The Guardian (And Evening Star, with which is incorpornted the West Coast Times.) MONDAY, JUNE 11th., 1923.

Hokitika Guardian, 11 June 1923, Page 2

The Guardian (And Evening Star, with which is incorpornted the West Coast Times.) MONDAY, JUNE 11th., 1923.

THE REPARATIONS ISSUE. Events aro at last moving towards a point where the Allies are likely to roiperate. in a more co-operative spirit in the matter of adjusting a reparation settlement with Germany. The enemy country, too, is coming to realise it must do better and attempt the fair tiling if it wishes to escape from the ignominious position in which it now finds itself. It is admitted that Great Britain has been adopting a passive, but no loss benevolent, attitude towards Germany, and while not countenancing the tactics of Franco and Belgium, by the invasion in any open way, there is now the suggestion that in the immediate future, if Germany does not act in keeping with the fitness of the situation, Britain's attitude. will he less benevolent. This is a very mild way of putting it, but it is a t least a very friendly indication for Germany to bring forward proposals more acceptable to the Allies. The hint is all for the advantage of Germany, which is in a sad and desperate plight hv reason of the invasion and tho imposition of tho French will in the Ruhr region. The occupation of the territory and the commandeering of the industrial plants and their products, must he -a. very lieary drain on the workers, the employers, and the country at large. Indeed, wo can expect that it is so as a means to impress tho German nation with the failure to meet demands which were promised under the treaty intended to end the war. Since tho recent change in the British parliamentary leadership, there lias been a. more conciliatory attitude adopted by France towards Britain. The two Powers have boon in conference, and it may be expected that at last there is a disposition to act in consort. France has found that acting alone along the lines taken, she lias grown very much hated in Germany, and that her attitude has not been well understood hv outside Powers. It will ho to the benefit of French prestige* to have the Allies in closer consort, and evidently tho change in the British premiership has afforded the opening to review the international position, with a view to bringing about again an improved feeling with England. On tlie other hand, it lias been said that Britain has been standing out of the Ruhr action because of the trade advantages which were being derived otherwise Ifrom Germany. There have been the usual reflections on “perfidious Albion” in the French press, and perhaps it is now considered opportune to have the position more openly reviewed. The recent fall in the German mark is probably a reflection of the altering attitude of Britnin. It is being realised that Britain is not going to remain passively neutral, and any move which will be made will be to support somewhat positively tho action of France. In the light of that surmise, it can be well understood that tlie mark has fallen rapidly. This decline indicates what Germany is losing economically by procrastinating over the reparation settlement. Her internal finance must be hopelessly bankrupt. She will never lie able within any reasonable period to redeem the enormous sum represented by the mark in circulation. The domestic future of Germany is thus one for special concern by the people, and this will be some incentive also for the authorities to at last take up the serious task of endeavoring to satisfy the claims of the Allies and so end the reparation tangle drawing. Germany to financial chaos.