We trust that France will decide to end the occupation
of the Rhineland as soon as possible, although Germany frankly recognizes that the French Government cannot go far ahead of popular opinion. It is necessary to add, however, that the Gernians have been very clumsy in their advances towards the French Government. They have refused to allow any inspection of the Eastern fortresses, which are said to be dismantled, and the French have made this refusal a pretext for being extremely unforthcoming about the Rhineland. In our opinion, the sooner all Allied troops, including the British troops at Wiesbaden, are withdrawn the better. It is not humanly possible to prevent Germany from secretly re-arming if she wishes to do so unless a huge occupying force is maintained. That is out of the question, and in the circumstances minor and scattered garrisons merely suggest to Germany ' that, though she was given equality at Locarno, it is in practice being withheld from her.
