The trouble is that whatever the intentions of France with
regard to the peace of Europe, the state of affairs in the Ruhr is worse than it has yet been. The Communist rioting, which started at Gelsenkirchen, has now spread over .a far wider field. A minor disturbance occurred in the Dortmund area last Saturday, when an attempt was made to stop the work in the Mount Cenas Mine. Two men were killed and several wounded. At Bochum the situation is more deplorable. On both Friday and Saturday last week fighting took place in the streets. Six persons were killed, and many dangerously wounded. Although the numerical strength of the Communist agitators is small, it is almost impossible for the German authorities to deal with them owing to their comparative impotence under the French regime. Moreover, the French refusal to interfere with a view to maintaining order makes matters even more impossible. It seems not unlikely that such internal disturbances are not altogether distasteful to the French, who may see in them the beginning of - Germany's capitulation. But if Germany were to collapse in this way, it is hard to know, how that would facilitate the payment of reparations. It is not the custom for a nation in the throes of a civil- war to pay out large sums of money. * * * *
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