862T.01/528: Telegram
The Unofficial Observer on the Interallied Rhineland High Commission (Allen) to the Secretary of State
[Received January 13—3 p.m.]
My personal and unofficial representations regarding renewal of negotiation that might bring about an arrangement were sympathetically received yesterday by informal meeting of High Commissioners called on my initiative. They and I recognized that the question is not within their competence but the seriousness of the situation, the knowledge of its eventual import and the way in which the High Commission is connected with the new occupation by the French plan, would indicate usefulness of an expression from that source. Each one has made report of this event to his government.
Daily it is becoming evident that that published mild procedure of the “economic mission” to which passive resistance is made in the Ruhr and strong protest everywhere in Germany, is giving way to the customary occupation by force. Tirard’s20 statement that the boundary of Rhine province would not be crossed before 15th fails by the occupation to-day of Bochum.
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Kilmarnock21 received instructions yesterday to abstain from commission discussion bearing on French plan of action.