Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-09-20
FRANCE To OCCUPY
RHINE INDEFINITELY
BY ANDRE TARDIEU
Former French High Commissioner
70 Anerica.l

TO AfneT1Cas)
UeaSed Wire Service to The Journal
Copyright, 1921
('rarce canot afford the luxury of
serving as a battlefield every twenty years
for the defenders Of world liberty. Hence,
N. Tardieu points out her insistence that
there shall be positive guarantees against
aggressive action by Germany before the
French troops now occupying the left bank
Of the Rhine are Withdrawn. NJ. Tardieu
frankly does not see these guarantees forth
coming and instead of a fifteen-years' &C.
cupation he looks for indefinite pro
longation Of the occupation of French ter
ritory.)
PARIS, Sept. IA discussion
running between former President
Poincaire and myself has attracted
such attention in the American press
that a clear statement of the Ques-
ton probably will be welcome. OF
course, l shall omit everything at
tributable to domestic politics which
do not interest our overseas friends,
but the debate also touches a grave
international question whose import
ance it is impossible to eXaggerate
NJ. Poincaire complains of the posi-
ton in which France has been placed
since the peace by the policies of her
late allies and associates in the war.
Every Frenchman complains with
him. The treaty of Versailles, the
fruit Of five months of negotiation,
was a compromise or a balance. The
refusal of the United States to rati-
fly either the treaty or the proposed
special alliance with France, and
David Lloyd Georges inSistence u6-
on revising several of the most i'm
tn wv fo
have deprived France of the advant-
ages for which she made many sac
rifices.
Different Views
M. Poincaire holds that this dis
advantage to France has been with
is where I differ with him. I hold
that Clemenceau's government, hav-
ing foreseen exactly what has since
happened, had provided ample RENE
dies. These involve the whole ques--
ton of guarantees by Germany and
the occupation Of the left bank OF the
Rhine.
Clemenceau demanded at the reace
conference that the left bank of the
river should be occupied until the
German debt was entirely paid, mean
ing at least thirty years. Presldent
Wilson and Lloyd George, the other
members of the big three refused
the military alliance whereby the
United States and Great Britain
would come Immediately to the as.
sistance of France in the event or
an unprovoked attack by Germany,
Glen enceau fatty rejected this SUBJ
stitute.
agreed that besides the treaties of
alliances, there should be occcupatinoan
of the left bank ceasing after nj
teen years if Germany, meanwhile
had lived up to all OF her obligations
However, M. Clemenceau very
wisely reminded President wilson
that the treaties might not oe raL ~, =
fed by the American senate and the
British parliament. In such case,
if Germany faithfully executed the
treaty fer fifteen years, France mlSnt
be obliged to evacuate without nav
ing any guarantees as to the Iurthei
carrying out of the provisions.
This remark was so obviously JUST
that first Mr.. Wilson and then Mr.
Tlovd George agreed to add the fol
loving clause to article AZ Of the
treaty: 4. -
fifteen years. the guarantee agalns;
unprovoked aggression by Germany
allied and associated governments
the evacuation of the occupying
troops may be delayed to the extent
regarded as necessary for the pur'
nose of obtaining the required guar
anteeS.
Meaning Clear
The text is so clear that comment
vouId be superauous. If after fifteer
wears the guarantees remain lnsuf'
ficient. the occupation may be pro
ionged. Still more so If the guar
antees are lacking altogether, Whlcn
of course will be the case # the trea
ties Of alliance are not ratified. Con
senuentIv in the present state O.
things French troops can not legltl
mately be compelled to evacuate o.
That is why I have protested
against NJ. Poincaire saying, ina
France is between two stools OF
trary France stands solidly on
right inscribed in the treaty. L par
ticipated hour by hour in the nego
tiations from April % to 20, which
ended in adding the above clause
stii have the rough drafts OF IN
amendments inserted by Messrs
Wilson, Clemerceau, Lloyd Georg
and myself. ..o.,
and moreover the treaty text itself i
sufficient. -.
The question here involved is ab
rightly demand positive guarantee
that inva sion, suffered twice in tift!
years, shall not be repeated.
We can not afford the luxury o
serving as 4 battlefield every TWEEN
ty years for the defenders OF llperty
Saved $50 in Twenty Year
BURTON-ONTRENT. England
Tvboyoo- Hall an inmate of the lOCa