10 NOVEMBER 1923, Page 1

If the sinister acts of political manipulation which are called

Separatism were treated everywhere as the Belgian authorities treated them at Aix-la-Chapelle there would be an end to the disgraceful movement in a few hours. At present it is kept going only by French support. The Separatists are few, and for the most part they fight for what they are paid and for what they can loot. One hopeful thought occurs to us in all this gloom. Now that France is politically isolated there ought. soon to be, if there is not already, a majority of votes for the British view on the Reparations Commission. M. Poincan% after all that he has said, could hardly resist the decisions or that Commission.