The New York herald., 1921-03-16
ALLIED CUSTOMS
WALL CUTS OFF
OCCUPIED AREAS
Rhineland No Longer May
Be Linked With Germany,
Coblenz View.
rs SEPARATE STATE
American Military Com
mander Close Observer
of Situation.
c. S. MEDIATION is HOPE
Friendly Offices Looked For
in Event Of Impasse as to
Reparations.
.. S. MEDIATION is HOPE

Special Cable to THE Nrw York HERALD.
Copyright, 1921, By THE NEW YORK HERALD
CoBLENz, March 15.-The Rhineland
the customs tariff to be applied be-
tween the occupied and unoccupied
areas of Germany and has asked the
allied Governments for their approval.
But a high official told THE NEW YORK
HERALD correspondent to-day that no
attempt would be made to make actual
collections along the eastern line until
the replies from all the Allies had been
received.
1t has been learned, however, that
the new customs line will begin four
kilometers from Essen and thence
along a line to the farthest outposts
Of the British, American and French
zones, the general principle. which Is
continually being stressed by the
French, being that nothing must be
done to inture the Rhine country
commercially or industrially.
Even in regard to the proposed new
tariff. the intention is TO follow closely
the present German customs rates.
thereby constituting virtually a separate
State in the occupied regions. which.
while not autonomous as long as the
Rhinoland Commission has civic con-
troll rtainly cannot be said to bs
linked to Germany.
Meanwhile the French have Installed
customs supervision along the entire ac-
tuni frontier and arc und erstood to be
considering the stationing of customs
officials along the outposts so as to be
ready to inaugurate the new system as
soon as the word comes from London,
Paris and Brussels. which is expected
before the end or this week.
Major-Gen. Henry r. Allen, command
ing the American forces. Is serving as
Americas unofficial observer at all ses-
sions of the Rhincland Commission here.
but processes not to have instructions
as TO what Americas attitude is to be.
He admits that the fixing of tariffs will
give the delegates much worry and he
has indicated that the Americans while
not taking any actual part In the cus-
toms collections. probably will not in
terferc with any measures taken by the
Allies which do not conflict with Ameri-
cas- military occupation OF the Coblenz
brid gehead.
NJ wspapers here have given much
prominence 10 the suggestion that Amer.
lea would offer to mediate the repara-
ron claims when the allied leaders find
that their calculations are leading them
ii to an lmpasse. but Gen. Allen says he
mas not yet had any indications OF such
irtention from Washington.
Nevertheless Americans have always
nccn great mediators." added Gen. Allen.
They have accomplished much along
,hc line of making compromises ever
since the days Of Henry Clay. but the
.7roposal at present seems improbable :
All the turmoil over the customs BAR
rier. however. has not yet changed the
general aspect In the Ruhr Valley. Its
smoking chnneys and throngs Of hust.
ling workers telling the usual story OF
'icrmanys effort TO regain her pre-waI
irdustrial wealth. while the manufac.
furers continue to direct a barrage OF
! ropa ganda to the effect that the Ruhi
Will be ruined and the Allies with II
unless the customs barrier idea is re.
scinded. In fact, the situation is so neal
to normal that the Allies to-day with
,Arew the gunboat Parsifal to Mayenc'
from Ruhrort and there is some tall
CT reducing the sentry posts at Dussel
dorf.