Evening star., 1923-04-14
France and Belgium Reit-
crate They Won't Evacuate
Until Cash Arrives.
NEW INSTRUCTIONS GIVE
PLAN OF CONFlSCATION
Proposal of New Concessions to
Germany Fails-Alled Ex-
changes to Continue.
BY the Associated Press.

by inc Associated Press.
PARIS, April 14.-The French and
Belgian governments decided today
at the conference Of their ministers
here to reimburse themselves for the
Ruhr occupation expenses out of mer,
chandise and money seized from the
Germans. The two allies again en-
phasized their determination to evac
uate the Ruhr only as Germany pays.
Any balance left after the military
and engineering expenses are paid
will be turned into the reparation
fund for the benefit of all the allies.
The merchandise seized will first of
all be applied on orders already placed
with Germany under the reparations
schedule for German payment in kind.
the French and the Belgians filing
their own orders by compulsioIf IL
necessary. Once these individual rep
aration orders are filled, the seized
merchandise will be sold under Joint
F'ranco-Belgian control. and the pro-
ceeds will be used, with conf1scated
money, cash obtained from fines and
other receipts, to pay the expenses of
the occupying forces as prior claims
only the surplus going to the repara-
tiOn commission
Approved by Premiers.
Premier Poincare of France and
Premier Theunis and Foreign Minis
ter Aspar of Belgium, with their ad-
visers. approved new instructions to
the Rhineland high commissioners
and to Gen. Degoutte, commanding in
the Ruhr, outlining the development
of the policy of seizures of coal, coke,
merchandise and money and the es-
tablishment of an accounting sys-
tenn for the diStri ribution of the re-
sulting fund.
The announcement that the two
allies were steadfast in their decision
to leave the Ruhr only as Germany
ton of the resolution to that effect
adopted in Brussels last month.
stand I'm Same Place.
This is regarded in political cir
cles as finally disposing of the ques-
tions raised by the visit 10 London
of Louis Loucheur, former French
minister of reconstruction, and as
bringing the situation back to where
it was before the ex-minister came
of new settlement plans.
In other words. the allies in the
light of this declaration are standing
firmly on the treaty of Versailles and
are carrying on. and will continue to
carry on, their operations in the
Ruhr on the theory that Germany
must pay according to that treaty.
There is no present question, 1t ap-
pears. of a new plan involving new
concessions to Germany, and there
will be no such question. 1t is assert
ed, until Germany says she is willing
to make an earnest effort to pay and
begins to pay.
Study to Continue.
Study of the question will go on in
reparation circles and among the
government experts. There may even
be an exchange of views between the
government on some angles of the
question. But officially the allies will
engage in no such negotiations, it is
insisted. and will consent to none.
either with Germany or with the
other allies. for Germany's benefit.
This. in substance. it is stated, was
what Premier Poincare intended to
say in his speech at Dunkirk tomor-
row, at which he was expected to
outline the French position on repara-
tions. 1t is said now that the premier
reg dTuS the Oh Tile
sells declaration as a sufficient ex-
planation Of the allied position and
he may omit all reference to repara-
tions at the Dunkirk monument un-
yelling.
The announcement of the decision
regarding the Ruhr was made at the
close of the conference.
British May Question Legality.
1t Is considered possible that the
English may raise the question of the
legality of the decision that the cost
of the Franco German occupation
seized from the Germans. Some jur-
lists already have questioned 1t.
France and Belgium contend the ac-
tion will be entirely legal, because
their operations in the Ruhr are be-
ing conducted under the article Of the
Versailles treaty authorizing such
measures in case of default by Ger
many.
In so doing they argue they are act
ing for all the allies, and, naturally
are warranted in reimbursing them
selves from the proceeds of the occu-
patton.
The French representatives met
the Belgian for the last time on this
occasion at LUNCHEON today given by
Baron De Gaiff1er D'Hestroy. after
which Premier Theunis and Foreign
Minister Jaspar of Belgium motored
to Ramboullet and called on Presi-
dent Millerand
The. London visit of NJ Loucheur
was thoroughly explained during the
conference to the satisfaction Of the
Belgians by the former minister him
self. 1t was stated.