Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1920-04-17
trigger. should tho occasion require

The Allies remembering Gcrmany's
action in disregarding tho treaty
with Belgium took tho occasion L
do the same thing to Germany ant
made this plea in justification. Ii
the meantime, tho military party now
in discard had itS Representatives
among the German people, telling
them. Il told you So The rcvolu
tionists had secured the support
from the masses upon the theory
that the harsh stipulations that
would have been visited upon the
haiscr and his Government had they
been forced to make terms would
lie modified, il the dealing came di
rectly from the direct representa-
tivcs OF the German people.
They found to their SORROW that
they had walked into the trap skill
fully set by the Allies and that they
would not be permitted to get out
Until they had paid the uttcrmost
farthing." Then came the grasp for
exploitation Of Germans colonies
President Woodrow Wilson found
himself in Paris i'll the midst Of Il
contcnding group and SO radical aud
uncomPr omising were they that only
threats to take his hat and coat
and come home brought about Il par
tial amclioration Of conditions.
The make shift German Govern.
mcnt was in the throcs Of another
and the long way that the people hau
IT, go coupled with compromises by
the Government saved the day for
The time being. The Kapp revolution
lists secured concessions and then
the revolution in the Ruhr Valley, !,
zone marked off for the safety Of
France and in which zone no regular
German troops were to be stationed.
This was regarded as providing safe
nan invasion. Now this section was
u"dcr the rule of the German Gov.
eminent, but the German Govern
mcnt. without troops could net en-
force its DEGREES.
1t was necessary to dispatch troops
there to restore the prestige OF the
Gorman Government and President
Ebert enlisted the assent and sup
Fort of the Allies for this purpose
France objected. although it Is Ill
legged that the United States, Great
britain. Italy, and even belgium
gave their consent.
Germany agreed to withdraw these
troops as soon as order was restored
and about three weeks was the time
specified as being necessary to estab
lish this result. The German Govern
l,ent sent Its troops into the valley
and ,disregarding the attitude OF nor
Allies. France sent troops over the
German border and occupied several
German cities.
What made the matter worse In
TIE United States and Great Britain
France sent her famous black troops
to police German cities. These blacl,
n.Cn had won renown In tho world
war and the French General Dc
Coutte was in charge Of these re
E.arkable colonial troops that had
been the wonder of tho world in tho
field Of army warfare. Belgium
sent troops to aid France in policing
Tie territory A clash with German
citizens resulted and finally the AL
lies met and notified France tina,
The troops must be withdrawn from
German Territory.
This is brief statement of affairs
Up to date. In the meantime. the viii
son League OF Nations with Prcai
GCnt Wilson out of the League is funo
uoning. 1t is badly injured and tho
prospect of its approval by the
tHllcu oldtcS octalc IL even moro
remote. 1t is being demonstrated that
this diplomatic, organic elixir, this
patented device to end wars in the
future is proving ineffective even III
the beginning of its operation
France has shown its lack Of conf
dcncc in this League Of Nations. Cel
tain it is that only Allied troops. act
ing in concert could have lawfully
entered the Ruhr Valley OF Germany
The action Of France and Belgium
was an act of war. If Kaiser Wilhelm,
Field Marshal Won IIindenburg and
others Of this group had been in the
saddle in Germany, war would now
be raging between the two countries
with The protesting nations Of the
world, viewing with alarm the stu
alton.
The world is war weary and the