The New York herald., 1921-05-24
NEAR CAUSE OF WAR (.
PARIS TELLS BERLIN.
BRAND Warns Germany to
Stop Sending Aid to Silesian
Insurgents.
MUST CLOSE FRONTIER
France Considers Occupation
of Ruhr Unless Germans
Cease Activity.

Special Gable 10 THE NEW YORK HERALD.
Copyright, 1891, by THE NEw York HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau.
Paris. May 23.
The French Government has not
only sent lengthy warning to Berlin
in writing but in a conversation with
the German Ambassador, DIR. Wilhelm
Mayer Won Kaufbeuren, here tonight.
Premier BRAND is understood to have
warned him that unless Germany
closes her frontier, stopping all ship
ments of munitions or insurgent re-
cruits into Upper Silesia. tho French
will consider the German attitude as
serious q casus belli as If the Reichs-
wehr German imperial defence force)
itself had been sent into the province
under orders from Berlin.
The French Premier is understood
to have told the German envoy that
retaIiatory measures would be taken
against Germany unless all aggressive
movements ceased in Silesia.
Premier Brands attitude toward
what is generally termed here ''un-
official duplicity" on the part of the
German Government was described by
persons who talked with him to-day as
furious"
Premier BRAND let it be understood
that the situation was SO serious that
he would have something to say to-
morrow night regarding Silesia, after
he makes his declaration in the Cham
ber Of Deputies. unless in the mean
time Germany sees the error or her
ways
SiIesia Takes Precedence.
Prem Ter Briard did not intend to
speak in the Chamber Of Deputies
until the interpretations were con-
cluded, but the Upper Silesian aues-
ton has thrown all else into the back
ground In the French eyes, even the
reparations dispute being considered a
fait accompli with the occupation of
the Ruhr Valley as reasonable guar
ment. This guarantee will be taken,
it is believed. before the end OF this
week unless the German troops cease
their activities in Upper Silesia, and
II is evident that Premier BRAND is
being pushed to take this course, even
at the risk of breaking with Premier
Lloyd George of Great Britain, whom
the French newspapers are openly
on the Polish Slesians by German
trained but ostensibly Slesian de-
tachments.
The French Foreign Office to-day in
sisted that it could not consider the
battles in the contested area of Upper
Silesia yesterday as "a casus belll. as II
lacked any evidence that Berlin officially
directed them. But at the same time It
was pointed out that the 1etachments
which forced the Polish retreat from An
naberg (south Of Gross StrehIitp). giving
the Germans control Of the rail centre
controlling Gross Strehlitz. contained
only small proportion of Siiesian born
men. the remainder being Wurtem-
burgers. Hamburgers ad Bavarians. re-
cruited by a pro-Germsn Silesian organ
ization with headquarters In Berlin and
Breslau. On the promise OF fifty marks
day. with food and transportation.
thousands OF men have been enrolled and
sent to the Silesian frontier with special
Identification cards. II was said. These
have been formed into military units
since May Is and are under tha COM
mand OF German officers, a few of whom
are Of Silcsian parentage. II was added.
Proof of Duplicity.
The French Foreign office insists Il
has the most complete proof OF this.
showing that, while the German Govern
mcnt did not give its sanction to the
fight probably because Chancellor Wirth
realizes he has not power enough TO
make the Reicnswehr. or even the civil
ian guards. submit to his orders, the
German official eye was closed to the
situation, which was plp.ly directed
against Frcnce's interests and destined,
according TO most observers. to upset
Europe's peace unless international re-
lations are tempered by some unexpected
event
The German Ambassadors call ON the
Premier was entirely unexpected, as the
French were certain that the contents
Of the note despatched last night had not
been digcsted by Berlin. Apparently sure
OF his ground i'm Parliament. Premier
BRAND was said 10 have engaged In an
exposition of the French thesis In so
definite a manner that the German Am
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