Evening star., 1923-12-05
REVEALS SECRETS
OF THE RH|NELAND
Alleged True Story of Nego-
tiations Preceding Autono-
nous State Formation.
ny WILLIAM r.. NASH.

By Radio TO The Star and Chicago Daily News.
Copyright 1923.
COLOGNE. December 4-The true
story of the negotiations between
Paul Tirard. president of the inter
allied Rhineland high commission,
and members Of the Rhineland COM
mittee of fifty-six, which led up to
The formation of an autonomous
Rhineland state. long have been kept
secret. The writer now has obtained
the following details from British
officers who are in a position to
know
The initiative came from the Ger
mans. numb~r of prominent
Rhinelanders made their way to
Coblenz and asked for an interview
with Paul Tirard. president of the
interallied Rhineland high commits
sion.
Il realize your economic and social
difficulties" NJ Tirard told them. 81
realize the deplorable state of Affairs
prevailing in the Rhinellnd, but /
can do nothing to help right 1t until
you accept French directiveS."
Submits List of New Terms.
And here Tirard drew out q list of
terms which would be acceptable to
the french.
At first NJ. Tirard stood out. the
writer is informed. for the principle
Of independence, consenting to au-
tonomy only after realizing that no
loyal German would treat with HIM
on any other basis.
Following this Introductory inter
view, several more conversations took
place. particularly with Mayor AIDE
nauer and Herr Hagen, who are re-
puted to be two of the cleverest
and most influential Germans in the
Shineland, Adenauer in the field OF
politics and Hagen in the field Of
finance. Both have fiirted with the
idea of separatism as far back as
1915. Hagen is a Jew.
Besides specific restrictions on re-
lation of the new state to the reich,
wished subdivision of the new state
into three decentraliZed parts
Meanwhile, the pressure of eco
nomic and social factors kept growing
stronger. On Saturday. December l,
there were more than 100000 un-
employed out of a total popula tion
Of 20,000.000 in the occupied territory.
In Cologne, 10 per cent of the labor
ing classes were out OF work, and
he whole town, which used to be one
If the iveliest and most prosperous
n Germany, presented a striking pic
lure of poverty and stagnation.
Food supply Grows Short.
The reich had begun to shut down
on unemployment doles, and the local
authorities professed themselves un-
able to replace them. Food supplies
in the British zone were estimated
It barely two months supply. In
other zones the supply was even less.
In the face of such an outlook
something definite had to be done.
'The Rhineland leaders hastened to
Berlin and there. after consultation
With the reich, formed the famous
committee of sixty. which agreed to
recognize the principle of economic,
but not political separation.
One Stipulation Rejected.
Another stipulation the committee
men say they never will accept is
subdivision.
Paul Tirard gave proof of clear
and clever brain in his dealings with
the RhinelanderS." declared a high
British officer to the correspondent.
He completely hoodwinked us and
the Italians We never knew until
Gfterward the substance of his talks
with Adenauer and Hagen, and then
only through German sources. Con-
trary to the usual French policy, he
neglected to consult with his col
leagues, wishing perhaps to put be-
sore us a set of accomplished facts.
Denmark sends agricultural products
al over the world, notably from her