The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-04-08
DECISION CONFIRMED

man government in conversations which
 were engaged in at the request of the
 latter
 DECISION CONFIRMED
 | 'On March 2S, the French premier
 declared from the tribune of the cham
 Der of deputies that France, which was
 still awaiting the beginning of the real
 ization of the most urgent reparations,
 could not delay indefinitely making de-
 cisions which were imperative. On
 l March B, Dr. Goeppert informed the | French government that the German 1 government had not considered in any iway the possibility of sending additional troops to the Ruhr valley without the lauthorization of the French government.
 "On April g. Premier Millerand con- firmed to the German charge daffaires
 the decision that the French govern ment could not, as far as it was con-
 cerned give such authorization unless
 French troops should be authorized to occupy simultaneously Frankfort, Darm-
 stadt. Homburg, Hanau and Dieburg- l "On April 3. Dr. Goeppert admitted
 that Reichswehr troops superior to the effectives fixed by the decision of August | 9, 1919, had penetrated the Ruhr, and asked in the name of the German gov- | ernment that the formal authorization | necessary to that effect be given to the German government after the act had been accomplished.
 "The same day at Berlin Under Sec retary of State Von Haniel informed General Barthelemmy, who replaced General Nolet, that the German gov
 ernment had given entire freedom of ac- tion to Commissioner Severing concern ing the use of troops concentrated for the purpose of operations in the Ruhf valley, and assumed the responsibility for their action in the neutral zone. "The French government immediate informed ifs allies of thiS cOmmtiui- cation, confirmed by it's own informa- tion calling attention to the fact that the German government was violating Article fl of the treaty--a violation constituting casus belli-and ex- pressing the hope that the allied gov ernments would recognize the neces- ] sitv of immediate action and would l lend assistance to France in an effec-, | tive manner for execution of military measures which could not be avoided or deferred.
 l Tt was not the first time the French government had warned its allies of that necessity. As early as March 2S, l the French government brought the proposition of occupying Frankfort and other cities before the council in | London. which expressed the opinion, l on March 25, that the moment was not | timely.
 | "The German government addressed l llSeI ulrectiN to the fTencn SONeTn- ment to obtain authorization to send 1 troops to the Ruhr valley. The French government had no reason to author ize such infraction of the treaty, ras- , much as its own information con V ed with that of it's allies in deciding hat the military occupation of the Ruhr was useless and dangerous MILITARISTS RESPONSIBLE
 Facts demonstrate that the initia- in nat inY ha aft ftrih uted to the German military party. It
 was kapp's government which took The initiative. It was the military party which despite the strong objec- ton brought forward in the German government itself against projected intervention. affirmed the impossibl- fly of re-establ ishing order without additional troops in the Ruhr. France was thus faced with a meas ure which in the unanimous opinion of the allies could not be executed without providing authorization which was not justified by the circumstances and which the German government had taken a formal engagement to- ward France never to attempt with out it's authorization.
 "The measure took an especially
 serious aspect owing to the fact that the allies had been unable to obtain. despite their insistence. execution of me clauses or the treaty relatlNe 10
 German disarmament.
 "The French government thus acted in the general interest, as we'll as in the interest of France. It was neces- sarv that it should take, in accordance with the treaty of Versailles, a meas ire indispensable to its own security There is no need to recall that 1t is resolved to evacuate the occupied cities ss soon as the German troops have ompletely quit the Ruhr.
 ''rhe French governments attitude is justified by the action of the Ger
 nan government It does not modify however. it's dispositions toward Ger many, with which it hopes to enter into commercial relations on a basis of economic cooperation, from which ,the European situation can only bene- fit
 France, in taking measures for the occupation. was not inspired by hos tile thought toward Germany and re- Elterates the assurance that it wishes to renew with Germany as soon as pos sible normal relations on a basis of economic agreement. Mt expresses its I.readiness to receive favorably any tserious proposal which might come from Germany, in view of the fact that under certain circumstances France might even take the initiative in that direction.s
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