New-York tribune., 1920-07-10
Question of Occupation
To Be Determined by
Entente, in Event Berlin
Fails to Fulfill Pact
Concessions Given.
Says Lloyd George
Promise Made That Pros
ecution of War Grim
inals Will Be Rushed
By Ralph Courtney
Special Gable to The Tribune

by Ralph Courtney
Special Cable to The Tribune
Copyright. 1920, New York Tribune Inc.
SPA, Belgium, July 9.-The Ger
man representatives IN conference
here with the Allies yielded to-day
to Lloyd Georges ultimatum pre-
sented yesterday, demanding accept
ance by noon Of an immediate dis
armament plan on penalty of new
invasion of Germany by Allied
troops. Under the plan accepted
the German army will be reduced to
10000 men by October 1 and to
100000, the maximum permanent
force permitted by the Treaty of
Versailles, by January 1, 1921.
DR.. Simons, German Foreign Min
ister, who acted as spokesman for
the German delegates, announced the
decision of his government to sign.
In statement replying to Chairman
Delacroix's inquiry as to the Ger
man stand, DR.. Simons protested
against the Allied threat to occupy
the Ruhr Valley or other German
territory in case the Germans failed
to live up to the agreement.
Simons declared that under the Ger
man constitution he and his colleagues
have no power to alter or agree to any
alteration of the treaty. The Germans,
he said, recognized that the protocol
had been drawn up for the purpose of
executing, not of altering, the treaty,
and that in a measure it improved the
situation by granting delays, for which
Germany was grateful.
Severity of Terms Relaxed
On the other hand, he said, the Allied
threat to occupy the Ruhr Valley or
other parts of Germany really meant
an alteration of the treaty in favor of
the Allies. The German delegates could
find no clause of the treaty requiring
that Germany consent to further occu-
patton Of her territory in any event,
except the failure to perform the repa-
ration clauses.
At this point the proceedings ad-
journed to allow the Allies to consult
as to their attitude toward the German
delegates on reservations.
On the resumption of the proceed
ings, Lloyd George. as spokesman for
the Allies, said he was lglad the Ger
mans had decided to sign, for it would
be disastrous to every one if the con-
ference should be- broken off. 1t was
true the protocol relaxed the severity
of the terms of the treaty in the in
stances mentioned. The Germans
would now have two months in which
to disarm, and during that time would
have adequate forces at their disposal
to enforce the delivery of arms. These
were real concessions, he insisted
Allies to Decide Penalties
AS to DR.. Simons's objections, Lloyd
George pointed out, the protocol of
January 10 said that in the event the
Germans did not fulfill all obligations
within the stated times the Allies re-
served che right to take all steps, in
Guiding military, to enforce the treaty.
The statement in the present protocol
of the Allied intention to occupy the
Ruhr Valley was merely informative
to the Germans of the steps which
would be taken if the disarmament de-
mands were not met on time. 1t re-
lated not to steps, to be taken by the
Germans, but by the Allies if the Ger
mans did not carry out their part of
the agreement, he explained, and there
fore it was not incompatible with the
Germans power to sign. =
The signing then took place in
small room adjoining the conference
chamber. Chancellor rehrenbach signed
first, then Simons, followed by Delas
croix, Lloyd George, Millerand and the
Italian and Japanese representatives
and Earl Curzon.
After signing, Lloyd George was for
an instant face to face with Fehren-
bach. The German made precise. stiff
bow, which Lloyd George acknowledged
by inclining his head without smile.
All present felt the solemnity of the
meeting.
Herr Gessler, German Minister of
Defense, absented himself from the
meeting and. it is understood, that he
intends to place his resignation in the
hands of President Ebert as a protest
against the Allied insistence upon the
imposition of disarmament on Ger
many.
Outcome Pleases Germans
i nc 0cfIudHS won pOlut IN LLOYD
Georges acknowledgment of their
powerlessness to agree to the threat
ened\ invasion and his virtual accept
ance of their verbal reservations on
this point. The Germans were pleased
with the outcome of the conference, as
they say the concessions allowing
them to keep troops in the Rhine neu-
trail zone after July 10 are consider
able and that the delay accorded them
in disbanding troops Is most welcome
The fact they were not forced to as
sent entirely to the proposal to occupy
the Ruhr Valley and the condition
allowing them until September ! be-
fore the report that they are keeping
the disarmament agreements must be
rendered sent them away from the con-
ference feeling decidedly more cheer
full.
France must now be satisfied with !.
mere declaration Of the Allies of their
intention to occupy German territory
in cass ncnfulhllment u proved after
that date. The Germans signed thu