862t.01/201: Telegram
The Commissioner at Berlin (Dresel) to the Secretary of State
[Received November 28—3:32 a.m.]
1344. French Ambassador has received telegram from his Government which translated as follows:
“You have certainly been informed from the telegrams that Tirard sent me to give me information, of the declaration that he made in the High Commission in regard to measures which he will adopt in case the German ministers in the zone occupied by the French Army made declarations similar to those which just occurred at Cologne and Aix la Chapelle. It is inadmissible that ministers of the commonwealth come into territories occupied by our troops under the protection of our flag and forces, hold public meetings in which they declare that they are determined not to execute the clauses of the peace treaty. German ministers must observe in the occupied territory the laws of the High Commission which forbid any failure in respect due to the troops of occupation and the dignity of the Allied Governments and which provide that public meetings can only take place after a declaration in advance made to the authorities.
I shall be obliged if you will consult urgently with your American, British, and Belgian colleagues in order to bring about common representations on the subject to the German Government.
I am asking our representatives at London, Washington, and Brussels to consult the Governments to which they are accredited in this sense begging these Governments to furnish your colleagues with the necessary instructions. It is in [for?] the invariable maintenance of order and the security of troops that the German Government receive warning in order to prevent the Red manifestations of this kind. Furthermore, it represents [is intended?] that the representation made at Berlin be collective and present an inter-Allied character thus affirming the unity of the view of those Governments whose troops participate in the Rhineland occupation. Leygues.”
Please instruct me if the Department consider it advisable for me to take part in such representations. Please consult my telegram 1342, November 26th, 3 p.m.47
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