation. FRENCH STUBBORNNESS.

All that is clear at the moment is the stubbornness of the French attitude. M. Poincare has not receded one millimetre from his original position. Earl Balfour, on behalf of the British Government, offered to forgo all claims if Britain was secured against the American debt. That meant the surrender of an aggregation of three thousand millions, in return for one. thousand millions sterling, The Cur7ou Note proposes the surrender of all for 710 millions. The Ruhr occupation has already brought down the British claim by 290 millions. M. Poincare may not be able to extract reparations from Germany, but in seven months he has succeeded in forcing 290 millions out of Britain. He will certainly ask for more and probably get it. Mr Bonar Law was right when he said that under certain conditions Britain would bo the only country to pay the war indemnity. Those conditions have arisen under his successors. —A. and N.Z. cable. [The foregoing and all Mr Lloyd George’s articles are copyright by the United Press Association in America and all countries, copyright in Australia and New Zealand hy the Australian Press Association, and copyright in Britain by the Daily Chronicle. The reproduction in full or in part is prohibited.] GERMANY’S OBLIGATIONS. READY TO MAKE SACRIFICES. BERLIN, Aug. 25. Herr Slrosesmann, in a speech, insisted that as long as the French pursued their present policy in the Rhineland and the Ruhr, the way would be barred to any practical solution that Germany could accept. He declared: ‘‘The present Government adheres fully to Herr Cuno’s memorandum of June 7, to which to our regret no reply has been received from the Allied powers.” Ho admitted that possibilities of Germany’s economic forces were potentially good and assorted fluff the Allies need only accept the principles laid down ip tho memorandum in order to find in collaboration with Germany a -way of turning her last remaining source of strength into a real guarantee of Germany’s fulfilment of tho reparations obligations. *He denied that Germany had deliberately depreciated her currency. The Government was not afraid of the confiscation of property, if that were necessary, but ho hoped such a drastic stop would bo unnecessary. Ho would not discuss M. Poincare’s Note, but if tho terms pf the British Note wore carried out, it would bo possible for the nations to live peacefully, Germany was ready to make heavy gacriefics oven to pawning some of her industries, in order to regain her freedom, but not the Rhineland and the Ruhr. Germany was not desirous of smashing tho Entente and wished to work in harmony with England and Franco. Herr Helfording declared; "Brutal taxation is to bo our policy. This Government will be tho last on a Parliamentary basis, If we fail, the country trill fall into the

hands of adventurers. We propose to use dictatorial powers.” Tho Daily Express’s Berlin correspondent slates that fanners, landowners and industrialists are aghast at Herr-Helfoixling’s proposals, declaring they cannot even pay the present taxes. Workers are being dismissed in many industries. Tho majority of tho printing works are closing and tho tramcars will bo stopped shortly because managers cannot make ends meet. Some Berlin banks are closing and there are signs of stagnation everywhere,—A. and N.Z. cable. GREAT BRITAIN’S OBJECTSv LONDON, Aug. 25. Sir P. Lloyd-Greamo, in speaking at Aberdeen, referred to tho Government’s policy qn tho reparations, and declared that the British ease would never represent the pro-German view. Our objects were to obtain tho maximum-amount from Germany in the most rapid and effective way, and the establishment of stable conditions in Europe. It was most important that tho guarantee should _be effective control of German finance, without which it was impossible to stabilise tho German exchange. There must also be concurrently with tho settlement of tho reparations an establishment of effective security against aggression.—A. and N.Z. cable.. Mr Lloyd George, in commenting on the French Note, said: “M. Poincare regards this . exchange of bolstered Notes- us a pillow-fight, and is quite prepared to continue in order to gain time, while the real struggle is developing to its destined end. The prominence given here to the effect that the reply is courteous is significant of the pitiable condition whereto the Entente is brought by these maladroit negotiations.”—A. and N.Z cable. REAL DESIRE FOR SOLUTION. PARIS, Aug. 25. M. Poincare left to-day for tho unveiling of monuments in tho Department .of the Meuse. It is expected that he will answer Herr Stresemann, whoso speech has given satisfaction in France The journal says tho speech is not aggressive and shows a real desire for a solution of tho reparations problem. The Matin declares that Herr Stresemann leaves tho door wide open for conversations with the Allies, and even with France. COMMENT IN ITALY. ROME, Aug. 24. The newspapers generally disapprove of M. Poincare’s reply. Tho Tribuna sees no hope of a speedy reconciliation between Franco and England. The Corriere d’ltalia, a Government organ, says France’s intention is to remain in the Ruhr until she is paid, if it means half a century of occupation. It is sheer hypocrisy for M, Poincare to pretend that France is not seeking annexation, The Epoca says M, Poincare’s selfevident policy is to create an independent Rhineland, with the Saar included, which will eventually become a great French industrial republic.—A. and N.Z. cable. THE BELGIAN NOTE. BRUSSELS, Aug. 25._ The Belgian Note has been sent to Paris. It comprises 35 pages, and points out that as definite information is now forthcoming as lo sums due to tho different Allies, it would bo best now to abandon the system of Notes and adopt direct conversations between the British, French, Belgian and Italian Ministers—A, and N.Z. cable. BRITAIN'S CLAIM FOR INTEREST. PARIS, Aug. 24. Tho Temps says that Britain’s claim for five per cent interest means tho annual payment of 740 million gold marks. “As neither France nor Italy will pay up till they have recovered an equivalent from Germany, how does Britain hope to extract this interest from Germany in addition to tlio reparations due to all the Allies?"—A. and N.Z. cable.