British Quandary

The Ruhr, including all the Rhineland territory under Franco-Belgian occupation, has had thrust upon it a semi-mythical character. It is the land of unreality staging futurity. The entire world speaks of the Ruhr, not as the comparatively small industrial area in Western Germany, but as a separate territory wherein the evil potions of the world are being stirred to potency by the wicked witch of hate. And the garb of the witch is draped of many flags.

Speeches in the British Parliament by Premier Baldwin and Foreign Secretary Curzon plainly showed that Britain had received a rebuff from France and Belgium on her Ruhr policy, which was contained in her note to the Allies, the chief points of which are: Nothing can be proposed by Britain which contravenes the Treaty of Versailles; Germany's capacity to pay, fixed by an international commission of financial experts (as suggested in U. S. Secretary of State Hughes' New Haven speech), would be liable to revision at the hands of the Reparations Commission; Germany must agree to some form of " international control over the German financial administration" in order to give tangible effect to her guarantees. Finally, the note is considered to be a " virtual notification " to the German Government that passive resistance must cease and acts of sabotage and violence be disavowed.

The French note was intractable, but not a final answer. It ignored all the points of the British note in a policy of playing for time. Instead of answering the British note directly the French Government wants to know: How much Britain proposes to recover from Germany? Does Britain intend to remit debts due to her from the Allies? Etc. Finally the French note urges continuation of negotiations between the Allies.

The Belgian note is written in much the same style as the French. The British proposals are left in the lurch. The Belgian Government suggests a new Reparations program with new German guarantees. To the British Government these suggestions, while practicable, would lead only to further procrastination, whereas the constituent feature of the British note was " immediate action " to save Germany from imminent financial, economic, geographical and social disruption.

The note from Italy to Britain completely backs up the British attitude. It is understood that Japan also sympathizes with Britain.

In Germany the rumor of the fall of the Cuno Government has again been revived. Stresemann, German People's Party (or Hugo Stinnes' Party), is again the strong man.

The British, faced by stout Franco-Belgian opposition, are in a quandary. The entire position as far as Britain is concerned is summed up by Lord Curzon, who said he did not know what the Government would do next week or next month. It is generally believed, however, that Britain will make a separate reply to the last German offer (June 7) and that this action will receive the official support of Italy and Japan, and it is reported in some quarters the unofficial support of the U. S. Government. This, however, lacks confirmation.