SITUATION IN GERMANY

Otago Witness, Issue 3448, 13 April 1920, Page 15

SITUATION IN GERMANY

(By Cable.) RETCHSWEHR IN NEUTRAL ZONE. BERLIN, April 1. The Reichswehr, after bombarding Duisburg (Westphalia) for a day, occupied the town. . LONDON, April 4. Inspired messages from Berlin represent the despatch of troops as being due to ■urgent appeals from all classes for protection against the Red Terror. The messages aver that the Majority and Minority Socialists demanded the sending of troops for the protection of -workmen, who are ■willing to resume. Hence the Government decided to use the troops as special police. Unless the Bielefeld agreement is carried out by midnight General Watter will be given'a free hand against the irregular bands into which the Red army in the Ruhr district has drifted. These bands are pillaging, or, as at Plauen, occupying the Town Hall and summoning traders and manufacturers to pay the Red Guards, otherwise they will be severely punished. It is reported that two coal mines in the Ruhr Valley have been blown up. RUTHLESS CIVIL WAR. LONDON, April 4. Advices from Rotterdam indicate that chaos has developed in the Ruhr district, North-west Germany. Some Communist leaders have fled, but others continue to fight, commanding released prisoners and [Bolshevist scum. General Watter is advancing on the whcle front, and soon will be master of the situation. The Government troops are attaching ruthlessly, no prisoners being taken. The Bielefeld agreement is being ignored by both sides. General Watter's strong action, while it has apparently crushed the Red rising in Germany, has encouraged the military part. FRENCH PROTESTS. PARIS, April 3. Despite France's stern Note and the Allies withholding permission, the Reichswehr's advance in the neutral zone continues. The German Government pleads that the advance is justified on the ground of necessity, but M. Millerand accuses "the German Government of a deliberate violation of .Article 44 of the Peace Treaty. M. Millerand, Prime Minister, urgently conferred with Marshal Foch. April 4. M. Millerand's letter- to Herr Mayer, 'describing the invasion of the neutral zone, especially the sudden advance and offensive in the Duisburg district, declares that Germany has infringed Articles 43 and 44 of the Treaty. He states that any violation of their provisions will be regarded as a hostile act against the signatories of the Treaty. GERMAN MILITARISM AGAIN. BERLIN, April 4. The militarists are again in the saddle, controlling and directing the new Government. General Wetter's (Government troops) army is full of reactionaries, who are acting with high-handed brutality in the occupied districts. LONDON, April 6. The French Government points out that the workers threaten to destroy the mines before they will allow them to fall into the hands of the German Government. Such action would inflict a, serious injury upon French industry. France intends to withdraw as soon as the neutral zone is clear of German troops. The French Government adds that if the Peace Treaty clauses for the disarming of Germany had been properly enforced the German Government would not possess the existing military forces, nor would the Reds have been able to obtain military material. . The French Government, in justifying the contemplated occupation of Frankfort Earmstadt, Hanau, and Homburg states at -it has plain proof that the German Government is the tool of the militarists. Moreover, the workers in Ruhr requested French protection against militarist aggression. FRANKFORT TO BE OCCUPIED. LONDON, April b. General De Goutte, of the French army, has advanced from Mavence and will occupy Frankfort forthwith. He has already proclaimed martial law in Frankfort and other districts. The proclamation reassures peaceable inhabitants, and add that the German authorities will act under General De Goutte's control. All traffic is suspended during the hours of the night. A German Note expresses the confident hope that order will be restored in seven days, and adds that the Government troops made a favourable impression, and dispersed several marauding bands. There were heavy casualties on both sides where conflicts occurred. REICHSWEHR EVACUATE DUISBURG. PARIS, April 5. Le Matin's Mayence correspondent states that the Reichswehr has evacuated Duisburg (near Essen), having been ordered to leave the neutral zone. DEPOSED ROYALTY. GENEVA, April 4. The police are permitting the entry into Switzerland of a number of deposed roj'alties, including the ex-Kings of Bavaria, Wurtemburg, and Baden. CONFLICTING RUMOURS. LONDON, April 6. Some reports from Paris assert that the Government has ordered an immediate advance in the neutral zone under General De Goutte. Other accounts state that this rumour is not confirmed. The Government

