The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-03-31
CRISIS IN RUHR
IS MADE ACUTE
BY FOOD FAMINE
Workmen's Council Fights to
Get Out of Delimma.
Situation Now Fast Approach.
ing Breaking Point.
FRANCE STOPS SHOW OF FORCE
Ebert Troops Kept Out Of
Threatened District.
Radical Leaders Admit Their
Plans Are Defeated.
FRANCE STOPS SHOW OF FORCE

Paris. March 31.-The request of the
German government that it be per-
mitted to send troops to the Ruhr dis
trict, in the neutral zone near the Ger
man border. has been denied by the
government of France.
Conversations over the German re-
quest have been in progress between
Premier Millerand and DIR. Won Mayer,
the German charge daffaires in Paris.
NJ. Millerand yesterday indicated he
would give the German charge an early
reply and it was handed to Won Mayer
today
Ebert Troops Push Forward.
Berlin, March 81 - Government
troops in the Ruhr region have been
pushed forward the time limit fixed
in the ultimatum from the govern
ment to the workers there has been
reached, says dispatch to the Abend-
blatt.
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 conditions
and for limited period.
A Berlin dispatch on Tuesday stated
that an announcement had been made
to the national assembly by Premier
Mueller 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 strong force in the
disturbed Ruhr area.
At the same time. Paris advices re-
porting the conversation between Pre-
mier Millerand and DIR. Won Mayer, in
dicated there had been no positive
decision In Paris as to the German re-
! quest to employ troops, and ALSO that
the question of guarantees to be
Offered by Germany for the with
drawal of the forces REQUIRED further
consideration.
! All interest today centered upon the
crisis in the Ruhr region. The gem
eral strike movement, however has
I broken out only at a few places. such
as Bochum and Elberfeld, so far as
the early advices showed.
The Vossische Zeitung reports the
passage of numerous worlxmen's
troops thru Elberfeld some of them
going. north to reinforce the troops
already at the front, while some
otheM, who had been disbanded. are
! trying TO make their way home again.
The general strike at Hagen has
again been called off. In Dusseldorf
200 revolutionists evacuated the town
nan. 1t is stated, as the result of ne
gotiations with the authorities there,
Workers Are Cornered.
! Dusseldorf. March 31.-The revo-
lutonary leaders in the Ruhr district
nave been In secret session virtually
uninterrupted for 36 hours and are
Sill trying to find osme way out OF. the
corner into which most of them feel
they have been driven by the govern
merits measures.
Most of the leaders admit defeat
but many of them are declared to be
resolved 10 pursue a course of sabot-
age with regard to the mines, and pos
sibly one of destruction of the fac
tories f the reichswehr really advance
upon them, as was threatened in the
governments ultimatum.
There has been a sudden tightening
of the food restrictions in the Ruhr
area, which had been relaxed for a
time by the workinemen's governing
bodies.
No disorders have occurred in con-
nect'on with the food restrictions or
the o.her revolutionary measures,
while the communists announce they
have released $50 members of the
reichswehr whom they had held. as
prisoners. The general situation as
regards the strike was unchanged this
evening. The Krupp plants. which
are declared to be turning out NUM-
ions for the red army. are said to be
the only ones in operaffon.