The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1919-06-05
RHINE. PROVINCE
USED AS BARTER,
GERMANS CLAIM
East Prussia Betrayed to OBJ
tain Easier Terms People
Charge Strikes Forbidden.
CBy Associated Press,

BERLIN, June 5.-Another indica-
tion of the sentiment in eastern Ger
many regarding the annexation of por-
tions Of East Prussia to Poland is
shown in a bitter protest signed by
all the leaders of the leading political
parties in the Okletzko district charg-
ing the government with neglecting
the interests of east Prussia and bar
tering the province with the entente
for more favorable peace terms.
The protest declares the government
appears willing to betray the east
Prussians who are fighting to the last,
while the government Is seeking to
swap Masurian territory for some
more desirable sections" It declares
that if the government fails to pro-
tect the people of East Prussia, they
will protect themselves by force of
arms.
A proclamation by General Mangin,
commander of the French army of oc-
cupation at Mayence. forbidding
strikes against the Rhenish republic
and threatening leaders Of any such
movements with expulsion is publish
ed in the Frankfort Gazette.
Charge Propaganda Fund.
"The Rhinelanders have been dis
cussing the interests of their father
land for the past six months without
disturbing public order," the procla-
nation says. "but now the German
government threatens them with i'm
prisonment. They have a republic
within the German empire and have
sought the right of election, in which
they will have complete freedom
There is nothing in their procedure
which might occasion protests or
strikes which disturb order and econ
omic life"
The French have propaganda fund
amounting to ten million francs with
which to further the movement for the
establishment of the Rhenish republic,
declares the Karlsruhe correspondent
of the Lokal Anzeiger. This sum, he
says, is being used principally in the
Rhineland and Palatinate, and it is be-
ing partly distributed to those favor
ing an independent republic at Ian
rau, MayenceA Cologne and Wiesbaden,
who withouY doubt, he added, have
been bribed."
Dorten in SecTusion.
DR.. Dorten, who was named on June
l as the president of the new republic,
has not been seen since his appoint
ment but has issued two DEGREES to
workers and to officials of the Rhen-
ish republic" it is said. The cores
pondent states that all the political
parties except centralists have unit
ed in protesting to the French against
any violation of their right to self
determination and demanding the sup
preston and expulsion of the disturb
ers of the peace.
When the project of the Rhenish re-
public was first broached, Marshal
Foch, commander in chief of the al
lied armies was approached through
occupation of officers and asked
whether the Rhinelanders could work
for republic without the risk of be-
ing disciplined by Germany, according
to the Mannheim Neue Baden Landes-
zeitung. The newspaper states that
Marshal Foch and Premier Clemen-
ceau of France conferred on the sub
jeet and sent reply to the Rhine
landers that 'the German government
would never again have anything to
do with the left bank of the Rhine,
and hence the propagandists could not
be punished"