Review of the Month

EARLY in November attention was focused on the interchange of views between Paris and Wash- ington with respect to the proposed examination of Germany's capacity to pay. It appeared finally that the limits imposed by the French were too narrow and consequently the conversations were discontinued. In Germany there were stirring events. Hitler, with Ludendorf in the open, attempted a coup d'etat in Bavaria, but failed quickly and ignominiously. The former crown prince re-entered Germany, with the sanction of the republic, and took up his abode at his castle in Silesia. On Nov. 13 Chancellor Stresemann informed repre-sentatives of the Rhineland and the Ruhr that those territories thenceforth must shift for themselves politically, economically and financially, the federal treasury being no longer capable of caring for unem-ployment in the occupied territory. This was equiva-lent to putting the burden of supporting the people of that region upon. France and Belgium. There have been negotiations toward the creation of a Rhenish-Westphalian state, independent of Prussia, but under the sovereignty of the Reich. Failing to receive a vote of confidence at the end of this month, the Stresemann Ministry resigned. President Ebert considers it may be necessary to create a government independent of Parliamentary authority. The Ruhr Industrialists have signed an agreement with France until April 15, 1924 by which they have agreed to pay back coal taxes for the first ten months of this year, and deliver 18 per cent. of their production as reparations until the expiration of the agreement. The British government found itself in a precarious position with respect to support and a dissolution of Parliament was announced, with a general election to occur early in December.