The daily times. [volume] (Wilson, N.C.) 1902-1936, 1919-05-13
FRENCH TO
CONTROL RHINE
Wilson and Lloyd George Re-
fused to Keep Armies in
Germany Indefinitely.
BELGIAN ARMY TO AID
BELGIAN ARMY TO AID

Paris, May 8.-The United States
will not maintain any part of the ar
mfe of occupation which by the
terms of the treaty handed to the
Germans yesterday will remain on the
Rhine for at least 1 5 years. Neither
will Great Britain keep any troops
in Germany indefinitely. The occu-
patton of the left bank of the Rhine
will be effected by the French and
Belgian troops, the great majority,
Of course, being French. These two
nations receive practically all of the
indemnity for the collection of which
allied troops are to be retained on
German territory.
1t was not the wish of Marshal
Fcch and the French peace dele
cation that this arrangement be
made. AS Marshal Foch said at
Treves last January. It was his idea
that all allied troops should watch
on the Rhine. This view was ex-
pressed most strongly by the French
during the peace negotiations, but
President Wilson told Clemenceau
with all firmness that under no con-
ditions could American troops
be kept in Germany, and Lloyd
George took the stand that Ameri-
ca had no interest or duty which
compelled our keeping fighting men
of our citizen army in Germany for
fifteen, ten, or five years, or even
| for one year more. After President
Wilson had unalterably opposed the
establishment of a buffer State
on the Rhine and refused to keep
American troops, there, the demilitar
| ization zone fifty kilometers wide
| on the east of the Rhine was de-
J cideG upon.
Last night and this morning there
was considerable speculation about
| that section of the peace treaty
which said the occupation of Ger
man territory would continue fif-
teen years. In the official summary
nothing was said about what
troops would remain on the Rhine.
But that matter may now be clear
| ed up SO far as the United States
is concerned, by stating that there
wil be no Interference in the pro-
gram of sending our troops home as
fast as shipping conditions will
permit. July 1st, will see practically
all sAmpricau froopc o,,t of E,ropoo
and units of the Army of Occupa-
tion will begin immediately to move
homeward. Between Sept. and Is
we will have no troops upon the
Rhine. This is the plan and it has
undergone no change. Only blank
refusal by the Germans to sign the
peace terms can change it, and
that may make less change than
might-be expected. It can be stated
authoritatively that President Will
son is ready to wind up our military
effort insEurope with the least de-
lay. He interprets that as the wiwst
of the American people, and the
army shares that desire.
al The French, of course, make
the point that it will be strain up
on their depleted man power t,
maintain, with only small Belgian
assistance, the occupation of tn,
left bank of the Rhine, but j
should be mentioned that this occu
patton will entail no direct finan
cial burden upon France, for it i
expressly stipulated in the treat
that Germany must bear the cos
of the army of occupation, and tha
it viii be prior charge upon he
resources. One cannot state hoy
large an army France will maintai
: in Germany. Perhaps France her
l self has not definitely decided, TO
\ it has not been many days sine
I President Wilson and Lloyd Georg
8 finally expressed Americas an
< Great Britain's decision not to pal
ticipate. Their armies of occupatio
! upon the Rhine now number abou
e 100000 men, but with the accept
o anco of the peace terms by Ge1
d many and the consequent diminutio
l. of her military strength no sue
b force will be required. 1t is sal
G that the occupation will be effecte
by placing garrisons in the mai