The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1920-03-31
GERMANY CANNOT SEND TROOPS TO
 RUHR DISTRICT

(Continued From Page One.) sion charged with the control of the execution of the protocol of August 1, 1919, has expressed to me, as I in formed you in our conv versation yes terdaiy, its formal opinion, confirmed also from other sources, that nili- tary intervention in that region at present would be useless as we'll as 
 'NThus circumstances do not permit me at this time to grant the request of your government. I must there fore reserve my definite reply to the proposition which you made me yes terday.''
 Premier Millerand concluded by ex- pressing the earnest desire of the French government to do everything not inconsistent with the defense of French interests to facilitate the task of the German government.
 Berlin has evidently been under the impression that permission would be granted Germany to use troops for the purpose of restoring order in the Ruhr region under certain con ditions and for a limited period. A Berlin despatch on Tuesday states that Premier Mueller had announced to the national assembly that France had abandoned her demand for allied occupation of the neutral zone and had consented to grant Germany from two to three weeks to employ a strong force in the disturbed Ruhr area. At the same time Paris ad- vices reporting the conversations be- tween Premier Mil1erand and Dr. Von Mayer indicated there had been no positive decision in Paris as to the German request to employ troops and also that the question of guarantees to be offered by Germany for the withdrawal of the forces required further consideration.
 The Hague, March 31-The army of rebeIlious German workingmen beseiging the fortress of Wesel, in RheniSh Prussia, has received rein forcements and made new attacks, according to despatches to the Nieuwe Courant of Rotterdam.
 The town of Hamm, in Westphalia, and several other places are report ed to have been pIundered.
 At Essen, the advices state, a gen. era1 strike has been proclaimed and carried out in full force.
 Berlin, March 30. 6:3O D. m.-(By the A. P.)-Whether the Ruhr min ing and industrial district near Ger many's western border is to witness a red Easter appeared tonight to be wholly contingent upon the pacifying abilities of the Prussian minister of the interior. His task is to mollify the labor elem ents and otherwise null lify the effects of the methods adopt ed in the Ruhr by General von Waiter, commander of the government forces. Herr Severing, the new head of the interior ministry, was this mornin g on his way to Essen. possessed of far-reaching powers, the granting of which gives rise to the belief that the I military element has been wholly eliminated from the negotiations with regard to the situation in Westphalia The appointment of Herr Severing by | the government to conduct the nego- 1 tiations, indeed, is considered to be 1 tantamount to a discreet backdown | from the ultimatum to the workers. Withdrawal of General von Waiter 1 is said to be in contemplation by the
 cabinet as a further concession to the ! Ruhr workmen. In official quarters i this evening it was declared that an armed invasion of certain sections of
 the Ruhr district would be unavoida-
 bIe in the face of the increasing law lessness in the region.
 | Berlin, March 31.---Leaders of the | three socialist parties here have sent
 an energetic uFtimatum to the gov
 ernment requesting that it respect the ! BieIefeld convention and iInm ediately suspend all military measures in the RJ1hr valley. The government is
 given dntil o'clock Thursday after
 noon to accept or reject this request
 Should it be rejected an immediate proclamation of a general strike will | follow CN6onnoI1oT Mnn11nT in 1 formed by a socialist delegate.
 l The executive council of workers in the Ruilr district have at the last
 minute accepted some notifications of the governments uItimatum, ac-
 cording, to the Gazette, and govern
 ment troops have received orders tc 1 await new instructions.