Evening star., 1923-07-07
Proposal Hangs on. Ending
. Resistance, British Inform
ed, 1t Is Believed.
FRENCH WON'T AGREE
TOKEEP FORCE REDUCED
Hold Sabotage Must Cease in Fact
Belgium Threatens to Break
Off With Berlin.
By the Associated Press.


PARIS, July T.-France has com
promised with Great Britain on the
1atter's desire for written answer
to the British questionable on repa-
rations and the Ruhr occupation, 1t
was learned in official quarters today.
Count De St. Aulaire, French amoas-
eador in London, has been instructed
to deliver to the rBitish foreign office
a copy of the French government
instructions to the ambassador on the
reparation conversations he has
had with Lord Curzon.
This copy was left with the Brit
fsh secretary for foreign affairs yes
terday by the French ambassador, it
IS stated.
by PAUL SCOTT MOWRER.
Nv Cable to The Star and Chicago Daily News.
Copyright, 1923.
PARIS, July 1T is reported here
on good authority that the French
government has informed the British
that it would be willing to withdraw
10000 troops of the present garrison
of 10000 from the Ruhr If Germany
ceases her passive resistance. The
French would not guarantee, however,
to keep the occupational forces at the
reduced figure unless the resistance
ceased in fact as well as in name.
Bound by Treaty.
While taking quite seriously the
British threat of a separate under
standing with Germany. persons in
!, inner French circles declare that they
are unable to see how the British can
carry IT out effectively. Great Britain,
as well as France, is bound by the
treaty of Versailles and the procedure
demanded by that instrument. Ger
inany's only reparations debt is In the
form of three categorfes or BONDS heid
not by the allied nations. but by the
reparations commission, and any pay
ments made by Germany must pass
through the commissions hands for
distribution, according to existing
agreements.
lected by France and Belgium in the
Ruhr are being deposited With the
commits ssion. and France and belgium
have stated repeatedly that they are
alone, but for the benefit of the al
lies If the British decide to make
separate agreement with Germany,
they must first. the French say, de-
nOunCe the treaty OF NerSallleS' AS
the German Indebtedness devolves
wholly upon this treaty, the British
in denouncing 1t would virtually re-
lease Germany from responsibility for
Great Britain's share of the debt.
May ProIong Occupation.
Moreover If the British take sepa-
rate action, say the French, the prob
abilities are that the French occupa-
ton of the Ruhr will be prolonged ra-
ther than shortened, and France and
Belgium will feel free to collect what
they can for themselves and the other
signatories in the occupied region,
without regard to Great Britain.
1t is considered that separate action
by the British will tend to prolong
those conditions Of tension and un-
! certainty in Europe which underlfe
British persistence in Britain's most
urgent economic problems. For all
these reasons it is believed here that.
while the situation is serious. no de-
cisions inimical to France are immi-
nent Lloyd George made the same
threat of reversing alliance" at the
Genoa conference, but the only con-
crete result of the threat was the
Russ SHERMAN treaty.
France and Belgium, despite all
forms of diplomatic pressure and all
forms of passive resistance to which
they may be submitted, feel that they
need only to stand firm to win sue
cess with their Ruhr policy as
means of forcing reparations pay
ments.