merely directed Marshal Foch to make ready for emergencies. The Daily News correspondent at Essen reports severe fighting since Sunday afternoon in the outskirts of Essen. The Government troops penetrated the suburbs, but the Reds drove them out after desperate street fighting. There has been some looting within the town, but the Reds are summarily shooting the offenders. A Berlin correspondent reports that heavy fighting has taken place in the Ruhr district, with severe losses on both sides. General Wetter has occupied Mulheim. REASON FOR FRENCH ACTION. PAPJS, April 4. M. Millerand, when semi-ofHcially interviewed, said: "The misunderstanding which Germany advanced a 3 a pretext for the entry of her troops into the neutral zone in despite of our injunctions, and the brutality of the attack, demonstrates her bad faith. France will not be responsible for possible serious consequences. Since she has been convinced cf the danger of Germany's intervention she has left nothing undone to prevent it. The authorities at Berlin have broken their engagements, and therefore must bear the responsibility for possible conflicts." M. Millerand is convinced that the Allies will wish to associate themselves in any measure France may demand to assure respect for the Peace Treaty and to maintain France's safety. FRENCH PRESS COMMENT. PARIS, April 5. The press regards the Ruhr coup as a replica of the Berlin coup d'etat. It was engineered by the Prussian General Staff, of whom the members of the Government are either accomplices or dupes. Their explanations are contemptuously received by the press, of which sections advise caution until all the Allies participate. The majority, however, think that the situation warrants France acting independently, irrespective of their allies in London, Rome, and Washington ATTITUDE OF UNITED STATES. WASHINGTON, April 6. It is understood that the United States has protested against the French occupation of German towns. The State Department advises that a formal protest was sent as a result of French troops advancing into Germany. Unofficial exchanges of opiniom however, have occurred, and the United States is inclined towards the British and Italian attitude. M. Millerand has asked President Wilson for an official expression of the American position. ITALY'S HELP. ROME, April 6. The Cabinet has decided to give France moral support, but in no circumstances will Italy be a party to military measures. A DIFFICULT SITUATION. PARIS, April 6. Le Journal says that the French advanced under absolute compulsion. The Government honestly desires to avoid complications. M. Gnstave Herve, writing in Le Victoire, states that the advance gives a stern, well-deserved snub to the insolent Prussians at Dusseldorf. General Wetter is advancing on Essen.. The Red Supreme Council is in hiding, and several leaders have fled. The food situation is serious. A GERMAN ASSERTION. PARIS, April 6. The German Headquarters asserts that only nine battalions were sent into the neutral zone. According to M. Marcel Hutin 50,000 Reichswehrs are encamped at ISlunster, ready to co-operate with 45,000 already occupying the Ruhr district. THE REDS RETREATING. COPENHAGEN, April 5 Berlin advices state that the position in the Ruhr basin is comparatively quiet. The Reds are retreating along the Ruhr Canal to strongly fortified positions at Wapporthal. The retreat in some places is panicky, but at other places the Reds are offering a stern resistance. LONDON, April 6. A News message- from Frankfort states that the retreating Reds committed brutal outrages upon the citizens, murdering and plundering on all sides, thus indicating that the leaders had lost control of the masses. EFFECTIVE FRENCH ACTION. PARIS, April 6. The French troops are now 18 miles beyond the Treaty circle around Mayence. The troops number 17,000, including artillery. The French-Rhine flotilla has gone to Hanau, which the troops have occupied. The French have occupied all the public buildings in Darmstadt, including the palace. The inhabitants obeyed the instructions in the French proclamation, and there were no disorders. LONDON, April 6. A Paris message states that the occupation of the towns was carried out without a hitch. The French troops found the districts empty of Reichswehrs, who retired 10 miles eastward of the towns a few hours before the French arrived. The French advance guard was composed of half a dozen tanks and some Moorish troops, headed by General De Susbielle. Frankfort was in pitch darkness and the populace was asleep. General De Susbielle met railwaymen going home. They were surprised but not disturbed. One said: '' You want to go to the railway station? Right, I'll show you the way." Half an hour later the troops occupied the station, the post office, and other Government buildings, and General De Susbielle was interviewing the prefect of police at his headquarters in the Carlton Hotel. A hundred police volunteers who remained in the town were quickly dis-

