New-York tribune., 1919-06-23

came TO Frankfort TO day to as
certain the truth of rumors that senti-
ment in some parts of unoccupied Ger
many favored defying the Allies and
that the expiration of the time limit
set by the Versailles conference was
likely to see resumption Of hostili-
ties. With the French artillery with
in easy range of the city and French
machine gunncrs crowdrg the dusty
roads, marching forward almost to the
outskirts of the city and ready to ad
vance further, Frankforts hands were
high in the air in an attitude Of utter
surrender.
disappointed in Wilson
talked at length with the foreign
editor Of the powerful "Frankfort lei
tung," whose sentiment was reported to
be against acceptance even OF the re-
viscd terms now under consideration at
Wcimar
"There is no alternative for the Ger
man people, he said. "The people of
Frankfort wish the treaty signed
though under protest. for we consider
it unfair and we cannot understand
why President Wilson has not helped
us. Why are not his fourteen points
considered? We must conclude that he
has been powercss in the fact of op-
position to live UP to his principles.
y
England and France, do not recognize
Germany's revolution? Why do they
still mistrust us? Why don't they give
us credit for being sincere"
/ explained what | discovered on my
trip to Berlin some weeks ago, when
no secret was made of the fact that
such men as Won Bernstorf, Scheide-
mann, Won Kuehlmann and others, once
high in the imperiaistic regime. have
mental pie-sitting in the background
as advisers. added that Germany
must indeed consider the Allies very
gullible to have confidence in the sim
cerity of any German government
wherein men whose past records look
so dscreditable in Allied eyes are in
volved.
Pleads for Time
The editor answered exposively:
"But Germany has no men left large
enough to inspire Allied confidence and
still represent the whole German
people. You must give US time and
| trust US.
DO you think" he added, chat the
Allies would have given US less harsh
terms if men such as you speak Of had
ernment from the start? Do you think
that they will further modify the peace
terms if they show sincerity in the
| future"
replied that was not qualified to
speak for the Allies, but that it was
my personal opinion that proof Of Ger
many's sincerity was greatly desired
by the Allies.
Eve are not so black as they have
painted US was the editors plea, re-
iterating his assertion that Germany's
revolution was sincere and that Ger
many yearns to prove this.
"Germany wants a republic and will
haze nothing clse.' he said I'VE
people in Germany who want peace
cannot speak for our people in Upper
Silesia, who may refuse to conform to
the peace treaty. | suppose that if
they break the terms of the treaty re-
garding the Polish question the Allies
will charge that it was the German
government which inspired the move.
Wants Russian Trade
"We must have direct contact with
Russia for the sake Of our future trade
relations Ny own opinion is that the
new Polish state will be short-livcd,
breaking down under it's own weakness
within two years. If this is so, then
anything may happcn.'
What is the sentiment of Anne RIGA
toward Germany?' he asked later.
II think that America, like the other
Allies, is waiting for Germany to dem
0nstrate sa her sincerity replied.
throughout the world, both before and
since hostiitics ceased. His strong be-
lief, voiced to-day, that Germany will
sign the peace treaty may be rcgarded
as significant.
The manager of the Frankfort Office
of the Hamburg American Line in
formed me that since the Allies took
over the company's ships he has had
nothing to do but sell railroad tickets
and baggage insurance. He asked
about The giant liner Natcrland. He
was among the officials who sent her
out Of Hamburg on her maiden voyage
in 1914
The financial and business circles
with which ] am In fairly close touch
here lie said, eagerly await the sig
nature OF the treaty so they again can
settle down to normal business. With
conditions such as exist our men will
not work They do not realize, as many
OF us do, how completely Germany has
lost the war We have nothing left to
do but sign"
Citizens Resigned to Fate
talked With other citizens of Frank
W. NHu tucil dSi]lUUC CtSnlSU ABOUT
the same as that Of the two whose views
] have given.
Entering Frankfort to-day with the
permission Of the French authorities,
found French advance guards on the
edge OF the city within fifty yards of
wire entanglcmcnts manned by Ger
man soldiers. Both sides were holding
coldiy aloof and watching each other
through field glasses.
WITHIN the city was calm, though the
hoodium element recently sacked the
VINE cellars Of one OF the largest hotels.
Inc streets to-day were filled with
cll-dressed crowds, who even refused
70 stare at my American uniform. 1t
appeared that Frankfort was resigned
to it's fate. Peace, they think, is a
necessary evil, and the treaty must be
signed under protest.
| -
Troops Called to Quell