GERMANY YIELDS TO NECESSITY

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 194, 12 May 1921, Page 5

GERMANY YIELDS TO NECESSITY

THE ALLIES’ ULTIMATUM

COMPLETE AND UNRESERVED

ACCEPTANCE

REICHSTAG SUPPORTS NEW

CHANCELLOR

By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright

(Roc. May 11, 9.5 p.m.) London, May 11

In the Reichstag, Dr. Wirth, a former Minister of Finance, and now Chancellor, announced the acceptance of tho Allies ultimatum.

A message received from Berlin via Paris reports that Dr. Wirth, in a curt official motion for complete and unreserved acceptance of the ultimatum, explained that in the event of the occupation ot the Ruhr it would mean ruin for the country, and therefore it was better to accept any alternative. The Reichstag presented a funereal appearance, the deputies being dejected and undemonstrafive, except the Pan-Germans, who hissed Dr. Wirth. . The Reichstag voted on a clear-cut issue for or against acceptance of the ultimatum. The result was as follows:— For acceptance 221 Against acceptance D 5 —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

PROTRACTED DISCUSSIONS

"SHIRKING RESPONSIBILITY.” (Rec. May 11, 10.25 p.m.)

London, May 11. The "Morning Post’s" Berlin correspondent reports that protracted party discussions preceded Dr. Wirth's acceptance of the Chancellorship. A battle waged on a grand scale between advocates of the acceptance and the rejection of the ultimatum. At a meeting of the People’s Party, where von Lersner, leader of the rejectionists, won a sweeping victory, thirty out of forty-fivo voting lor unconditional rejection. Ten, including Herr Streseman, signified their willingness to vote for acceptance, conditionally upon the Allies furnishing satisfactory declarations that the Rhine Customs barrier would be suppressed, that the lately occupied area would be evacuated. that the 50 per cent, duty would be withdrawn, and that, authentic assurances regarding the future _of Upper Silesia would he forthcoming. Tho Democrats, by a majority of one, also defeated a motion for acceptance.

The correspondent adds: "These decisions do not mean a vote against the principle of acceptance, but a shirking of the burden of responsibility and subsequent unpopularity in the electorates which an open acceptance vote would involve. The parties realised that the Majority and Independent Socialists, plus the Centre Party, already gave an assured majority for acceptance, thus leaving the Democrats free subsequently to blame their politcial adversaries. It is understood that the Democrats are not officially represented in the now Ministry. but they permitted Herr Greener and Herr Gossler to retain temporarily the portfolios of Transport and Defence respectively. The Cabinet consists of four members from the Centre Party, three Majority Socialists, and two Democrats.”

The "Daily Telegraph’s” Berlin correspondent states that Dr. Wirth's new Ministry represents the Centre Party, Democrats and Majority Socialists. Other reports state that Majority Socialists predominate. Herr Bauer is Vice-Chancellor.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. YIELDINffTONECESSITY COMMENT BY GERMAN PAPER. (Rec. May 11, 10.25 p.m.) London, May 11. The “Frankfurter Zeitung," commenting on tho position, says:—"lt is not cowardly to yield to necessity. On'the contrary, reckless deeds are often duo lo lack of a certain kind of courage. Recklessness would bring Germany to certain disaster equivalent to suicide. If no more hope existed such action would be comprehensible, but we still have hope, and so long as there is hope we should not shrink from the hardest work, aiming at making our lot in time happier." —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.