armed. When the citizens awoke they were astonished to find the city in the hands of the French, but they took matters calmly. General De Goutte's proclamation stipulated that no strikes would be permitted. No one would be allowed out of doors between 9 in the evening and 5 in the morning. The publication of the newspapers was suspended, and all arms were to be given up within six hours. A MORE FAVOURABLE REPORT. PARIS, April 7. An authoritative source states that there is reason to believe thai the Germans will evacuate the neutral zone in a few days, upon which the French troops will be withdrawn, thus closing an incident which has seiwed its purpose, conclusively proving to the Germans that the terms of the treaty must be observed. Mayence reports state that the only incident in connection with the French advance was that a German armoured car fired two shells at a cavalry patrol. THE FRENCH OCCUPATION. LONDON, April 7. Latest advices from Germany state that the French have occupied Offenbach, Homburg, and Weisbaden. The Tageblatt says that anger and indignation were aroused over the French occupying defenceless towns. It proceeds: "We can.now say to M. Miller-, and, 'We put our trust in you. Thanks for what you have done. Plundering becomes easy. In one week you have done much more than Lenin for Bolshevism.' " The newspaper Vorwarts declares that a people as defenceless as the Germans have the right to demand freedom from military threats. The Times, in a leader, declares that the French have taken the only proper course. It is hoped that British occupation of the Ruhr will not be required. Should Germany find herself unable to control General von Watter, English opinion would be insistent that France should be given the fullest support. England cannot stand aside. It was hoped that no responsible British statesmen had employed language pervertible into a suggestion of passivity. STATEMENT BY LORD DERBY. LONDON, April 7. Lord Derby was instructed to make clear the causes of the meeting of the Allied Ambassadors in Paris. He states that British statesmen view the German situation pretty much from the French standpoint, and are undoubtedly sympathetic in their attitude, but it is unlikely that British troops will take part in the occupation. ESSEN OCCUPIED BY REICHSWEHR, BERLIN, April 7. Reichswehr troops occupied Essen last evening. LONDON, April 7. A Paris message reports that French troops are marching on Essen, which was occupied to-day. PLOT TO ESTABLISH DICTATORSHIP. BERLIN, April 7. A plot to make Marshal Ludendorff dictator has been discovered in Munich. The French advance has intensified the Government's difficulties. The Trades Unions have submitted a series of new and peremptory demands. They also demand the punishment and dismissal of many Reichswehr officers who were guilty of ill-treatment of non-commis-sioned officers and men during the Kapp revolt. It is reported that numerous summary executions of Spartacist prisoners in Ruhr are arousing the bitterest passions on both sides. The Junker class openly hint at further punitive military adventures. OUTBREAK IN SAXONY. COPENHAGEN, April 6. The Spartacists, under the leadership of a man named Hoelz, have established Bolshevist rule in the Vogtland district. They commandeered the money deposited in the banks at Plauen and Chemnitz. The Saxon Government threatens to send 30,000 troops to deal with Hoelz. BERLIN, April 7. Hoelz continues to hold sway m Vogtland, delivering wild speeches and threatening to burn all the Government buildings if the troops venture into Vogtland. He also declares he will raise the Red Army to 20,000 strong, paying the soldiers out of a levy on the capitalists. The Saxon Government has placed a price of 30,000 marks on Hoelz's head. ITALIAN NEWSPAPER COMMENT. ROME, April 7. The Italian newspapers sarcastically comment on the Ruhr position that whenever superior particular interests present themselves each Power acts according to its own particular views, without reference to the Peace Conference. Britain acted so in Constantinople, France in Ruhr, and Jugo-Slavia at Klagenfurt. Italy, alone does not dare to act without the authority of the conference. FRENCH CAVALRY FIRED UPON. PARIS, April 7. Le Matin says that advices from Frankfort state that some German forces, while retiring, fired machine guns on the French cavalry. It is believed that the incident was due to some individuals becoming excited. The commander of the French in Frankfort, addressing the notables of the city, said he hoped it would not be necessary to use guns or machine guns. He counted on their influence for the maintenance of peace and the securing of respect for.his orders. Messages to Paris from Coblentz state that 2000 Reds entered the British zone, where they were immediately interned. LONDON, April 8. Troops used machine guns on a crowd

