GERMAN LABOR FOR FRANCE

Until recently Berlin's offer to put German labor at France's disposal, for the purpose of rebuilding the devastated province, and to deduct the cost from the Reparations bill has been refused by France. The French Government had feared that her labor unions would indignantly protest against the acceptance of any such prepositions. Her plan was for Germany to work at home and sell the product of her labor at a profit, a part of which would go to France as indemnity. With this money, French laborers were to be paid for rebuilding the wasted provinces. This was a long circuitous plan and would of necessity mean waste and loss of energy.

Now the French General Confederation of Labor has declared itself in favor of using German man-power. At once the government has shown signs of reversing its stand, and leading French statesmen are dwelling upon the advantages of the German offer. It has been stated in the New York Tribune that the Germans could do, for $550,000,000, work which is now costing the French government $750,000,000. Shifting the burden of restoration to German labor would cut from the French budget the immense sums now allotted to the devastated areas and forward deflation. It will indeed be unfortunate if France does not now accept the German offer since the political reason for refusal has been swept aside and as there has never been an economic objection.