New-York tribune., 1921-04-04
Paris Ready to Set Up
Customs Posts Over
the Entire Industrial
Regioh Of Weslphalia
Hopes to Win Over
Britain to Its Plan
New Occupation Designed
to Throttle Nunition
Making in Germany by
Control of Industries
By Ralph Courtney
sprcioi Cable 10 Tie Tribune

Copyright. 1921 New York Tribune Inc.
PARIS, April 3.-As the first re-
suit of the visit to the United States
of Rene Viviani, Envoy Extraordi-
nary, and the American declaration
Of last Friday that she will support
the Allied policy of exacting full
reparations from Germany, France
probably will extend the customs
frontier of the new Rhine customs
state to include the whole industrial
region of Westphalia. France still
has British reluctance to overcome
before this is done, but it is hoped
that England will not shrink from
the course which is urged by France
and morally supported by the United
States.
The French are profoundly satisfied
with the American declaration and now
feel that France has a much freer hand
in pun fsuing her plans to make Germany
pay her war bills.
In all previous negotiations on the
subject of Germany's reparation pay
ments France has acted withs great
doubt in her mind whether America
would hasten peace with Germany and
become intolerant of the measures
taken by the Allies which tend to cor
troll German purchases and exports
She feared that the United State
might be attracted by the role OF me
diator between the Allies and Germany
and for selfish reasons desire TO see
minimum rather than maximum pen
alties inflicted on Germany.
Viviani's Success Encouraging
! Before stalking Frances future in a
final round of the reparatons dispute
the Paris government desired to gauge
at first hand the pulse of American
opinion on the subject. Reports of the
success in Washington Of Rene Viviani
therefore are received here with sat
isfaction and gratitude.
France, IN touch with Great Britain
and Italy, will now prepare the final
act of the reparatons drama. which. IL
is hoped. will not take tragic turn
before the end Now that the Allies
are in agreement as to the method of
setting up the Rhine customs bar
rier and on taxes to be imposed on
the Germans. it will be comparative
" small matte: to push this customs
/ frontier eastward twenty or thirty
kilom eters. However little money this
extension of the occupied area may
bring in as compared to the enormous
sums owed by Germany, it will at least
place the district where Germany man
ufactures her arms and ammunition
under Allied control. France will then
be certain that Germany cannot begin
extensive preparations for new war
and can bend all her energies to exact
ing reparation payments in the form
of industrial interests and cash
France would like to see new in
dustrial orientation in Westphalia. so
that this great manufacturing district
would not consider itself q slave OF
the Berlin government and be forced
to drop all other business if called
upon by the German government TO
manufacture materials of war If the
Rhine industrial region could be sepa-
rated from the dictation of the rest
OF Germany and would permit of ex-
tensive French participation in. indus
tries there this would give a guaran-
ty of peace that would GO long way
toward replacing the Anglo-American-
French treaties of guaranty.
Agree on Prompt Action
The French press quotes approvingly
the advice of Frank H. Simonds that
whatever France intends to do she
should do quickly. The newspapers
in the United States. France would
willingly take such advice if she could
conquer British relue.Gnce.
French correspondents with VI. Nivi-
ami, their dispatches TO the Paris news
papers indicate, have gained the i'm
preston that the special envoy has
been greatly astonished at the extent
and depth Of American opposition to
the League Of Nations. NJ Viviani's
return is looked forward to with spe-
cial anxiety because of the news
which he may bring back to France
regarding this institution.
NJ. Viviani, as one of the leading
representatives Of great power on
the league council, is making observa-
tions in America not only for France
but for Great Britain and other ma
tions represented in the leagues gov
erning body. Only preliminary ses-
sion of the amendment committee OF
the council will be held prior to the
special ENJOYS return to France Then
will begin one of the most important
discussions on amen iments that viii
involve the future constitution of the
league.
Non-Members To Be Considered
Amendments suggested by members as
we'll az non-memhers of the organiza-
ton will be considered, it is under
stood. and therefore not only those
put up by Argentina and other coun-
tries at the last session of the Assem-
bly,, but those embodying American
ideas CLEANED by N. Viyiani, will be
discussed The armament commission
of the league simultaneously will take
up the subject of disarmament again
ir the light Of information brought
tsck from America by he envoy.
There is !. possibility that the question
of mandates may then come up for re-
view also.
PARIS, April (By The Associated
Press) The newspapers of Paris are
greatly pleased over the statement Of
the American government that Ger
many must recognize her reparations