in Frankfort, killing 10 and wounding 50. Swiss reports state that the crowd began the trouble by mobbing French officers. APPEAL BY HERR EBERT. LONDON, April 7. Herr Ebert has protested against the occupation of Darmstadt. The German Government lias issued an appeal to the inhabitants to remain calm. GERMAN NOTE OF PROTEST. PARIS, April 8. The French Government lias received Germany's Note protesting against the French advance. It is couched in somewhat violent terms. The Note expresses surprise and indignation, and says the Reichswehr's operations are merely police measures. M. Millerand (the French Prime Minister) has communicated the Note to the Ambassadors' Council, and has also outlined the French reply—namely, that France is willing to come to a reasonable understanding as regards policing the neutral zone; also for general economic collaboration; but Germany must establish her good faith as regards the Peace Treaty, on the fulfilment of the terms of which France intends to insist. French newspapers point out that Germany's position in regard to the neutral zone changes, on April 10, because the period during which Germany was permitted to keep numbers of troops there expires on that day. THE FRANKFORT INCIDENT. PARIS, April 7. A street procession, headed by students, was responsible for the French troops shooting at Frankfort}April 8. Quiet has been restored in Frankfort. The authorities have pacified the students. SERIOUS SITUATION AT ESSEN. AMSTERDAM, April 8. A fierce battle has been raging since Monday between the Reds and the Government troops near Essen. Mobs at Essen ransacked the shops for food and clothing. PREVENTION OF EXCESSES. BERLIN, April 7. The newspaper Vorwarts states that the Minister of Defence promised a Labour deputation that all troops found guilty of excesses would be disbanded, and that the civic guard would be reorganised. ANGLO-FRENCH RELATIONS. LONDON, April 8. A serious crisis is believed to have arisen in Anglo-French relations. Cabinet has notified its disapproval of France's advance in the neutral zone. It is learned authoritatively that France acted entirely on her own responsibility in deciding upon the advance in the neutral zone. Great Britain, Italy, Belgium, and America all opposed such action. The French military move caused, an obviously delicate situation. _ The Anglo-French Governments are discussing methods in the hope of easing the tension. When the trouble started in the neutral zone it was essential that steps should be taken to restore order, but the question was whether the Allied or German forces should act. One proposal was that Germany should be made responsible for restoiung order and should be allowed to send troops to the Ruhr district under the strictest guarantees, which laid it down that Marshal Foch and Allied officers should accompany the German forces in order to determine when a retirement was justified. ' Another proposal was to leave the decision to the German Government, strictly providing that if the zone were not evacuated immediately circumstances permitted, the Allies would exercise the option of occupying important German centres. The German Government appears to have acted precipitately and France responded by adopting the plan which had been suggested as a last resort by the Allies. - As a whole the Allies, except France,- felt that Germany ought to restore order, and they opposed the idea of their regular

