INVADING GERMANY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18802, 3 March 1923, Page 7

INVADING GERMANY

FRANCE’S OBJECTIVE CONTROL OF EUROPE’S COAL AND IRON. RUHR TO BE VESTED IN FRANCE. SCHEME BOUND TO FAIL. Pres* Association—By Telegraph—Copyright LONDON, February 28. (Received March 2, at 5.5 p.m.) [The following and all of Mr Lloyd George’s articles arc copyright by the United Press Association in America (all countries), copyright in Australia and New Zealand by the Australian Press Association, copyright in Britain by the Daily Chronicle. Reproduction in full or part is prohibited.]

Air Lloyd George in his latest article writes:

"The French troops are occupying fresh territory, and they have advanced further into Germany. Tho French nave cut off the British bridgehead on tho Rhine. Proposals have been made for a now coinage in the Ruhr. What is it all loading to V” ask,-, Mr Llovd George. Ts it really reparations. The eminent Italian, Signor Nitti, who thoroughly studied all tho documents bearing French designs, has come definitely to tho conclusion that these measures have no reference to the recovery of damages for the devastated areas, but from the vast project of securing French control over all the- coal and iron of Continental Europe. He supplies chapter and verse for his theory. Something has undoubtedly roused Signor Mussolini's suspicions, but rather late to be effective. lie naturally does not relish Italy’s steel and coal supplies being placed at the mercy of a gigantic trust directed from Paris. Are there any grounds for it? Let those who imagine that Italian statesmen are unnecessarily disturbed read the recent speeches of MM. Millerand, Barthou, and Poincare. With regard to M. Barthou’s intervention 1 must as one of the founders of the Reparations Commission say a word. Tho commission was called into existence to determine important financial questions which could not be settled without giving Germany full opportunity of being hoard, and M. Barthou is now chairman. M. Barthou, therefore, presides over a body charged with judicial functions of a momentous character. Inflammatory statements on the very subjects upon which he has to preserve a indicia! calm are quite incompatible with hi,-, position.

“I?ufc to revert to the speeches delivered by these eminent statesmen. If they mean what their actual words convey, then Prance intends to stick to the Ruhr, not by way of annexation. Oh! not that! According to M. Barthou is is a foolish, mendacious, stupid lie, but France means to hang on to the ‘Plages’ until the reparations are paid. What are the ‘gages’? The industries of the Ruhr. There are indications that the Ruhr control is more far-reaching than a mere 30-year period, and this is where the broad hints of the French press come in. France, in order to secure payment of the reparation instalments in future, is to be given sliares in these great mines and industries. What proportion of, the shares among the ‘gages’ is demanded by M. Poincare? In August last they were 60 per cent, of the sliares*in certain pivotal German industries in the Rhine area. Now the Ruhr industries are clearly to be included in the scope of this demand. France has the iron ore in Lorraine and the coal in the Sarr Valley. Her financiers have been engaged in buying coal mines in Silesia, and if she can secure controlling interests in the Ruhr, and if Belgium and Poland are persuaded to join in the deal, then the Continent of Europe is at the mercy of this immense coal and iron combine. I said last week that the ports axe still open. As long as they remain open Central Europe can protect itself to a certain extent against this gigantic trust, for the produce from Great Britain and America will be available, but that possibility is to be nrovided against. One of the ‘gages’ is the control of German Customs, which is a more productive tariff than coal and iron. Thus all competitive products are excluded from the German markets. The combine is thus supreme. “French enterprise has abandoned all idea of recovering reparations, and is now brooding upon loot on an immense scale, for the discussions in the French press contemplate even wider developments than those involved in the control of German industries. Italy, Poland, and even Russia are to be brought in. Therefore the high lino taken for years by the Parisian nepers about ‘no traffic with murder’ is. being given up, and instead wo have much sentimental twaddle about restoring the old friendly relations between France and Russia—of course, for a consideration. Russia is to buy, Germany is to manufacture, and Franco is to profit. It is not without significance. The terms Germany will be called upon to accept in the event of her submission have never been formulated. No ultimatum was issued before the invasion. Germany clearly does not know what terms she will have to comply with if she threw up her hands to-morrow. The British Government does know, they were never discussed at Paris. If M. Poincare’s statement means anything the Ruhr industries must be vested in France until the whole mortgage is redeemed. Hence it is a vast plan for the exploitation of Germany, and through Germany of Europe. It is a pretty scheme, but, like most schemes which do not make allowance for human nature, it is bound to fail.

“How long would Italy and Russia consent to the exploitation tor the enrichment of the French capitalist? Italy has already made is clear that she has no intention of walking into tho trap. Russia may, or may not, have been approached, though it if; not improbable that there have been informal soundings, but one can bo fairly assured that the Russians will not place their head in the jaws of a rapacious capitalistic crocodile of this character. Brigands are not made of that simple stuff. “Will the German statesmen consent to sell their country into political and economic bondage for a.n indefinite period? It is incredible. No donbt there nave been feelers between the French .and German capitalists. Before the Ruhr invasion M. Lonchenr and Herr Stinnes are credited with conversations on tho subject of amalgamating the Lorraine iron and the Ruhr coal interests, but the Ruhr invasion awakened German patriotism, introducing a new and potent clement which docs not mix well with international finance. Tt may be depended on to resist to the last any effort to nut German industry under foreign control. Then the German workmen must be taken into account. They will view a syndicate controlled by foreign Governments with suspicion and repugnance. Disputes will arise. Who will protect their life and liberlv? Will foreign troops operate or the German a.rmy act under the orders of Parts? Tt is a fantastic idea, bom of failure, and therefore bound to bo a failure.’ - —A. and N.Z. Cable.