San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-01-11

it might prove embarrassing as the adj
ministration had not yet made up its
mind.
But overnight there came change.
For one thing the news dispatches from
Europe told of the march of French
troops through the Coblenz bridgehead
which is guarded by Americas army of
occupation. The sight of French troops
marching right through the American
lines on an errand which the United
States government had plainly disap-
proved was too much for American
pride. The small number of troops had
been kept there at the earnest request
of the French who wanted not the num-
erical strength of the American army,
but its moral strength. They asked that
the flag remain there as proof of allied
solidarity. What its withdrawal means,
France can judge for herself. Naturally
the American government will not APP
pear to be doing anything but the nor
NAL thing in completing the withdrawal
of the troops. The movement was be-
gun some time ago and is just being
carried out entirely. Diplomatically the
American government can point TO its
previous policy, bat the French will
know. of course. that the step was not
without deep significance.
Hughes VIII Not Talk.
Announcement of the decision OF the
American government was dramatic. The
newspaper correspondents had called at
the Department Of State and had been
received by Assistant Secretary William
Phillips, who, however, did not dis
cuss European developments and the
conference ended. The correspondents
were half way out of the building when
Mr.. Hughes clerk came running after
them TO say that the secretary of state
had an important statement to make.
Mr.. Hughes came into che room when
the newspapermen were assembled again
and with characteristic pOsitiveness
said:
"The time has come to complete the
withdrawal of the American troops ON
the Rhine"
On being asked whether any new cir
cumstances had arisen TO bring about
that decision, the secretary said he
didn't want to say anything about it.
He plainly intended that the statement
should speak for itself. He wouldn't
comment on the speech in Paris Tues
day or Roland Boyden, American I'M
official observer on reparations COM
mission. He had nothing more TO say
and hurried out Of the room as quickly
as he had come.
Relations Are Strained.
Meanwhile at the White House, Sec
rotary of AYR Weeks had been confer
ring with President Harding on the
IL. e 81 la oil L
though the move has been expected for
some time the taking of the step at this
time when the relations between France
and America are strained is in marked
contrast 70 the circumstances which sur
rounded the first orders to American
army to begin Withdrawing from the
Rhine Mr.. Harding pledged in his
campaign for the presidency that he
would order the withdrawal of American |
forces from Europe. Only in response |
to pleas from the Germans as well as |
as the French and British did he de- |
lay action.
There is always the possibility of |
friction so slong as any American SOL |
diers are quartered on foreign territory. |
but the Germans really liked the Amer
lean troops and said 50. The sending |
Of French battalions through the very |
lines guarded by the American army at |
Coblenz made the possibility of friction
with the French as entirely new cir
cumstances and il was partly in an eff
fort to conform with the sentiment of |
the Senate resolution and partly n de-
sire to avoid complications which in
fluenced the American decision though II
the move is in itself pro-
test against French occupation of the
Ruhr. something which Mr.. Hughes had
said in his New Haven speech that the
American government would view with n
disfavor. The French government had
been formally given copy of the speech
too,
May Affect Arms Treaties.
Apart from the widespread effect
which the withdrawal Of American forces
on the Rhine will have on world
opinion. there is some speculation here
as TO the effect which the new nolicy
will have on the status of the Wash
ington arms conference treaties which
are so dear TO the heart Of the Harding
Hughes administration. The French
have delayed action for more than a
year. but recently they intimated that
RATIFICATION WOulu ftIle III " INV NtthN. |
Whether they will show their resent
ment By refusing to ratifv the treaties.
Of course. can tell but such an
attitude has already been discounted by
the three most interested powers
Great Britain. United States and Japan.
Only last week the japanese foreign of
flee let 1t be known that If France
failed TO ratify. Japan would come to an
agreement with Great Britain and the
United States. TO consider tie naval
ratios as in effect between the three
powers. Great Britain would probably
do likewise.
The upshot Of the days news in con-
firmation Of the viewpoint expressed in
these dispatches that the relations be-
tween France and America which were
so cordial before the war and became
closer ms the United States sent an
army Of two millions TO French soil are
now growing more and more strained
every day.