forces being called on, except as a last* resort, to undertake what were virtually police dutie.s. France, with her long experience oi. f the German yoke and the proved worth of German assurances, evidently concluded that the German movement of trootfs into the neutral zone was undertaken for some ulterior object. France doubtless acted bona fide, but the immediate result is that the responsibility for her action cannot be shared by the Allies as a whole. Certainly there is no Intention on the part of the British Government to allow British soldiers' to act' as police between the hostile German factions. The view taken in London is that our army of occupation is on the Rhino for a totally different purpose. If and when the French suspicion of ulterior German motives and the deliberate , flaunting of the ierms of the Peace Treaty becomes an accomplished fact the situation, would instantly change, and the Allies doubtless would be prepared to act vigorously and concertedly. But, for the time being, it may be taken that no British soldiers will participate in the occupation of German citie3 in the neutral zone. BRITAIN'S ACTION CONDEMNED. LONDON, April 9. The Times describes Britain's disapproval of France's action as the rudest shock to Anglo-French relations since the establishment of the Entente, and says it amounts to political apostasy, equally fatal to Britain's interests and good name. The Times proceeds: "The scandalous communique from Downing street outlining the disagreement actually adopts Germany's disingenuous version of General Watter's ' policing ' invasion of the Ruhr. Apparently France's independent action hurt the small personal vanities of the British authorities and affected party interests." It is stated in Parliamentary circles that the Prime Minister's opposition is attributable to his desire to influence the struggle which is proceeding at the .National Liberal Club between the Coalition supporters and Mr Asquith's followers. REPUBLICAN SPIRIT ABROAD. , BERLIN, April 8. There are indications that a Rhine Republic will shortly be declared. Excitement among the population is increasing, and political action is imminent. SOCIALIST DEMAND. BERLIN, April 8. The National Assembly has been con-' vened for Saturday. The trades unions and- Socialist parties have submitted to the Government joint demands for the withdrawal of regular troops from the. neutral zone and the reorganisation of security by means of the police. A GERMAN REQUEST. PARIS, April 8. Le Temps states that German troops occupied Essen after the Reds had fled. Manv of the Reds surrendered to the The Reichswehr troops continue to advance into the centre oi one sx-uat-.u-tx- »» «. .- phalian Basin. This is attributed to the pressure of the military party at Berlin upon the -Germair Government, which is asking the Allies to allow it 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. / RED LEADER INTERVIEWED. PARIS, April 8. The Tribune's correspondent at Essen had an interview with General Otto vcn Borlenseipen, the Red commander, who said : "It is foolish to call us Bolshevists and terrorists, and claim that vre broke the treaty. Our men were disbanding, when* the Reichswehr troops 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 Dr Kapp, and we will continue to fight the monarchists. We have proof that the militarists, under Herr Noske, have a 6ecret army of 800,000 men.

We know that the militarists have planned to control the Government and retain Herr Noske to build up the monarchy, -which "is prepared to overrun France and instigate & French revolution within two years, assuring themselves that England and America will not participate. We-lost because we childishly trusted the Government's pledges, but we will continue the war on militarism till the end % THE FRANKFORT INCIDENT. ;./■',' PARIS, April 8. The Chicago Tribune's correspondent at Firankfort reports that he saw seven bodies in the street—four men, two women, and one boy— all of whom had been killed by machine guns. Algerian and Moroccan sharpshooters posted on the sidewalk fired machine guns into a crowd of several hundreds at a distance of several hundred yards. The crowd scattered, the incident t>eing closed in three minutes. ZURICH, April 8. 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, but another report has been yeceived from Berlin which denies that the crowd's attitude was hostile, and says that they were merely watching the Moroccan Guard. PARIS, April 8. Official reports of the Frankfort inci'dent state that two men were killed and several wounded. Le Matin alleges that she Pan-German procession, mostly students, surrounded a French picket and

