GERMAN SPECULATIONS

Ever since Herr Stresemann undertook the burdens of the German Chancellor ship there has been a certain return of confidence in other countries that the Ruhr conundrum would be solved. For the Chancellor has taken a strong tone toward the dominant industrial kings of Germany and an attitude of discretion rather than blustering valor toward the Allies. The culmination of this came yesterday with his announcement that Germany must and would renounce without conditions its policy of passive resistance to the French occupation.

While the surrender is unconditional and only a general statement has been issued, there will certainly come new negotiations with the Allies. What the French attitude will be is hardly a matter of guess-work. Though not to the same extent France as well as Germany has suffered by the occupation. Now that victory has come at last she is hardly likely to soften the rigor of her demands. She will continue her occupation of the Ruhr until she achieves her hopes or until she is forced by circumstances to alter her present attitude. England's attitude is a constant puzzle. Lord Our son recently issued his strong pronunciamento calling in question the legality of France's move into the Ruhr. Then last week Premier Baldwin had a conference with premier Ponicare the nature of which has been kept profoundly secret. It seems almost impossible for the English government to eat Lord Curson's strong statements, yet on the other hand continued opposition to the occupation is far more difficult now that France has succeeded in overcoming "passive resistance".

But Germany's last word has by no means yet been spoken. What Chancellor Stresemann says in effective only as long as his government remains in office and at present it hold on the office appears, to say the least, some-what tenuous. The two powerful actions, the Nationalists and the Communists, are agreed on one point--that the present government is not to their taste. The Nationalists want a strong central government and one which will admit defeat to no one; the Communists want a government which will squeeze the wealthy industrials until they can get more industrial control and more bread. The Nationalist party is numerous and powerfully organized, especially in Bavaria, while the Communist party, although perhaps not so well organized, is even more wide spread. Unless Herr Stresemann assumes practically dictatorial powers and enlists the army solidly on his side, it is probable that the present government will never weather the storm. In that case the hopes of France and the world will go askew and England will have more time to make up her mind.