New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-04-10
Official Britain
Divided Over
Rul1r Situation
Earl Curzon Believes the
Trouble Is Clearing Up
Rapidly; Premier Feels
1T Has Gone Too Far'
By Arthur S. Draper
From The Tytbune's European Bureau
lCopyrtght 1920 New York Trihlna Incl

8 CUTODoCn
Copyright. 1920. New York Tribune Inc)
LONDON, April 9.-Nobody knows
what will be the result of the inter
national crisis that has developed out
OF the advance of the French armies S
into Frankfort and Darmstadt. The
lack of unity among the Allies is re-
fected in no small degree here in Lon
don, where at least two departments
of the British government disagree
sharply as to the wisdom of the de-
cision of the British government in
refusing support for the French move.
AT the Office of Earl Curzon, Secre-
tary of State for Foreign Affairs, it ia
believed that the trouble in the Ruhr
district is clearing up rapidly and that
IT events are allowed to take their
course a way out will be found which
Wall not leopard the relations of France
and Great Britain.
The Premier's View
On the other hand, it is believed at
the office of the Premier in Downing
Street that the Foreign Office has al
lowed matters to drift too far.
A first class political struggle may
develop in England, France and Ger
many out of the crisis. Those who
lean toward pessmsm see all sorts of
alarming possibilities in the situation,
including the dissolution of the en-
tente cordiale, the rewriting Of the
Treaty Of Versailles, the collapse of
the league Of nations and the forma-
tion of new international political
alliance, not to mention the serious
financial and economic disturbances
and domestic political upheavals that
may follow. On the other hand, the
optimistic feel that diplomats may
succeed in calming the troubled
waters
The British are studying the French
reaction to the note sent yesterday
refusing support to the French and
also to the developments in Germany
The newspapers here generally sup
port the governments attitude. The
only exceptions are the Northcliffe
press, which is the bitter political op-
ponent OF the Premier, and THE Morn
ing Post" which is consistently friend
~ toward France because Of it's stead
last sympathy with the principle of
the balance of power. All the Liberal
press and all the government news
papers are now firmly supporting the
Prcmler's attitude.
Public Supports Premier
Philip Kerr, secretary to the Pre-
mier, handed note to the Foreign Of
flee, defining the position Of the gov
eminent and leaving instructions that
statement embodyng that attitude
be sent 10 the overseas dominions The
Foreign Office, it is said, considei $
this action on the part Of the Premier's
office an infringement on its author
ity. In a word, the Foreign Office
has virtually the same grievance
against the Premier as Secretary Lam
sing had against President Wilson. The
Premier undoubtedly has the support
OF the majority Of the public, despite
the criticism lcvelcd against him for
his opportunism and his desire to win
political favor from the Liberals
In Frankfort the French are increas-
ing their forces. strict military
censorship is being enforced. Only
minor clashes between civilians and the
army of occupation were reported
Around Essen, according to British re-
ports, the German government is rap
IDLY restoring order
Premier Lloyd George is expected to
san tomorrow for San Reno, and will
thus obtain few days' freedom from
work. In that time it is hoped that the
atmosphere Will have cleared.