separated the officer from his men, and the latter, hearing that their officer was endangered, fired several shots. PARIS, April 9. Strong patrols of French cavalry, preceded by armoured cars, paraded the Frankfort streets all night long. There were no further incidents. The French military authorities assert that the anti-French demonstration was organised by the German militarists. REDS BEING INTERNED. . LONDON, April 8. The number of Red's entering the British zone, where they are being interned, is steadily increasing. Twenty thousand Reds and other refugees have now arrived. They are adding to the food difficulties, particularly in view of the disorganised state of transport. GOVERNMENT MILITARY ACTION ENDING. AMSTERDAM, April 8. Dusseldorf messages state that military action by the Reichswehr has virtually ended, but the delivery of arms according to the Bielefeld agreement will occupy a few days. BERLIN, April 8. The Defence Minister stated that, if f>ossible, the troops would be withdrawn vara the Ruhr district in two days. ANGLO-FRENCH RELATIONS. LONDON, April 9. An authoritative statement on the Anglo-French situation points out that any

communication of the British official views as regards the despatch of French troops to the neutral zone was made primarily to prevent any possible damage to the AngloFrench Alliance, on which the hope of the world is centred, and certainly not with the purpose of exciting public opinion in this or any other country. v The fundamental idea of the British Ministers is that any alliance would rapidly dissolve if individual members of that alliance acted on their own initiative in important matters without the assent of the other members. It does not serve the cause of any alliance to gloss over or ignore the seriousness of any ally acting militarily on its own initiative against the opinion of its ally. The British are equally concerned in securing the execution of the Peace Treaty with any other signatories, but they are of opinion that it will only weaken the authority of the Allies if violent action is taken without some unimpeachable reason. It is held that the treaty in this instance did not contemplate a situation such as that which has now arisen. The British view is that in the neutral zone, in the event of serious social disorder, either the Allies must take the responsibility for restoring order or allow the German Government to assume the responsibility, subject to suitable guarantees. The treaty never contemplated making a 50-mile zone of perpetual disorder, wherein neither the Allies nor Germany would be able to exercise authority, i The situation to-day, according to the British, view, is one for police action against disorder, and it is felt that it is far better that tills should be pointed out now

and a clear understanding reached. The British, equally with the French, are ready to insist on the execution of the treaty if there is any hesitation on the part' of the Germans in fulfilling their guarantee to evacuate the neutral zone at the appointed time, and Britain was quite willing to agree to any necessary action if this agreed period should be passed. The French Government was fully informed of this view more than once before its troops were sent. Faith in the Entente and friendliness for the French people are in no way diminished, and the announcement that France acted on her own initiative, and against the advice of the Allies, is merely a statement of fact necessary to make it clear that it is impossible for the Allies as a whole to accept a position that ' they can be committed to by the independent action of any one ally, and it is necessary to strengthen alliance by ensuring future solidarity. It is added that the views expressed are not those of any individual British Minister, but of the whole Cabinet. THE BRITISH NOTE. 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 its conclusion, should be modified so as to render it less offensive. Mr Lloyd George, however, insisted on the harsher wording, and carried his point. The Note consists of four typewritten foolscap sheets, and states that M. Mil-

