The Omaha morning bee. [volume] (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927, 1923-02-13
u m a n S
Appeal to
A m erica
Note of Protest Against Occu.
patton Of Ruhr by French
Received by United
States Officials.
"Not Justified Is Claim
TWO CENTS

Washington. FEB. f2-Latest seiz
ures Of German territory made BY the
French military forces in the Ruhr
have been made the subject Of a re.
newed protest by the German govern
men. The note Of protest, copy Of
which has reached diplomatic quar-.
ters here, characterized the French
occupation as one Of purely arbitrary
action and force. committed b. tax
ing advantage Of the defenselessness
Of the German nation.
The text OF the note follows:
THE French government, in the
note dated February . and trans
mitted 10 the German embassy Tin
Paris on February 4. reproached the
German government for a violation
Of the treaty OF Versailles. a viola
tion which was said 10 have occurred
by the German administration Of rail-
ways, having stopped service Of the
international frans-Paris- Bucharest
and Paris Prague trains. The
French government, at the same time.
announced tha. for this alleged viola
t4b4l VI liz litdAs Il HOQi4 OLA1pg @
sanction the German towns of Often
burg ard Appehgeier. The occupa-
ton Of both towns actually took place
on the day the note was handed to
the German embassy at Paris.
Obliged TO Suspend Trains.
The German administration Of rail-
ways, on account OF shortage OF coal
and other difficulties Of transport,
caused by the FrancoBelgian in
yasion of the Ruhr, was obliged TO
suspend a great number OF interna-
tional and German railway services
Among these were also the trains
mentioned IN the note. n view Of the
time and circumstances under which
the stoppage OF the services of the
two trains took place. such stoppage
obviously amounted TO an emergency
measure Of transitory nature
whereby there can be no question "
violation Of treaty.
But even II. formally speaking. the
treaty had been violated, i would
mock every state Of peace IL the
French government took occasion OF
such minor importance as the suspen-
sion OF two train services, to send
without further notice It's troops into
German towns.
The French gos ernment has IN
deed, with a view 10 concesling the
apparent incorporation between the
cause uf reproach and the French
measures. tried 10 enumerate further
alleged violations OF the treaty By
GERMANY.
Reproaches Refuied.
In reply 70 this the German gov.
eminent refers - its former exchange
OF notes wiih tie French government
The German government points OUT
that !. has. in every single case Of a
rcproa h made for having violated il
obligations. by detailed argument re-
futed such rerroaoh without the
French government having even tried
TO refute en- its SIDE. he argument put
forth by Germany.
The French government does noc
mention 4 legal title cr which s, claims
10 have imposed its sanctions. IN
this case. therefore the French gov
ernment does net even dispose c.
visionary grouhds for imposing sanc-
tons. n realty the whole amounts
K enc og purely arbitrary action and
force. committed by tAtias advantage
Of tic defenselessness % the German
nation. The German government for
mahy protests against this procedure
before the entire NOD.
On the day the French note was
handed 10 the German embassy in
Paris. the interallied Rhineland COM
mission in Cohlenz transmitted q note
10 the German Rh.neland commission
in which the commission stated that.
approving Of the occupation ordered
hy the French government. Of often
burg and Appenweier. il had decided
10 place these territories under the
auspices Of the hridgehead ef Kehl
and 70 extend the powers 81 its dele
gates a. kehl aecorsingiy.
No Rights Under Treaty.
The Rhineland convention eircurn-
serihes the material as well as the
local scope OF the powers Of the
ANtAaA'4AiAQ NAlllilASS41As ACCOfflnE 70
Article I OF said convention. the ter
rAorv subject 10 the competence o.
the Rhineland commission comprises
only those parts Of German territory
The occupation Of which VAS provided
fer hy Article ; Of the arnls;ico cf
November -. 1918. and by Article 4.
of the additional convention of jan
uary Is, 1919. The towns Of Appen-
weier and otfenhurK lie beyond this
territory and no article Of the Rhine
land convention or of tho treaty q
Versailles gives the Rh,neland COM
mission the right, 81 its ewn accord.
TO extend the scope Sc rs eompe-
tence.
The approval expressed by the
Rhlneland commission e the meas.
ures taken by the French govern.
ment does not legalise these measures
which violate the teafv and likewise
docs not give 4 leeal title 10 the ille-
sal ordnance 81 the Rh.nclsna con,.
mission. The approval shows. how.
ever, anew that the interaliied Rhine
land commission lets Itself he made
the tool ef French poliey. The Ger
man goyerament protests also against
this violation Of the treaty and cf