New-York tribune., 1922-12-28
Proclaims Intention TO
Act With or Without
Allies; British Envoy OPP
poses New Communique
Premier May Not
Go to Debt Farley
Bonar Laws Refusal Ru-
mored as Result of Lat
est Decision by French
By Wilbur Forrest
spee,ai Gable 10 The Tnbure

Copyright. isis. New York Tribune Inc.
PARIS, Dee. 27.-Delving into the
Versailles Treaty for authority, the
French government to-day proclaimed
It's legal right 10 act alone II noces-
sary in enforcing reprisals against Ger
many for the latters failure to fulhll
It's reparation obligations. All doubt
Of Frances intentions toward the
Ruhr was dispelled by the govern
ment's prompt action In taking ad-
vantage Of the Reparation Commits
sion's. decision yesterday finding Ger
many In default in timber deliveries.
The government quoted Paragraphs
II and iS Of Annex 2, Part 8, Of the
treaty, as legalizing any reprisals
against Germany which France may
deem necessary, whether taken in CO.
operation with the powers or alone.
The Reparation Commission, acting
on the initiative Of NJ. Louis Barthou,
chairman, and Premier Poincare, to-
day issued an official communique in
forming the Allies Of Germany's de-
fault.
British Member Leaves Paris
Sir John Bradbury. the British mem
Der OF the commission, who cast the
one negative vote, left here early to-
day for London, ostensibly TO confer
with Premier Bonar Law. British
circles here view the commissions ac-
tion as grayely imperiling the sue
cess Of the Paris conference next week.
Rumors were current even that Bonar
Law might refuse 10 attend.
The Official notification Of the Allied
governments is In compliance with
Paragraph II Of the section Of the
treaty quoted, and leaves as the next
step determination by the governments
concerned as TO the measures 10 be
taken against Germany AS reprisal.
Paragraph lS Of the same section
reads;
r Measures which the Allied and asso-
eiated powers shall have the right 70
take IN case Of voluntary default by
Germany and which Germany agrees
not 10 regard as acts OF war may in.
elude economic and financial prohibit
tions and reprisplS and in general such
other measures st the respective gov
ernments mny determine 20 be neces-
snry In the elrcums stances"
viii Demand Allied Cooperation
This paragraph furnishes the legal
means whereby Premier Poincare will
enter the conference Of premiers Janu-
airy 2 with his governments entire
plan for seizure Of productive guaran-
ties from Germany. He will point out
that such measures Rs the DUAL dor
say Is prepared 10 take are entirely
independent Of any proposed solutions
for the general regulation Of the repa-
rations problem.
He will demand Allied cooperation
In carrying out "reprisals and other
measures" authorized by the treaty
and In the event OF abstention by all
the other Allies, or any one Of them,
will declare Frances rights 20 apply
these measures alone.
This right the Premier's legal mind
has been able 10 discern In the words
"the respective governments may de-
termine" in the paragraph In question.
The DUAL d'0rsay was engaged to-day
in working out its program Of reprisals
for presentation next Tuesday.
Government circles here laid en-
phAsis on the contention that though
the default In timber deliveries In IT.
self is a minor matter II assumes
great Importance In that II proves bad
faith on Germany's part. France In
sists the Reich government itself owns
reserves from which the timber quota
could have been supplied.
Must Be Firm, Paris View
The RepAration Commission to-day
included In It's eommunique the re-
minder that the schedule Of reparation
payments fixed March 2l last made
clear that failure in any part Of these
payments, n Il appeared voluntary,
was punishable by the exaction Of ad-
ditlonal cash payments. The commits
sion. however, went even further than
this In declaring Germany In default
and thereby opening the way for more
severe penalties.