New Britain herald., 1923-08-13
Document Would Haul France and Belgium Before Tribunal - Prepared For Propa-
 ganda.
Would Make Germany Pay Less and France Pay More With Responsibility on U. s. . ,.
By The Associated Press.

By The Associated Press.
 Paris, Aug. 13-The British note is regarded in French official circles as positive disavowal of Great Britain S war allies and frank espousal of the German cause. It is thought Premier Poincare will reply in due time, aI- though at the Quai d'Orsay it is held the document smacks so much of propaganda it might properly be ig- nored.
 This amazing document proposes to haul France and Belgium before a tribunal to answer for their efforts to make Germany carry out her treaty obligations" said an official of the foreign office today. France and Belgium are not ready to answer such summons, even from Great Britain
 Throws Responsibility on U. s.
 The same official whose statements while unofficial in a strict sense re- fleet the tense feeling aroused in the higher French circles, said the note obviously was intended to influence American opinion. He was curious to knew, however, how the Americans would receive a document which made all settlements of the reparation ques- ton depend upon the payment of the debts to the United States which he remarked amounted to throwing the responsibility for the European chaos on the United States.
 The most surprising feature of the note to the French government off cials it was said was the contention that the occupation of the Ruhr was illegal.
 Legality of Occupation
 The legality of the occupation of the Ruhr or any other German terri tcry the allies might choose was rec ognized in a document signed at Spa on July 1920, by the British as well as the other allies, and by representa- ti,es of the German government, an official said. +.. .
 He referred to the protocol in which were set forth the decisions of the Spa conference regarding coal deliv- cries on reparation account in which a | clause read:
 If by November 15, 1920 it appears | that the coal deliveries for August. | September and October have not reached a total of 6,00o,000 tons the ! dlH6S VIII pTOCeeu CO Lno OCCupdIiUH OL l new territory in Germany, in the re- zion of the Ruhr or elsewhere"
 The official characterized as an 'un-, heard-of proceeding the comparison made by Lord Curzon between Frances war debt and the reparation due from Germany.
 France Will Pay
 "Our war debts" he said, enabled us to win the war and helped us to make a greater military effort to save British and American lives while the German debt represents blood of the allies that was shed. France does not repudiate her debts. She has wiped off the war debts owed her by some of her allies, but she intends to repay her own"
 The French reply-if reply is sent-will but reaffirm the position of this country as repeatedly set forth the official declared. France, he said. would never consent to the British demand that Germany pay less and that France pay more. which is the official interpretation here of the statement in the note that Great Britain must collect 14,- 500, 100000 gold marks and that, if she does not receive that sum from Germany, she must get it from the allies.