Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-04-08
GERMANY FORCED
ACTION BY FRANCE
Premier Millerand Accuses
Berlin of Many Violations
of Pact of Versailles.
EXPLAINS TO AMBASSADORS
Charges That the Invasion Of
Ruhr Was Part Of Plot of
Enemy Militarists.
lRy Associated I.re-ss.

PARIS, .tpril "A note prepared
by Preimcr Millerand was read to
the ambassadors today and then de-
livercd 10 tho German charge. W!!-
helm Won Mayer. in which the Pre-
mier declared that France had taken
Grca; care to inform and consult with
the allies before occupying the Rhine
cities
Tho text or the note follows:
BEFORE occupying Frankie l..
Darmstadt and other cities. the
French government took great care.
as il was bound to do. To inform an.l
consult with tho allies. Many times
since the treaty has come into force
France has proved it's desire to main
tain close cooperation with the al
lies by waving it's point OF view and
accepting theirs
France Forced to Act.
France was forced to act when
faced not only by direct violation
Versailles treaty concerning all the
allies. especially France. owing TO it's
geographical position. but also'by the
failure Of Germany 10 keep the prom
ise given by representative OF the
engaged in at the request OF the
latter.
"on March oS the French Premier
declared from tho tribune or the
Chamber OF Deputies that Franco.
which was still awaiting the begin
ming OF tho realization of the most
urgent reparations. could not delay
indefinitely making decisions which
were Imperative One March es sDr.
qoeppert informed the French gov
ernment that the German government
had not considered in any way the
possibility OF ! sending additional
troops To the Ruhr Valley without
the authorization OF the French gov
ernment.
ON April 2 Premier Millerand con-
frmcd'to the German charge DAT
faircs the decision that the French
government could not. as far as IL
was concerned. give such authoriza-
ton unless French troops should be
authorized TO occupy simultaneously
Frankfort. Damnstadt, Homburg,
Hanau and Dieburg.
Asked Permiasion-Aftervn
'On April 3 DIR. Gocppcrt admitte ed
that Reichswehr troops superior Ia
the efectives fXed by the decision of
August Q, 1919. had penetrated the
Puhr. and asked in the namc OF the
German government that the formal
authorization necessary TO that ef-
feet he given 10 the German govern
mcnt after the act had been accom-
plished.
The same day. at Berlin. Under
Secretary OF State won I.aniel in
formed General Barthelemmy. who
replaced General Nollet. that the
German government had given en-
tire freedom OF action to Commits
sioner SeverinE concerning the use
Of troops concentrated for the pur-
pose of operations in the Ruhr Val
lc! and assumed the responsibility for
their action in the neutral zone.
The French government immedi-
ately informed it's allies of this com
munication. confirmed h. its own in
formation. calling attention TO the
fact that the German soverRmeH;
was violating Article XLIV. OF the
treaty "a violation constituting a
casus belli-and expressing the hope
that the allied governments would
recognize the necessity of immediate
action and would lend assistance to
France in an effective manner for
the execution OF military measures
which could not be avoided or de-
ferrcd.
1t was not the first time the
Continued on Second Pagc)