The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1922-11-29
FRENCH PLAN
TO ACT ALONE ALONE


SEE LITTLE HOPE or ALLIED
HELP IN COLLECTING REPARA-
TIONS. PLAN TO SEIZE STATE
COAL MINES IN RUHR BASIN AND
COLLECTION OF EXPORT TAXES.
Paris, Nov. 2S.-A plan for direct
action by Trance as solution Of the
reparations question submitted today
to the full cabinet meeting in the
presiding
Tho plan provides for seizure of
the state coal mines and collection Of
the export taxes in the Ruhr district,
together with absolute control of that
section Of the Rhineland now occupied
by the French military.
Members of tho cabinet after the
meeting refused to discuss the action
taken, but it is generally believed the
plan was approved without opposition,
as it was drawn up yesterday at a
meeting in which the foremost military
and civil authorities participated, in
Guiding President Millcrand, Premier
Poincare, Marshal Foch, and the min
listers of France, war and liberated re-
gions.
Paris, Nov. 28.-Thc intention OF
France to "pay herself" in Germany
comes before full meeting of the
cabinet today.
plan for direct action through the
seizure of part of the Ruhr district and
absolute control of the French sec
tion of the Rhinelan which was con-
sidered and approved at yesterdays
meeting Of military and civil authori-
ties at the Elysee palace, will be sub
mitted for final approval. There no
longer is much faith here in any inter
allied solution of the reparations
question, even though the Brussels
conference Is held
Marshal FOch and Major General
Buat, the French chief Of staff. are un-
derstood to have told President Miller
and and Premier Pojncare at yester-
days meeting that a plan for extend
ing the military occupation Of the
right bank Of the Rhine had been pre-
pared with the utmost care and that
| 1t could be executed within "a hours
notice. M. Tierard, the French high
commissioner for tho Rhineland, in
discussing his part in any necessary
action, said that civil administration
Of the territory occupied by France on
the left bank of the Rhine could be i'm
mediately taken over by competent
French authorities.
| This program would be applicable
only after January Is when the first
reparations would be due.
Germany's failure to meet this pay
ment would, In the opinion Of the
French automatically gives them the
right to act.
This drastic program Of action ma
turally hinged upon the outcome Of
the Brussels conference, but there is
such doubt that that meeting would
reach satisfactory decision on the
reparations question or that it will
even be held that the French think it
wise to prepare now for an eventual
ity which many thing is reasonably
certain of being faced at the end of
the year.
| France now is ready TO go it
alone" acting on tho theory that if
she ever expects to get anything from
Germany she must, as tho French
| newspapers say, hit Germany hard in
the Ruhr, her most vulnerable spot.
This is specifically stated in appar-
emily inspired reports Of yesterdays
Elysee meeting, given only to French
newspapers.
Complete control Of the French
sector Of tho Rhineland would accom-
plish the much desired expulsion OF
German officials, many Of whom, the
French believe, are Prussians, recent
ly come into the region with the in
tention OF strengthening resistance to
the Allied occupation,
|