Rhineland Republic?

The greatest factor in the news about the Ruhr is a movement for a Rhineland Republic. The French have long encouraged the formation of such a republic, which would consititute a buffer state between them and Germany. The movement became active, however, at Coblenz last week when the Rhenish People's Party for Rhenish Independence decided to unite the actions of the whole Rhineland towards the forming of an independent republic. According to French experts, the creation of the republic is only a matter of days. But the matter is not so simple. The Berlin Government is violently opposed to the secession of the Rhineland from the Reich; the population, freed from the influences of Dr. Dorten, the most prominent Rhineland Republic agitator, and reported French gold, is not wholly sympathetic with the independent republican idea. These people point out that as a buffer state between France and Germany the Rhineland would be worse off than now.

Premier PoincarE of France made another of his " War memorial" speeches. At Charleville he, as usual, spoke of the German advance and occupation of the town and then went on to deny that the Ruhr occupation had harmed British trade, and quoted figures to prove it. He also pleaded for the continuance of the Entente Cordiale.

The French Government admitted that there was no profit in the Ruhr occupation. Beyond operating the railways successfully the occupation has been a failure. Nevertheless, the French will remain in the Ruhr until Germany starts to pay for her War destruction of Northern France. French policy is unchanged in the face of the recent British note. Premier PoincarE answered this note point by point. The most important point of the French reply is that it states a willingness to reduce the total claim on Germany from 132,000,000,000 ($31,442,400,000) gold marks to between 53,000,000,000 ($12,624,600,000) and 70,000,000,000 gold marks ($16,674,000,000), depending upon Germany's ability to pay in ten years' time. On the question of the Ruhr occupation, the French are adamant, but if the Germans give up passive resistance then France will reduce the army in the Ruhr, open all frontiers and give up executive control of the mines. In Britain the French note is under consideration by the Government. It is understood that while every attempt will be made to continue friendly relations with France, the Government is prepared to take separate action with regard to Germany and the reparations question. Such action will probably necessitate summoning Parliament; replying separately to the last German note; calling an international conference to decide Germany's capacity to pay, in which the U. S. and Germany will be represented; referring to the International Court of Justice at The Hague the question of the legality of the French occupation of the Ruhr; extending financial and economic assistance to Germany; possibly utilizing the League of Nations' machinery to try to oust the French from the Ruhr.