GERMANY AND ALLIES

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 144, 14 March 1921, Page 5

GERMANY AND ALLIES

VON SIMONS ON LONDON NEGOTIATIONS

MUST MAKE PROPOSALS ON NEW BASIS

FULFILMENT OF TREATY (By Telegraph-Press Association-Copyright (Rec. March 14, 0.5 a.m.) Berlin, March 13. The Reichstag, by 260 votes io 40, carried a vote of confidence in Dr. von Simons, after a speech dealing with the negotiations in London. The German counter-proposals he - made his personal responsibility. "From political motives,” he said, “especially consideration of those towns threatened by the Allies’ measures of compulsion, our position was such that we could not expect anything from a rupture of relations. The world’s opinion of us is too unfavourable for the contention that the Peace Treaty is null and void, because the Allies have torn it up. Germany must fulfil the Treaty as far as possible, but not further. We have not blocked the path to further negotiations. We must endeavour to make counter-proposals on a different basis, but after this slap in the face we cannot offer our hand and say we will still be friends.”—Aus.-N.Z. Cable AsKn.

SHARP CONFLICTS IN REICHSTAG

GOVISKNMJJNT’S POLICY

(Rec. March 13, 5.5 p.m.) London, March 12

The Berlin correspondent of the “Morning Post” states that sharp conflicts occurred in the Reichstag between Dr. von Simons and,- Herr Stinnes. 'rlie latter complained that the- foreign policy of the Government was without a’dominating idea, as shown by the fact that its delegate was sent to London to conduct important negotiations without dearly outlined proposals. The whole conduct of the negotiations in London proved the a’bsence of a controlling idea. Dr. von Simons, in an angry reply, said that while he gladly accepted advice from Herr Stinnes he was not that gentleman’s junior clerk. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. OBERHAUSEN OCCUPIED ~ (Rec. March 13, 5.5 p.m.) Paris, March 12. The Allies occupied Oberhausen without incident. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. PRACTICAL RESULTS OF PENALTIES

CONCLUSIONS OF SPECIAL-ENVOY. (Rec. March 13, 5.5 p.m.)

Paris, March 12.

A special envoy, in a dispatch from Coblenz, estimating the practical results of the penalties, states in the first place that the occupations are the best conceived and most profitable. The coal carried through Duisberg and Ruhrort is alone estimated at 25,000,000 tons. Secondly, the taking over of the product of the German Customs on the outer frontier of Rhineland bordering France and Belgium does not promise any considerable yield. The British High Commissioner in Cologne points out that the Customs receipts at Cologne were equivalent to £BOO,OOO during 1920,but he does not guarantee the accuracy of the figures. Thirdly, the establishment of a Customs cordon between occupied and free Germany is not likely to yield more than £7,500,000 yearly.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. COLLECTION OF CUSTOMS DUTIES ALLIES’ DECISIONS BIND AMERICANS. (Rec. March 13s 5-5 p.m.) Washington, March 11. Mr. J. W. Weeks, Secretary for War, announces that the commander of the American forces in Germany will abide by the decisions of the Allies’ Rhineland Commission in the collection of Customs duties along the Rhino. —Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn. REPARATION RECOVERY BILL ITS MAIN PROVISIONS. London, March 11. The German Reparation Recovery Bill was i-ead a first time in the House of Commons. The second reading will be taken on Monday. Mr. Austen Chamber, lain suggested that the Bill should be taken in Committee of the whole House if it agrees to pass it through all stages rapidly.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

(Rec. March 13, 5.5 p.m.) London, March 12.

The Bill provides for a payment of 50 per cent, of the value of imported German goods to the Commissioner of Customs, who -will place all such money to a special account to 'be applied under the Treasury's direction towards the discharge of .Germany’s obligations under Parts VIII and IX of the Versailles Treaty. Goods to which the Bill applies are those wholly or partly manufactured or produced in Germany, consigned to the United Kingdom, provided thAt they are not intended for re-exportation. The value of the goods shall be the amount the importer would give at the place of importation, he paying freight and insurance. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable J-sen. a dutclTprotest AGAINST COERCIVE MEASURES. (Rec. March 12, 5.5 p.m.) Amsterdam, March 11. It is'understood that Dutch commercial circles are Urging the Government to protest to the League of Nations against the Allies’ coercive economic measures in Germany, as being detrimental to commerce between' Germany and neutral nations. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. THE RUPTUReTiNEVITABLE COMMENTS BY MR. LLOYD GEORGE Paris, March 11. The “Petit Parisian” publishes an interview with Mt. Lloyd George, in which the British Prime Minister said: “The German delegates made a rupture of the Conference inevitable. Their clumsiness was only equalled by their blindness. There was nothing left for us but. to act. Germany’s present state of confusion was complicated by the fact that she has not .vet succeeded in finding the man. Neither during ,tbe war nor since the armistice has Germany had a loader like Gnmbetta, or even Thiers, capable of inspiring and guiding. She only has technical experts, ironmasters like Stinnes, but her lack of statesmen is regrettable. It is much better for us to deal with n country directed by a vigorous intelligence.” —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.