Arizona republican., 1920-04-09
ALLIES OPPOSED FRENCH ACTION
 IN OCCUPATIONS
Britain, Italy and United
 States Were All Against Plan-London Times Re- ports a Crisis in Anglo French Relations, Result


 LONDON, April S.-By the As
 sociated Press1-After a long con
 ference with the French ambassa-
 dor, Paul Cambon, held with Pre-
 nnier Lloyd George today, and a
 full discussion of the Franco
 German incident by the cabinet
 council, at which the French view
 was fully explained to the British
 ministers, an authoritative state
 ment was issued to the effect that
 France acted entirely on her own
 initiative in deciding to occupy
 German towns; that Great Britain,
 the United States, Italy and Bel
 9Ium were all opposed to the plan,
 and that Frances action has
 caused delicate situation. The
 matter is under discussion of the
 British and French governments
 and the hope is expressed that the
 situation may be eased. The state
 ment recites various expedients
 suggested for dealing with the
 Ruhr situation, among others the
 sending of allied officers with tSs
 German troops to supervise the
 German withdrawal.
 Another alternative was that the decision should be left with the Ger man government, with the stipulation that unless the status quo was suffi- ciently restored, the allies themselves would occupy German points to en- force their demands. The statement proceeds:
 'The German government appears to have acted precipitately, and France to have responded by adopting plan which was only intended as a last re- sort method, and even then to have been the affair of the allies and not of any one of them simply
 Felt 1t Purely German Problem.
 Rrif a in TfnIx Pa1c r1ff the United States. it is declared. all felt that the task of restoring order should lie with Germany and all were opposed to their regular forces being called upon, except a last resort, to undertake what are virtually police duties. It is pointed out that France feared some ulterior motive on the part of Germany and doubtless acted in good faith, but, adds the statement. the immediate result is that the re- sponsibility for her action cannot be shared by the allies as a whole, and certainly there is no intention on the part of the British government to all low British soldiers to act as police between hostile German factions and incur all the odium of such position, 10 say nothing of it's risk
 The statement concluded:
 If and when. Frances suspicion Of >sermany's ulterior motives and delib- crate Haunting of the terms of the peace treaty become accomplished facts, the allies would doubtless be prepared to act instantly and vigor- ously in concert to vindicate the posi- ton and respect for the provisions of he treaty. But for the time heinz. il may be taken that no British soldier will participate in the occupation of CierT,1e- cities in the neutral gone"
 LONDON, April e.-The London
 Times says that crisis has arisen
 in Anglo-French relations and that,
 contrary to assurances that the
 differences of opinion between the
 allies regarding the violation of
 the neutral zone by German troops
 were about to be composed by
 friendly understanding, if appears
 that the British government yes
 terday took steps to emphasize
 their disagreement with the policy
 of France.
 The Times adds that during the day M CamborF. the French ambassador, had long interview with Earl Cur son.
 Soon afterwards continues the paper. ''one Of the premier's private secretaries, Philip Kerr of BulIitt fame. invited the representatives of the provincial press to Downing street and informed them of Mir. Lloyd Georges standpoint. Simultaneously, a private communication on similar lines was auuFeSSeQ lO lie l-OHOOn press and var ious worded communiqueS were issued for publication through the news agencies.
 Right Idea But Wrong Execution
 ''In official quarters last evening it alleged that note had been dispatched to the French government through the British ambassador at Paris
 The substance of the premier's arr gument is that by her occupa tion of German towns in the neutral zone. France has acted against his views and the wishes of the other allied states men and without consultation with them. Belgium and the United States have been reported to be against the French plan- As regards Belgium, the Brussels Times shows this statement 10 be incorrect
 The Times adds that in diplomatic circles the yiew> is expressed that the action of France is wrong in form, but as mistake on the part of France not to have employed white troops ex- clusively in the occupation of German cities. Independent diplomatic testi- mony. according to the Times, is to the effect that the German government is in reality controlled by militarists. It is therefore held that France was justified in acting swiftly while her allies were talking.
 In parliamentary quarters. says the Times. the action of Mir. Lloyd George is attributed to his alleged desire 10 influence opinion in the national liberal club. where a struggle for predomin- ance is proceeding between his SUD- porters and those of Mir. Asquith. nr AnRrc