The Star. THURSDAY, MAY 10, 1923. THE JUSTICE OF FRANCE IN THE RUHR.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17037, 10 May 1923, Page 8

The Star. THURSDAY, MAY 10, 1923. THE JUSTICE OF FRANCE IN THE RUHR.

Of course tile world will he invited by the pro-German propagandists to hold up it* hands in pious horror at the sentences imposed on Herr Krupp and his fellow directors. The sentences are severe, but they are not too severe if the prisoners are guilty. They were tried before a French Court, but they were allowed to employ counsel and to call witnesses. It is fair to assume that the trial was fairly and publicly conducted, an*t that tlie prisoners, were guilty of fomenting- and precipitating- the fatal demonstration in the famous Essen works. There is a tendency to complain ihat foreign Courts of Justice are not conducted as British Courts, but that is beside the question. German Courts are not conducted on the British model, and British people need be under no misappx-ehension as to the course which a victorious Germany would have taken if similar circumstances had arisen. The accused would have received short shrift, and would probably have been shot out of hand. It is just as well to recall the facts of the case. About Easter time a small detachment of French soldiers entered the Essen works to take possession of some material. Immediately the syrens -were sounded, and thousands of workmen poured out of the factories. The French troops-—there were ten of them—were surrounded by an angry and threateningmob, and were obviously in a position of great danger. The necessary spark was applied to the gunpowder, and the explosion followed. A number of Germans w-ere shot dead, and many more were wounded. The French promptly made a number of arrests, and they looked a g'ood deal higher than the unfortunate workers of Krupp's. They went to the fountain head, to the men who, without being in or near the works-, had pulled the strings and directed the attack. There is no doubt that Krupp and his colleagues had made arrangements for the demonstration, and they were morally and actually responsible for the consequences. It would 1 have taken British law a long time to find this out. and in all probability the real culprite would have escaped altogether. The French are more drastic, in their methods. They are under no illusions about the Germans, or about what they would have done to exact vengeance for such a deed. As far as the penalties are concerned they are made to appear excessive and extravagant. Krupp and the others are each fined one hundred million but et the present rate of exchange that is about £600! The real punishment is the imprisonment which will be inflicted on the the accused who were present in custody at the trial. The French may not exact the full term, hut they prohahlv feel that a salutary lesson is needed. The prisoners may he, and probably are, regarded as martyrs by the German people. The fact remains, however, that it was through iheir machinations that German workmen suffered death and wounds on that fatal day at Essen.