REPORT ON RUHR.

Wairarapa Age, 23 February 1923, Page 5

REPORT ON RUHR.

BY LABOUR M’s.P. THE ONLY WAY OUT. (Received 7.15 p.m.) London, Feb. 21. —Four Scottish Labour members of the Commons, after a weuk-enu in the Ruhr, report: ‘ ‘ There were no queues of unemployed or outward signs of poverty noticeable in the' Ruhr; there seemed to be a higher standard of comfort there than in Scotland. The German people strongly resent the occupation, but there has been little personal violence. The French soldiers are very nervy. Ail Germans favour the retention of the British forces on the Rhine, an 1 all arc confident of defeating the aims of France. German miners belie.e that the French will evacuate the Ruhr in three months in disgust, but this view is not entertained by other Germans. "Among the French people we found that the desire for safety which the occupation gives was stronger than the desire to possess the Ruhr eoal deposits, but permanent occupation was impossible, as it would be an Ireland multiplied by 59. "If the French succeed in capturing and working the Ruhr they would become the military monarch of Europe and oust Britain from the sieel markets of the world. Already France regards Britain as a friendly rival and would not accept Britain as a mediator between France and Germany.

"The only way out of .'he difficulty is for France, Germany, Britain, Belgium, and Italy to internationalise the Ruhr coal fields.”—(A. and N.Z.)