THE FRENCH REPLY.

Taranaki Daily News, 12 April 1920, Page 5

THE FRENCH REPLY.

DISTRUST OF GERMANY HINTED. KSCXSSITT FCR UNITY REALISED. Received April 11, 11.35 p.m. London, April 10. The French reply to the British Note affirms the unquestionable loyalty oi France'* attitude, a'dding that the Government cotutantly informed the Allies of its policy. The reply cays the policy of the French Government was alwaj-s opposed to the entry of supplementary German ' troops into the Ruhr, which was the only permissible condition of the military occupation of Frankfort and Darmstadt. It notified the Allies on April that Marshal Foch was studying the un-, avoidable military measures. The reply points out that the sole present question is the, violation of one of the most solemn clauses of the T/eaty. The German Gvernment itself recognised the necessity of obtaining beforehand authorisation for a breach of Article forty-three, and the right of the French Government to demand a territorial guarantee in exchange for the breach. The reply aske how the French Government could be satisfied with the German promise to withdraw the Reichewehr immediately order was restored, seeing that the Allies had not received the satisfaction stipulated in the Treaty for the reparation for war damages, the surrender of war criminals, the delivery of coal, and the disarmament of the army. It asks whether the British Government calculated the whole danger of those successive and systematic violations! and asks when Britain thinks it •ought to stop granting concessions. It declares France was compelled to say enough, hut she asks nothing better than that she can say so with all her Allies. The French Government is not less convinced than the British of the essential necessity of maintaining Allied unity for the enforcement of the German Treaty, and considers this intimate concert of France and Britain also indispensable for equitably settling the vast problems now confronting the World in Russia, the Balkans, Asia Minor, and throughout the whole of Islam. The reply concluded by assuring that tile French Government, for all these considerations, is entirely disposed to make sure before acting of genera! assent in all inter-Allied questions involve# in the execution of the Treaty.— Imperial Service. i AMERICA STANDS OUT. KO PART IN THE CONVERSATIONS. Received April 11,11.5 p.m. Washington, April 0. The United States Government has decided definitely not fa participate in the conversations between the Allies and France in reference to the occupation of German cities. Ambassador Wallace will content himself with watching the prooeedings.-Aui.-NJZ. Cable Ass*.

OPINION IN FRANCE. BITTER ATTACK ON MR. LLOYD GEORGE. LOSS OF HIS PRESTIGE. Received April 11, 5.5 p.m. Paris, April 9. Britain's opposition to the French occupation of the right bank of the -Rhine has caused consternation. The newspapers compare the British attitude with faithful Belgium. The Matin suggests that Britain conferred with Italy and America, which is regrettable. The Matin seeks to modify the tension by a suggestion that Britain does not seek to represent Germany as innocent, but merely differs over the methods adopted. . "Pertinaux," in the Echo de Paris, denounces Mr. Lloyd George as a politician entirely lacking judgment, but the French rely on the good sense of their friends across the Channel to bring Mr. Lloyd George to heel, and fore; upon him an interpretation of the Anglo-French Alliance, from which he should never have departed.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

Received April 12, 12.10 a.m. Paris, April 10. Two meetings of the French Cabinet frere held to-day to consider the British protest against France'-) action. Britain's Note came ljke a bdftibshell and caused stupeficatipn. The French newspapers make bitter comment, singling out Mr. Lloyd Oeorge for special blame, asserting that he imposed his views on the British Cabinet. T e Temps, dispassionately reviewing the situation, points out that Britain Was kept fully informed of France's determination to protect herself from the German menace. A prominent French writer declares that Mr- Lloyd George has struck the Entente a blow from which it will have difficulty in recovering. He hopes British public opinion will rectify the British Government's mistake. Le Journal des Debats asks, does Mr. Lloyd George realise he is losing the prestige and authority he won by. his energy during the war? Mr. Lloyd TSeorge has! now. repudiated his claim to posterity's gratitude. Mr. Lloyd George leaves London on Saturday for San Remo. The Echo de Paris calls attention to the fact that Mr Lloyd George is going by sea, rather than pasc through France. The Daily Chronicle's diplomatic correspondent says the fact that Mr. Lloyd George is taking the sea trip is a welcome sign that a full understanding is now assured, if not already established, in every detail. The correspondent adds that every responsible British statesman hopes that a passing difference between two proud democracies will not be allowed to obscure their fundamental cordial unity.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

