FRENCH PLANS TO COERCE GERMANY.

M. POINCARÉ’S SECRECY.

MILITARY PREPARATIONS.

FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT. PARIS, Sunday Night. The coming week is likely to be one of rumours and uncertainties, with public attention on the alert for news of what action the French Government intends to take against Germany. There is a very general demand in the Press for energy and a depreciation of half-measures which would only entail risks and disappointments. Something more drastic in the way of military action than that proposed in the French plan is declared to be all the easier now that England’s susceptibilities have no longer to be taken into account. In some form or another M. Poincaré is to make a declaration in the Chamber, probably on Thursday, about the Franco-british disagreement and the policy that the Government intends to follow. The way in which the Press is demanding energetic measures will, however, make reluctance to act difficult for him at a moment. The utmost secrecy is being maintained as to how the French Government intends to deal with Germany, and official quarters have told the French journalists to-day not to expect any information on the subject. But it is clear that preparations are being actively pursued, By Friday night the deliberations of M. Poincaré with the Belgian and Italian delegates were finished, and M. Theunis and M. Jaspar, seen off by the French Prime Minister, left for Brussels at eight o’clock yesterday morning. The rest of the day was taken up with a meeting of the Council of Ministers, an interview between M. Poincaré, the Ministers of War and Finance, and M. Barthou, a meeting of experts at the Foreign Office, at which Marshal Foch was present. The importance of the military aspect of the French programme is demonstrated by the recall to Paris from Lausanne of General Weygand. Opinions differ, however, as to whether his return means that he is to he put in command of the operations on the Rhine, or whether it is merely to enable him to be in his accustomed place at Marshal Foch’s right hand.

A statement was published in the Temps last night declaring that everything that had been published about France’s plans were merely suppositions, and that only France’s Allies had been acquainted with her real intention. Among these “suppositions” there is, however, a general consensus of opinion that the first act is to be a military occupation of Essen and possibly Bochum as well. With this important centre in the French grip it is said that the Germans would then be called upon to make their proposals. The idea of erecting a Customs barrier round the Ruhr is represented as having been abandoned owing to the difficulties created by the situation of the British troops at Cologne.