862t.01/27: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Commissioner at Berlin (Dresel)

[Paraphrase]

98. Referring to your 273 of April 4 and other recent telegrams. Regarding various issues involved in Ruhr disturbances, following is this Government’s attitude.

1.
If use of troops should be necessary in the neutral zone to quell disturbances, German, not Allied troops, should be used.
2.
In an emergency there would be no objection to advance of Reichswehr in reasonable numbers into the neutral zone under suitable guarantees of withdrawal when conditions are more settled.
3.
Further French occupation of German territory is disapproved as likely to bring about complications and possible defensive union of all the German factions.
4.
Although the present German Government is lamentably weak, it is considered the sole present alternative to a government of the extreme Right or the extreme Left and the only one able to insure reasonably fair elections.

Have given Wallace full details of above. However, you will understand that since we are not a party to the treaty, this Government cannot insist officially on its viewpoint. This summary of the attitude of the United States is given for your confidential and private information only, and so that if you see fit you may suggest changes.

Colby