96 THE ECONOMIC CONSEQUENCES Oh THE PEACE ch.

Germany during the years of their occupation. Theproject of establishing an independent Republic underFrench clerical auspices, which would act as a bufferstate and realise the French ambition of drivingGermany proper beyond the Rhine , has not yet beenabandoned. Some believe that much may be accom-plished by a regime of threats, bribes, and cajoleryextended over a period of fifteen years or longer. 1 Ifthis Article is acted upon, and the economic systemof the left bank of the Rhine is effectively severed

1 The occupation provisions may be conveniently summarised at thispoint. German territory situated west of the Rhine, togothcr with thebridge-heads, is subject to occupation for a period of fifteen years (Art. 428).If, however, "the conditions of the present Treaty are faithfully carried outby Germany," the Cologne district will be evacuated after five years, and theCoblenz district after ten years (Art. 429). It is, however, further providedthat if at the expiration of fifteen years '' the guarantees against unprovokedaggression by Germany are not considered sufficient by the Allied andAssociated Governments, the evacuation of the occupying troops may bedelayed to the extent regarded as necessary for the purpose of obtainingthe required guarantees" (Art. 429); and also that "in case either duringthe occupation or after the expiration of the fifteen years, the ReparationCommission finds that Germany refuses to observe the whole or part of herobligations under the present Treaty with regard to Reparation, the wholeor part of the areas specified in Article 429 will be re-occupied immediatelyby the Allied and Associated Powers" (Art. 430). Since it will bo im-possible for Germany to fulfil the whole of her Reparation obligations, theeffect of the above provisions will be in practice that the Allies will occupythe left bank of the Rhine just so long as they choose. They will alsogovern it in such manner as they may determine {e.g. not only as regardscustoms, but such matters as the respective authority of the local Germanrepresentatives and the Allied Governing Commission), since "all mattersrelating to the occupation and not provided for by the present Treatyshall be regulated by subsequent agreements, which Germany hereby under-takes to observe" (Art. 432). The actual Agreement under which theoccupied areas are to be administered for the present has been published asa White Paper [Cd. 222]. The supreme authority is to be in the hands ofan Inter-Allied Rhineland Commission, consisting of a Belgian, a French,a British, and an American member. The articles of this Agreement arevery fairly and reasonably drawn.