Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1920-04-09
POLITICS $ SEEN
 IN LLOYD GEORGES $
 STAND UPON RIiKR
Times Intimates Strugg ie With Asquit Has lnhuenc-
 ed Him
CRISIS Is SEEN IN
 i. A.NGLO-FREN(H AFFAIRS
Diplomatic Opinion Says That France is W NrOnp in Form, but Ripht in Substance, Says
 Paper

London, April &. The London Times says q crisis has arisen in Anglo French relations and that, contrary to assurances, the differ ences of opinion between the allies regarding the occupation of the neu- tral zone by German troops were about to be composed by a friendly understanding, it appears that the British government yesterday took steps to emphasize their disagree ment with the policy of France.
 The Times adds that during the day M. Cambon. the French ambas- sador, had q long interview with Earl Curzon.
 "Scon afterwards,' continues the paper, "one of the premier's pri- vate secretaries, Philip Kerr of Bull lit fame, invited the representatives of the provincial press to Downing street and informed them of MT. Lloyd Georges standpoint. Simul- taneously a private communication on similar lines was addressed to the London Press and various word ed communiques were issued for publication through the news agen- tcies. These statements were under stood to have been on the same lines as Earl Curzon's representato to the French ambassador.
 ''In official quarters last night it was alleged that a note had been dispatched to the French govern ment through the British ambassa- dor at Paris.
 "The substance of the premier's argument is that by her occupation of German towns in the neutral zone France has acted against his views and the wishes of the other allied statesmen and without consultation with them. Italy. Belgium and the United States are alleged to have been opposed to the French plan. As regards Belgium, the Brussels tele- gram shows this statement to be incorrect.
 Right in Substance.
 "A discussion has been proceed ing for some time in regard to vari- ous suggestions for dealing with the situation, but no agreement had been reached One proposal was that German forces should be permitted to occupy the Ruhr area under guarantees which should be defined by Marshal Foch Another was that allied offenses should accompany the German troops, A third was that matters should be left entirely with the German government with the intimation that if the neutral zone was not evacuated as soon as circumstances should permit, the al i lies would claim the right to ocou- py important German centers."
 The Times adds that in, diplomatic 1 circles the view is expressed that the action of France is wrong in form, but right in substance. Itt is also regarded as mistake on the part of France not to have employ cd white troops exclusively in the | occupation of German cities.
 Independent diplomatic testimony, according to the Times, is to the eff feet 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 Mr. Lloyd George is attributed to his alleged desire to influence opinion in the liberal club, where strug- gle for predominance is proceeding between his supporters and those of MT. Asquith.