The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 29, 1923. THE OCCUPATION OF THE RUHR.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIX, Issue 97, 29 August 1923, Page 4

The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 29, 1923. THE OCCUPATION OF THE RUHR.

The negotiations in connection with the occupation of the Ruhr drag along, an,j the only times when any termination seems possible are those occasions when an open rupture between the Allies seems imminent. A renewal of hostilities on the Continent could hardly please anybody at the present time, and, happily, proceedings have been of a peaceful, though not of a satisfactory nature. The problem is indeed a knotty one, and the names of those who are now laboring to reconcile divergent views and preserve the peace of Europe will go down in history. Discussing the at- [ titude of M. Poincare the London "Observer" remarked in a recent issue: "M. Poincare is an entirely honest and rigid man. That is the j core of the tragedy and what has i threatened to make it hopeless. He | has less understanding of Britain than any other man who has ever been at the head of affairs under the Third Republic since the Entente was founded. He has less understanding of us than WaldeckRousseau, Delcasse, or Millerand — far less than Gambetta, Clemenceau, or Briand. He is absolutely convinced that he embodies all the right and reason of the matter. Every fibre of his being urges him to impose his own view and his own will. The quality which we in this country think the greatest weakness in a practical statesman, M. Poincare holds to be the greatest strength —he is superfluously decisive and likes to demonstrate the vigour of his enterprise by cutting off his I means of retreat. Three British Prime Ministers in succession—men of the most contrasting characters and differing methods—have found it almost impossible to deal with M. Poincare. He has been much inclined to end the Entente rather than vary his formulas. He dees not shrink from being remembered in French history as the man who the Entente. When he has a logical notion in his head he does not shrink from anything. As was said, he is an entirely honest, rigid man, and that is at the heart of the tragedy. One of the best-fitted men j in the world to express and assert I his own point of view, one of the least-fitted .men in the world to adjust and reconcile differing points of view, if M. Poincare as an honest rigid man cannot see his way to make any useful concessions whatever to the vital convictions end interest of this country, nothing will remain for Britain but to resume its entire freedom in foreign affairs, and to assert that freedom in the steady, gradual, unswerving manner which is in accordance witn oui character and tradition. The Briusu

are a slower nation than most others—not a hit because they are loss able than others as soallow quick-wits sometimes say: but because they are a thoughfuK and friendly people, trying to be practically wise rather than theoretically I logical; impressed by the perplexity J and difficulty of things; searching 1 for sagacity, dreading demonstratlon and premature commitments, deficient in clear formulas; tangled in their minds, misty in their souls, but generous and true; anxious to understand the other fellow's point of view, and to find some means of squaring up with it, most reluctant to insist upon their own. Through slowness the English arrive at clearness. Anxious for compromise as they are desirous of carrying concession to the very limit, yet after n certain point, when they are convinced that their efforts to arrive at an understanding have been in vain, and have even been profoundly misunderstood, th«v take their decision, and they never, never ioofc &asfc. That if? the worst of our

slow and hesitating nation. It al-

ways looks weak, and its uH.mate strength is enormous." ;