Ruhr Credits

After considerable delay (TIME, Feb. 16), the question of the Ruhr credits was again raised in a stormy Reichstag.

Herr Hertz, the chief of the Social Democrats, attacked the Government for having paid over a sum of about $175,000,000 to the Ruhr industrialists during the time of passive resistance to the French occupation in 1923. He declared that the credits had been granted without the approval of the Socialists and should now be returned to the Government.

Foreign Minister Gustav Stresemann, Chancellor at the time the credits were granted, became enraged at Herr Hertz' remarks, shouted: "Your party approved the Government's action!" But the Socialist leader took no notice.

Chancellor Luther led the counterattack on the Socialist charges. In spite of numerous interruptions and fierce yells, he ably defended the Government's action, declared that the money had been disbursed to thousands of people and not to a few big industrialists. He said that the Government was legally and politically justified in making the grant, which was necessary to prevent the separation of the Ruhr from Germany. He furthermore denied that the Government had only recently offered to obtain the Reichstag's ex post facto sanction for the credits, welcomed a thorough investigation of all payments.

The question was referred to a special committee of investigation, and the Reichstag adjourned until Mar. 2.