Friendly France

Herr Doktor Rudolph Breitscheid, famed Socialist leader in the Reichstag, arrived in Berlin fresh as a daisy from a visit to Paris. This is the impression he got of France:

"The Herriot Government really desires to come to an understanding with Germany and carry out the Experts' Report. And even if M. Herriot is unable to continue in power, France will still work toward an understanding with Germany, since the bulk of the French, especially the peasantry, are weary of Poincareism.

"It is inconceivable that a Government composed of parties of the Right should regain ascendancy in France. To be sure, M. Poincare is still strong and is intriguing to regain power, as is shown especially by the exploitation of the story that Germany was arming to attack France. But no French Government can stand without Socialist support now and the French Socialists lean strongly toward the Left.

"While I was in Paris, I talked with M. Herriot about the Ruhr evacuation and the release of the German Ruhr prisoners. From this talk and talks with many other Frenchmen I derived the impression that the feeling in France toward Germany is far friendlier than before. If M. Herriot stays in power, complete evacuation of the Ruhr is bound to come soon. Already he has promised economic evacuation.

"Serious difficulties still lie in the path of ultimate evacuation, since France insists upon first receiving payments from Germany based on the Experts' Report. Nevertheless, evacuation will occur unless the German Nationalists win such success as to make the French again distrustful. The French trust the present German Government's sincerity.

"Acceptance of the Allied military control note by Germany made an excellent impression in France. Had the note not been accepted, M. Poincare and the other extreme French Nationalists would have been strengthened."