New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-04-10
The Larger Issue

| AAN ~-A~~A Ga AcoOO
The larger question raised by the
Ruhr Valley and Frankfort occupa.
tions is this: Is German disregard
Of the provisions of the Treaty oil
| Versailles to be checked before il
becomes a confirmed habit? Is Ger.
many to be encouraged to believe
that the Allies will tolerate a policy
of piecemeal revision through piece
meal notification?
The Allies recently served notice
on Germany to surrender her war
criminals for trial under Articles
22S, 229 and 230 of the Versailles
convention. The Ebert government
refused to comply, and offered as a
compromise to have the accused
tried in Germany. The Allies may
have been glad to be relieved of the
responsibility of furnishing these
offenders against the laws of war
and the rules of international con-
duct. But, at least, they all ac-
quiesced in making Articles 228,
229 and $50 q dead letter.
The Ebert government next sent
troops into the neutralized Rhine
zone, in violation of Article 43. BY
a protocol which was executed last
August Germany obtained permits
sion to maintain twenty battalions
there until April 10, 1920. But in
order to suppress the Communist up
rising in the Ruhr section, she re-
Gently rushed in troops greatly in
excess of the stipulated strength of
twenty hattalions. She received no
authorization to do this. The French
government fled an explicit protest
against the trespass. Instead of
ejecting the intruders Marshal Foch
has occupied Frankfort and other
neutral zone cities, far to the south
Of the Euhr region. He has merely
exercised the privilege of a tenn
porary counter occupation. with the
purpose Of Fastening the German
retirement from the Ruhr.
Belgium has backed up France,
but the British government declares
it is averse to participating in any
military pressure on Germany which
might involve the use of British
troops in policing disturbances be-
tween rival German factions or gov
ernments in the neutralizcd zone.
Lloyd George seems to think that
Ebert should have been allowed to
pacify the Ruhr region, even if he
had to suspend the operation Of the
treaty to do so.
That is one way Of avoiding minor
complications over treaty enforce
ment- But it must lead in the end
to major complications. The treaty
requirement for the reduction of the
German military forces to 100000
men goes into effect to-day. Ger
many has not completed prcpara-
tons for that reduction. She is
still in overstrength. There are
said to be from 10000 to 10000
German soldiers in the Ruhr dis
trict alone. If the Ebert govern
Ment now evades disarmament. is
that violation Of The treaty also to
be ignored hv those who believe
rat the treaty can best be amended
by successive German notifications?
France stands by the treaty, which
is her one existing guaranty against
reviva! Of German military power.
" liierand wants to convince Berlin
that notifications cannot be effected
BY acts Of commission and omission
on Germany's part. In that he is
r'"ht. It is highly desirable that all
he Entente signatories should act
together in enforcing the treaty.
But it is not just to expect France to
sacrifice her safety because unity of
action is temporarily understandable.
Size is in a position to holt German
Violations Aud it is high time for
some Allied power to remind Ger
many that the treaty still stands
ard must be resnncted