The Pensacola journal., 1920-04-09
BRITISH GOVERNMENT HAS SENT
PROTEST TOFRENCH With REGARD
TOOCCUPATION OF RUHR DISTRICT
Action Followed Long Confer
ence Between French Ambas-
sador and Lloyd George
BRITISH ISSUE STATEMENT
Public Is Informed That French
Government Acted on Its
Own Initiative i'm Ruhr

London, April Sit is stated that the
British government tonight sent a pro-
test to the French government with re-
gard to occupation of the Ruhr region.
London, April S.-After a long cCn-
ference which the French ambassador
. Paul Chambon, had with Premier Lloyd
George today and full discussion Of the
Franco German incident by the cabinet
council, at which the French view was
fully explained to the British micis-
ters, an authoritative statement was is
sued to the effect that France acted
entirely on her own initiative in decid-
ing to occupy German towns that
Great Britain, the United States, Italy
and Belgium were all opposed to the
pan and that Frances actions caused a
delicate situat.s1.
The matter is under discussion be-
tween France and Great Britain and
hope is expressed that the situation
will be eased
The statement issued said Germany
acted precipitately and France o have
responded by adopting a plan which
was only intended as a last resort,
then OF all allies, not of one. 1t says
Great Britain, Italy, Belgium and the
United States all felt the task of re-
storing order should lie with Germany
Ib said British troops will not be used
as police between hostile German FAC
tons.
Washington, April s.-As far as can
be learned here the state department.
action in regard to the Ruhr incidents
have been confined to expression OF
opinion that the German government
should be permitted to send into the
Ruhr valley any reasonable number of
troops necessary to restore order there
and maintain its supremacy
Brussels, April S-King Albert pre-
sided today at meeting of the cab
met council at which it was decided,
as a token of friendship for France and
of solidarity with the allies. that Bel
gium should be prepared to send de-
tachment into the Ruhr region.
Berlin, April S.-The Local AnZieger
reports another shooting affray at
Frankfort Thursday. 1t says a young
girl was killed, and woman was
wounded.
Frankfort. April This afternoons
clash in the Schillerplatz between
French troops and the population re-
sulting in the killing of six Germans
and the wounding of some two score
others was followed by strong dis
play OF French military forces which
brought the restoration of order by the
time darkness had set in.
1t was a rumor that the French had
been forced by the pressure of the al
lies and the United States to withdraw
from the city that started the trouble.
The crowd jeered and taunted the
troops, yelling you've got to get out
at the Senegalese who We're patrolling
in front of the guard house on the
square.
A French officer ordered the crowd
to disperse and when the order was ig
nored a machine gun was brought into
play. Disturbances also occurred in
other parts OF the city.
The firing attracted a great crowd
to the square, encircling the troops.
The German police aided in the ac-
tion taken to restore quiet, quickly
stationing groups at strategic points to
control the crowds.
A French staff officer deplored the
happening in conversation with the
correspondent tonight. THE French
authorities extremely regret this oc-
currenee," he said.
At a meeting of the editors of the
daily journals this noon it was decided
that the newspapers would not be pub
lished even if permission were granted,
so long as the French maintain their
censorship.
The use OF the telegraph and the
telephone was forbidden to the public
thus virtually cutting the city off so
far as wire communications were con-
cerned.
Berlin, April Majority socialist
members of the German cabinet have
been placed in an embarrassing position
by demands OF labor leaders for with
drawal OF regular troops from the
Ruhr valley and for action in other
matters involved in the situation which
has resulted in a French advance east
OF the Rhine
1t is freely admitted this action came
as a surprise as the coalition govern
ment did not expect an attack from
Carl r.. Legien, president of the Ger
man Federation OF Trade Unions and
other leaders who signed the demands
1t had been acting in the belief that it
had the support OF all parties, in view
OF the serious situation confronting the
country.a