862t.01/31: Telegram

The Ambassador in France (Wallace) to the Secretary of State

903. Mission. I have received from the Secretariat General a copy of the French translation of a note, dated April 3, from Goeppert, president of the German delegation to Peace Conference, English translation of which reads as follows: [Page 309]

“Mr. President: By order of my Government I have the honor to inform the Allied and Associated Governments of the following: As a consequence of the serious news which reached us about the middle of the month of March relative to the outbreak of serious trouble in the Rhino-Westphalian territory, the Germans at that time asked the consent of the Allied Governments to a temporary occupation by a limited number of German troops of the threatened region situated within the 50 kilometer zone offering at the same time guarantees for the withdrawal of these military forces at the time desired. The negotiations relative to such guarantees, the provisional result of which was set in writing, finally reached the following result: In spite of the serious reluctance of the German Government the Allied Governments would be authorized to occupy the German cities of Frankfort on the Main, Darmstadt, Hanau, Homburg and Dieburg in case the troops in the neutral zone in excess of the number formerly agreed upon, should not evacuate that zone as soon as they had accomplished their task or within a time limit fixed by the Allied Governments.

Recently, however, the French Government has further stated that it was indispensable that it should be furnished proofs that in fact order could not be restored in these regions without the entry of troops.

According to the extremely alarming news constantly received since then by the German Government there can unfortunately no longer be [any] doubt that it is impossible to reestablish within a short time order and calm without some temporary military action. As is proved by the desperate cries of distress which reach us at every hour of the day the situation has become crucial so that today it is no longer a question of the happiness or misery of the inhabitants of these regions only but a question of the whole economic life of Germany being seriously threatened; flying the communist flag the populace has utterly terrorized all forms public life, has indulged in requisitions and pillage, has paralyzed the actions of all Government organs and has threatened life and security. The matters have so developed that in certain parts of the Ruhr Basin industrial production, in particular the mining of coal and the operation of the blast furnaces, has ceased and enforced cessation of railroad traffic has occurred. The maintenance of economic life and the distribution of food supplies are endangered not only in the region where these disorders are taking place but throughout Germany. There is no longer any political power in existence which can moderate and control the course of events even in any slight degree. The executive councils and the central councils recently constituted helped, it is true, to reach agreements tending to put a stop to the general strike and to establish order and calm. But these agreements are in fact of no value, the instructions of the executive and central councils are no longer observed because power has passed from their hands into those of the armed populace.

As the Allied and Associated Governments themselves will not fail to recognize, it is a necessity [affecting] Europe in general and together [as well as] a question of humanity to come to the help of these hundreds of thousands of inhabitants of the disturbed districts [Page 310] who are in the greatest misery. Especially, it is a sacred and imperious duty of the German Government not to abandon for formal reasons their compatriots in danger. If, therefore, [under] unquestionable necessity German Reichswehr troops advance into the region in question exceeding the forces already authorised on August 9 [8], 1919, I will forward requests that, after having consulted Ebert,24 the necessary formal authorization be given.

It is not a question of taking action against the working population whose representatives on the contrary have urgently requested help but only of fighting the anarchistic elements. The Reichskommissar and Prussian Minister of the Regulations has been entrusted [with] the supervision of this expedition and is now at Münster. No military measure can be taken without his consent.

The German Government does not doubt that under these circumstances and taking into account Germany’s distress the Allied Governments will give their consent. It repeats most emphatically its formal offer to give all possible guarantees for the immediate withdrawal of the troops as soon as order has been restored. In particular it would also be disposed to consent to the sending of an inter-Allied commission which could form on the spot an idea of how long the situation would justify the troops in remaining and all facilities would be granted this commission for finding out the facts.

The German Government hopes that the Allied Governments will not fail to realize that Germany is struggling with a situation which imperatively requires action and in which every hour of hesitation is apt to entail irreparable disaster.

At present the German Government does not consider that it is acting contrary to the spirit of the treaty of peace. The terms of the treaty in question are designed to guarantee world peace as is clearly shown by article 44. The measure which the German Government has decided upon in this extreme necessity constitutes, according to these reasons and to its object, a simple measure of police protection necessitating a temporary reenforcement of the military forces which have already been allowed within the zone to this end but which are insufficient. Far from being a hostile act towards the Allies or from troubling world peace this measure is exactly designed to maintain order and peace.

[Hereafter as heretofore] the German Government is firmly determined to loyally fulfill its obligations. But for this action it is necessary that the authority of the state be reestablished as soon as possible in a region the calm and order whereof constitute a capital condition of the execution of the most important provisions of the peace treaty. Accept, etc.”

The Secretariat General also informs me that there will be a special meeting of the Ambassadors’ Conference tomorrow, Tuesday morning, for the purpose of discussing this note. In the absence of other instructions I shall be guided by the instructions contained in your telegram number 666 of April 2, 1 p.m.

[Page 311]

In this connection General Allen25 informs us that the following was obtained at 4:30 [this] morning by telegram from the German War Department as a declaration of the German Government. In addition it bears the signature of General von Lossberg commanding the Cassel Reichswehr group and commander in chief of all troops operating in the Ruhr district:

“The German Government oblige themselves at the expiration of the operations necessary for the restoration of the supreme power in the Ruhr district to withdraw the troops. The German Government have already (April 4) declared in Paris that they hope it will be possible to withdraw the troops at the expiration of one week. Written confirmation follows.”

Wallace
  1. Frederic Ebert, President of Germany.
  2. Maj. Gen. Henry T. Allen, in command of the American Army of Occupation.