New-York tribune., 1919-06-04
Rj1inel0,ad Asks
Recognition OF Allies
Dorten Says Ne,c Republic Is
II illing TO Accept Share Of
the Reparafion Burdens

COBLENZ, June 3 BY The Asso-
that recognition Of the Rhenish re-
public, reported to have been estab-
lished on Sunday, is desired have been
sent to commanders of the armies of
occupation along the Rhine They bear
the signature Of DR.. Dorten, said to
have been named president of the new
republic, but the officers of the Ameri-
can Sd Army have not received any
official notification of any such action
by the new government.
DR.. Dorten says that delegates of
Rhenish Prussia, Old Nassau, Rhenish
Hesse and the Paatinate, after meet
ings in Aix-la Chapelle, Mayence and
Wiesbadcn. declared the autonomy of
the Rhenish republic from June 1.
To Offer Reparation
After saying that the Rhenish re-
public is willing to conclude immediate
peace the telegram states that the
people of the Rhine lands have no de-
sire to escape their war obligations, as
far as reparation is concerned, and that
they are seeking recognition at the
peace conference.
The Americans are cooperating with
the British and have adopted an atti-
tude of maintaining public order and
taking any action necessary against
demonstrations of any order within
the occupied areas. No orders to the
contrary had been received from Gen
eral Pershings headquarters at Chau-
mont or from Paris regarding the
American policy toward the movement
for the establishment Of Rhenish
republic.
All the facts regarding the attempt
to launch the republic are in the hands
OF the American and British authori-
ties but the circumstances are so COM
| plicated that officers have decided to
sIter safe course and see that within
their areas their authority is respected
from all sides. They hold that they
have the right only to regulate affairs
and maintain order.
Tie Americans say there are no in
6ications that the Germans generally
desire a republic and attribute the
movement to a handful of intriguers,
but they are unwilling to permit the
4
ground for rival factions
The American authorities decided to-
day that there was no foundation for a
charge of high treason against inhab
itants of the American occupied area,
so far as the German government was
concerned. They reached this conclu-
sion as the result of a message sent
by Berlin warning civilians not to pro-
mote the establishment Of the Rhenish
Republic. The promoters of the move
ment were warned they would be guilty
Of high treason if the republic should
be established. The Americans con-
tend that this is an attempted inter
ference on the part of Berlin and, in
a question of this kind, an invasion
of the rights of the occupying army
which is in complete control of all af-
fairs here.
General Strike Called
A general strike throughout the
American occupied area was declared
by the Germans at 9 o'clock day AS
a protest against the reported launch
ing Of the Rhenish republic at Wies-
baden. 1t was very brief, however
DCiHR OIIy IOuI HOuIS III uuTullOu, tut
workmcn returning to their labors al
! O'Clock this afternoon, after being
warned of the consequences by the
American military authorities.
The principal strikers were the rail
way employees and the streetcar work
ers at Treves and Coblcnz. When the
news of the strike became known the
Americans sent word to the labor lead
crs that unless the Germans returned
to work by o'clock the leaders and
all the other strikers would be de-
ported into sections of Germany un-
occupied by American troops. The In
ter-Allied Railway Commission report