BRITAIN’S ZONE.

Southland Times, Issue 19770, 19 February 1923, Page 4

BRITAIN’S ZONE.

The climax of the French occupation of ' the Ruhr has not yet been reached, but it ' is approaching and the London Conference j over the Franco-Belgian request to have | control of the railways in the British oc- | cupation zone may bring it closer. The ’ French realise that this “neutral” area is valuable to the Germans as a channel, and . it also serves to keep up the spirits of the German people who are to some extent comforted by the presence of the British troops. By making the request for the control of the railways in the British zone, the French and Belgians have been able to raise the whole question of the effect of the British attitude on the Ruhr trouble, ' and it is obvious that the more outspoken of the Parisian newspapers are anxious to see the field cleared for General Degoutte and the Belgians. Paradoxically, however, the withdrawal of the British Army of Occupation will deepen, if anything, Britain’s interest in the Ruhr problem and will increase the risk of trouble between Britain and France, because a withdrawal would increase the tension between France and Germany and bring nearer the danger of a conflagration. One of the most hopeful signs to-day is the evident anxiety of the French. Their plan to keep Germany in perpetual subjection is becoming clearer every day, but all this “big” talk sounds

very much an effort to convince the world that all is going well. France so far has no reason to be pleased with the effects of her action. Her military occupation of the Ruhr has not been productive of anticipated results and the Germans are evidently satisfied that the longer they can wait the better will be their chance of convincing France that M. Poincare’s policy is a bad one. At the same time the real menace to Europe is the possibility of an outburst of fighting. France is largely responsible for the maintenance of war-strength armies in Europe. Poland is acting under French orders and the Russians are concentrating troops in the vicinity of the Polish frontiers bccau. e they are nervous about Polish intent’er: France wants the Poles as an ally ready to deal with the Germans on the eastern side in the event of trouble, but her maintenance of this force of mercenaries is proving expensive to France and to the whole of Europe. The British Army of Occupation by its presence is hampering French plans and Paris will seek to get round this obstacle, but a British withdrawal may ultimately bring about results which France will regret. The situation on the Ruhr is tense and if the British troops march away the conditions in the area under the French will get worse, which means that the risk of an international collision will be enhanced.