BRITAIN'S NOTE TO FRANCE. OPPOSITION TO SINGLE ACTION. Received April 11, 5.5 p.m. London, April 10. The Times understands that at Thursday's Cabinet meeting some Ministers' urged that the wording of the British Note to France, especially the conclusion, should be modified so as to render it less offensive. Mr. Lloyd George, however, insisted on harsher wording and carried fiis point. , The Note consists of Jour typewritten" foolscap sheets, and states that M. Miilerand and his colleagues had given the impression that France would abstain from single-handed action. She Note expects France not to again act on its own initiative; otherwise the &ork of the Peace Conference would be futile. The note instructs the British Ambassador to abstain from attending the Conference of Ambassadors until as> sured that France will act in future in concert with the Allies—Times Service. MORE FRENCH TROOPSADVANCING IN NEUTRAL ZONE. Received April 11, 3.5 p.m. Amsterdam, April 9. The Berliner Tageblgtt states there have been further arrivals of French troops in the occupied zone. Additional troops crossed the Rhine at various points into the neutral zone, and they were accompanied by tanks. Troops also left Strassburg, proceeding in an easterly direction.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assp. SHOTS EXCHANGED- ' v OPPOSING PATROLS MEET. I Received April 11. 5.5 p.m. j Paris, April 8. A Gennaif patrol near- NiederwollBtadt, encountering a French gatrol, exchanged shots ,and a German officer was wounded.—United Siervice. SITUATION AT ESSEN. REDS FLEE AND SURRENDER. Paris, April 8. Le Temps states that the German troops occupied Essen after the Reds fled. Many of the Reds surrendered to the British. The Reichswehr continues to advance into the centre of Rhinish Westphalian basin. This is attributed to the pressure of the military party in Berlin upon the German Government. The latter is asking the Allies to allow them to use troops in the neutral zone until July 10, pointing out that Germany has already been allowed to use troops to maintain order until April 10. Official reports of the Frankfort incident state that two were killed and several wounded. The Matin alleges that ft Pan-Ger-man procession, mostly of students, surrounded a French picket and separated an officer from his men. The latter, fearing their officer was endangered, fired several shots. A street procession headed by students was responsible for the French troops shooting at Frankfort. Strong patrols of French cavalry, preceded by armored cars, paraded the Frankfort streets all night long. There were no further incidents. The' French military authorities assert that an antiFrench demonstration was organised by German militarists. A small body of Belgian troops has been ordered to enter the Ruhr, indicating that Belgium ranges herself alonggife of Franc*

WAR ON MILITARISM. AIMS OF THE RED ARMY. GRAVE PLOT ALLEGED. Received April 11, 5.5 p.m. Paris, April 8. The Tribune's correspondent at Essen had an interview with Otto Bodenseipen, the Red commander, who said: "It is foolish to call us Bolsheviks and terrorists, and claim we broke the Treaty. Our men were disbanding when the Reichswehr turned their artillery on us. ,We protested to General von Watter, who said he did not know of the attack. '■We are the same armed working men who defeated Kapp, and we will continue to fight the Monarchists. We have proof that the militarists under Noske have a secret array of 800,000 and we know the militarists have planned to control the Government and retain Noske to build up a Monarchy, which is prepared to overrun France and instigate a French revolution within two years, assuring themselves that England and America will not participate. We lost becauce we childishly trusted the Government's pledges, but we will continue war on militarism till the end." —United Service. A SUMMARY METHOD. MACHINE GUNS EIRE ON CROWD. Received April 10, 5.5 p.m. Paris, April 8The Chicago Tribune's correspondent at Frankfort saw seven bodies in the streets, four men, two women, and one boy, killed by machine guns. The Algerion and Moroccan sharpshooters, who were posted on the sideway, fired machine guns into a crowd of several hundreds at a distance of several hundred yards. The crowd scattered, and the incident was closed in three minutes.—United Service. A TRICK SUGGESTED. WHAT If. GERMANY'S AIM? London, April 8. Paris newspapers point out that Germany has latterly expressed readiness to withdraw her surplus troops but denouncing the French demand for a complete withdrawal. They consider that Germany is attempting to trick the Allies, well knowing that Germany has no right to keep any troops in the neutral zone after Saturday, but France docs not intend to hold Germany to the strict letter of the protocol. She is willing to arrange a fresh protocol under which Germany would retain sufficient troops for police purposes-

