New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-02-02
Vivialli Gives
New Facts to
Fix War Blame
Shows French Troops Re.
tired From Frontier When
Germans Moved Toward 1t
Avoided Strife on Border
Gave World Demonstration
of Desire for Peace; King
George Applauded Act

PARIS, Feb. 1.-On July 80, 1914, the
French government ordered it's troops
to retire eight or ten kilometres from
the frontier, having heard that the Ger
man troops were Moving toward it. Rene
viviani. former premier, declared in
the Chamber of Deputies last night in
the course OF disclosures concerning
the origin of the war which never be-
fore have been made public. NJ Vivi-
AMI was premier when the war broke
out.
sit was on July 30," he said, "that
the government of which l was the
chief decided that the French troops
should retire eight or ten kilometres
from the frontier. On the same day
requested Paul Cambon French Am
bessador in London by wire to inform
Sir Edward Grey of the measure TAKEN
England l said, will realize that
il France is firm, it is not she who is
taking measures of aggression. AL
though Germany has moved her troops
upon her battle line the government of
the French republic intends to demon
strate that France, as we'll as Russia,
bears no responsibility for the attack. "
These "reminiscences of the momen-
tous days of the last of July 1914,
caused the Deputies to rise and cheer
the former premier. NJ. Viviani con-
tinued:
Would Fight Only for Right.
Gould we risk a murderous war upon
the chance meeting of patrols? We de-
sired to proclaim high before the world
that if France were forced to fight, she
would do so for right and justice, and
not take advantage of any equivocation.
"The withdrawal was carried out
without any obstacle, either technical
or military. Had we met with an OBJ
servation from General Joffre to the
effect that the measure might endanger
the fate of the country, we should not
have hesitated, but would have kept
the watch on the frontier. No objection
came from the general"
NJ. Viviani's speech was in reply to
questions by Deputy Fernand Enge-
rand, who sharply criticised the aban-
Comment of the ten-kilometre zone. He
claimed that it was a technical mis-
take, because the mineral valley of
Briey was within range of the French
guns, and, had it been bombayded in
tensively for three or four days, the
German iron ore deposits and factories
would have been destroyed and Ger
many placed in an inferior position re-
garding minerals. This, the Deputy
thought, would have brought about an
end of the war in six mouths.
Deputy Engerand added that the
abandonment of the French sources of
minerals and iron without fight Gre
ated a situation which caused the first
battle of the Marine to become a
pyrrhic victory instead of the absolute
defeat of the enemy.
Sought to Avoid Trouble
Former Premier Viviani replied that
the abandonment of the Briey valley
in the event of war had been decided
upon by the general staff in January,
1914. A withdrawal to depth of
twenty-five kilometres was first con-
sidered, said NJ Viviani, who then reat
a telegram from General Joffre, dated
July 80, reading as follows:
"For diplomatic reasons it is lndls
pensable that no incident occur at the
frontier. No unit and no patrol shall
advance east of the line fxed."-
VI. Vivian then read message from
Auolphe Messimy, the Minister of Wa,
ri that ting, as follows:
ain order to assure English collab
GRAFTON II - indispensable that French
troops do rot cross the general line
decided upon unless regular attack
is made upon them
On August General Joffre, learning
that seventeen violations of the French
frontier had been committed, tele
graphed to Premier Fiviani as follows
"The Introduction against crossing
the line indicated is lifted, but fol-
national reasons of diplomatic ant
moral order it is indispensable to leave
TO the Germans the entire RESPONSE
bility for hostilities. Consequently oul
troops viii merely hold the enemy bacl
and throw him upon the frontier, with
out pursuing him beyond"
War Dogs Finally Let Loose
NJ. Viviani amid tense silence, con-
tinued:
Then war was declared The Presi-
dent of the republic wrote letter tt
King George, which was published il
the press at that time, but the reply
OF the King il still unpublished. II
reads:
az admire the limitation which
France willingly imposed upon herseli
and which so vitality concerns her mill
tary defence"
The former Premier was laborinp
Under great emotion and his voice was
at high pitch, carrying to every corner
Of the spacious chamber. as he. con
Guided:
at is essential the wSrld know thai
IN order TO assure the peace of the
world we were making such a sublime
sacrifice in uncovering our frontier in
order to affirm our right. Do you
think that great and noble AmeYica
would have remained indifferent tt
such striking demonstration of oui
good faith and that it had no inft,.
ence upon her final decision?
2 Upon the responsibilities for the
war historians may discuss. but France
by her withdrawal ten kilometres
away from her frontier has given tho
world proof Of her earnest desire 70,
peace"
~