lerand and his colleagues had given the impression that France would abstain from' single-handed action. The Note adds that France is expected not to act again on her own initiative, otherwise the work of the Peace Conference will be futile, and it instructs the Ambassador to abstain from attending the conference of Ambassadors until assured that France will act in faiture in concert with the Allies. BRITISH OPPOSITION RESENTED. 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. Le Matin suggests that Britain conferred with Italy and America, which is regrettable. Le Matin seeks to modify the tension by a suggestion that Britain does not Beek to represent Germany as innocent, but merely differs over the methods to be adopted. M. Pertinaux, writing in the Echo de Paris, denounces Mr Lloyd George as a politician entirely lacking in judgment, but the French rely on the good sense of friends across the Channel to bring Mr Liloyd George to heel and force upon him an interpretation of the Anglo-French Alliance from which he should never have departed. FRANCE'S PROMPT REPLY. LONDON, April 10. The French reply to the British Note affirms the unquestionable loyalty of France's attitude. The Government constantly informed the Allies of its policy. The reply says the policy of the French Government 'was always opposed to the entry of supplementary German troops into the Ruhr basin, which was only permissible on condition of the military occupation of Frankfort and Darmstadt. It notified the Allies on April 3 that Marshal Foch was studying unavoidable military -measures. The reply points out that the sole present question is the violation of one of the most solemn clauses in the treaty. The German Government itself recognises the necessity of obtaining beforehand forward authorisation for any breach of Article 43 and the right of the French Government to demand a territorial guarantee in exchange for a breach. The reply asks how the French Government could be satisfied with a German promise to withdraw the Reichswehr immediately order was restored, seeing that the Allies had not received the satisfaction stipulated in the treaty for the reparation of war damages, the surrender of war criminals, the delivery o£ coal, and the disarmament of the army. It asks whether the British Government calculated the whole danger of these successive systematic violations, and asks when Britain thinks it ought to stop in granting concessions. It declares that France was compelled to say "Enough," but 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 to be an intimate concern of France and Britain, and 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 concludes by assuring; that the French Government, for all these considerations, is entirely disposed to make sure before acting of a general assent in all inter-Allied questions involved in the execution of the treaty. BITTER PRESS COMMENT. PARIS, April 10. Two meetings of the French CabineV were held to-day to consider the British protest against France's action. Britain's Note came like /a bombshell and caused stupefaction. The French newspapers make Jjitter comment, singling out Mr Lloyd George for special blame, and asserting that be imposed his views on the British Cabinet. '"''•'', LONDON, April 10. The Daily Express understands that Britain's Note to France contains a very firm protest. The Paris newspaper Le Temps, dispassionately reviewing the situation, points out that Britain was kept fully informed of Trance's determination to protect herself fronj the German menace. A prominent French writer declares that Mr Lloyd George struck the Entente a blow from which it will have difficulty in recovering. He hopes that British public opinion will rectify the British Government's mistake. Lloyd. George realise that he is losing, the prestige and authority which he won by his energy during the war?" Mr Lloyd George, it adds, has now repudiated his title to posterity's gratitude. A HOPEFUL SIGN. LONDON, April 10. Mr Lloyd George will leave 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 pass through France. The Daily Chronicle's diplomatic correspondent says the fact that Mr Lloyd George is taking a 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. BELGHJM SUPPORTS FRANCE. l PARIS, April 9. . A small body of Belgian troops have been ordered to enter the Ruhr district. This indicates that Belgium now ranges herself alongside France. BRUSSELS, April 9. The King presided at a council of Min-

isters. It was decided out of sympathy with France to place a division at the disposal of the French commander in Ruhr. PATROLS EXCHANGE SHOTS. PARIS, April 8. . A German patrol near Neiderwollstadt on encountering a French patrol, exchanged shots, and a German officer was wounded. NEWSPAPER CORRESPONDENTS ARRESTED. NEW YORK, April 9. The Chicago Tribune's Dusseldorf correspondent states that Lieutenant Linzmeyer, an officer from the Baltic Iron Division, on arriving at Essen, secured telegrams which had been despatched to England by Mrs Harding, representative of the Daily News, and by Mr Vaight, representative of the Manchester Guardian. Linzmeyer arrested the correspondents and ordered two soldiers to beat Vaight in order to teach him how to behave- in the presence of Prussian officers. Both were subsequently released. Mr Vaignt says that Linzmeyer resented the attitude of the Anglo-American correspondents regarding the Ruhr coup, and Mrs Harding states that she drew attention to the fact "that Linzmeyer's troops were identical with those involved in Dr Kapp's coup d'etat. 1 The correspondent adds that Baltic troops have begun a reign of terror, and are killing women workers. FRENCH ADVANCE CONTINUES. AMSTERDAM, April 9. The Berliner Tageblatt states that there have been further arrivals of French troops in the occupied zone. Additional troops crossed the Rhine, at various points into the neutral zone. Troops, accom panied by tanks, also left Strassburg in an easterly ■..... , AMERICA STANDS ALOOF. • '■ WASHINGTON, April P The United States Government has decided definitely not to participate in the conversations between the Allies and France with reference to the occupation of the German cities. Ambassador Wallace will content himself with watching the proceedings.