The newspapers frankly express the view that now is France's chance to exact guarantees from Germany for the bona fide discharge of the treaty obligations. They' say the occupation of Frankfort and other town? is not the end but the beginning of a resonue French policy. The Petit Parisien says that Franpe's measures, while constituting a guarantee against the assembling of German troops in the Ruhr district, also oiler a means of obliging Germany to conform strictly to hor engagements. Le Journal says: "Yesterday's episode Is only the. starting point It would be unpardonable simplicity not to profit by the crisis in order to clarify tlie situation. Now or never is the time to learn if anything may be expected from the Germans. The* present test gives the means of getting what is owing to us and of showing our Allies znai we must have something more than a Versailles 'scrap of paper.'" The newspapers declare that though the Allies may not co-operate in military measures it is unlikely they will disapprove, because they are interested equally with France in the enforcement of the Treaty. Le Temps calls attention to the strategic importance of the occupied towns ■and i quoted Marshal Foch's standard book on the conduct of war, in winch he says Germany's power can be cut in halves on the river Main. A reasonable plan of attacking Germany would be to nroeeed to Berlin by wav of Mnyence, because that is the point where the interests of North and South Germany meet.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable AssnZurich, April S. Owing to the threatening attitude of the crowd in Frankfort the Moroccans used machine-guns. It is reported that the crowd mobbed the officers and pelted them with stones, hut another report- received from Berlin, denies that the crowd's attitude was hostile and says they were merely watching the Moroccan guard.—Aus!N.Z. Cable Assn. THE REDS AS REFUGEES. TWO CORRESPONDENTS ARRESTED. London, Aprit 8. The number of Reds entering the British zone, vv-htre they are interned, is steadily increasing. Twenty thousand of these and Tefugees have now arrived and are adding to the food difficulties, particularly in view of the disorganised transport—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. Paris, April fl. At a meeting of the Cabinet M. Millerand announced that he had received a verbal communication from the. British Cabinet in regard to the French occupation of German towns, but the official text had not vet arrived.—Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn.

New York, April 0. The Dusseldorf correspondent of the Chicago Tribune states that Lieii-ena-U Linzmeyer, officer of the Baltic Iron Division, on arriving at Essen secured the telegrams dispatched to England by Mrs. Harding, representative of the Daily News, and Mr. Voight, representative of th<. Manchester fiiiavdinn. Linzmeyer arrested both. Voight kept his hands in his pockets when Rrrested and Linzmeyer ordered two soldiers to beat Voight to teach him how to behave *n the presence of Prussian officers. Both were subsequently released. Voight says that Linzmeyer resented the attitude of the English and American correspondents regarding the Ruhr. Mrs. Harding states that she drew attention to the fact that Linzmeyer's troops were identical with those involved in Kiipp's coup, thereby angering Linzmeyer. The correspondent adds that the Baltic troops have begun a reign of terror, killing women workers.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. Amsterdam, April P. A Dusseldorf message states that militarv action by the Reichswchr has virtually ended, but the delivery of arms according to the Bielefeld agreement .will occupy a l«w du»,