UNTIL SHE IS PAID.

Shannon News, 13 March 1923, Page 4

UNTIL SHE IS PAID.

DETERMINED TO CARRY STRUGGLE TO AN END. GENERAL DEGOUTTE’S VIEWS (Received Monday, 7 p.m.) LONDON, March 11. The “Daily Chronicle’s” Cologne correspondent states that General Degoutte, in the course of an interview, said: “I am in the Ruhr to get reparations, and not to - leave until they are paid. The struggle has assumed a character we did not wish, and it is not the fault of France. Our weapon of an economic blockade is limited to certain products and individuals holding Germany’s riches in their hands, and France will not let go. The German resistance is strengthening our determination to carry the - struggle to a conclusion. The blockade may not be felt till one day, like a bill of exchange, it falls due. In my opinio?/, that day is not, far off. If France is beaten it will be a misfortune for Europe. FRENCH LIEUTENANT MURDERED. GERMAN OFFICIALS ARRESTED. (Received Monday, 7 p.m.) PARIS, March 11. The French arrested the Burgomaster and Assistant Burgomaster and Chief of Police at Buer, near Essen, in consequence of the murder of Lieutenant Coltin, who was iu control of the Buer railway station.

FROM FOLLY TO MADNESS.

FRANCE’S PRESENT ATTITUDE,

WILL LEAD TO HER BEING

CRUSHED,

LONDON, March 11. The Observer continues the discussion on the Ruhr situation in an article entitled ‘‘From Folly, to Madness,” and asks, who thinks France’s present unchecked supremacy can last? It is the result of combined effort by the Allies and has no natural basis in France alone. France lias arms, Germany breeds men. After the hatred the Ruhr policy has created the German women would fight if they had a chance. Nothing can prevent Germany becoming stronger. If France re-appears in her old fixed role' as hereditary enemy, German unity and the German cause will conquer, because it will be just. When that clay comes what can France expect if the precedent is to be a merciless example of her present policy? The paralleled coalition which saved France in her last struggle would not be seen again., Britain and America would not intervene, Russia would take tiie other side, and Italy would take Tunis and Syria. The vast majority of Germans have no desire to throw in ther lot irrevocably with the Bolshevists, but will do so if no other hope is left. Moscow openly desires the German resistance to fail in order that there shall be no alternative left to the German people but to .join the Bolshevists and become ultimately the spearhead of the real world revolution.

If France persists in demanding impossible reparations as a pretext for permanent occupation, if her policy becomes the incredible re-embodiment more and more identical iu every feature of the Potsdam theory of force and forcible acquisition, if France abuses her temporaVy military ascendancy in order to, ignore even the‘Allies who saved her in the Avar, and to attack their real interests, it will be only a matter of years, and not many years, before she is crushed. France's choice at the parting of the ways lies between a course leading to true safety on her right, hand and to 'the Nemesis of Doom on the left. That time is not distant, it is now.