UPPER SILESIAN PROBLEM

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 206, 26 May 1921, Page 5

UPPER SILESIAN PROBLEM

SATISFACTORILY SETTLED HOSTILITIES CEASE GERMANY TO DISBAND VOLUNTEERS By Telegraph—Press' Association— Copyright London, May 24. According to the Paris papers, M. Briand handed Herr Mayer, the German Ambassador in Paris, a Note declaring that if the Gorman troops in Unjjpr Silesia resume the offensive the German Government will be held responsible, and the Allies will decided in common the penalties necessary. Herr Mayer communicated the German Government’s reply, which states that it most strictly ordered the closing of the Germano-Silesian frontier. ’ M. Briand later declared that the situation in Uppei' Silesia had materially improved, and there was now no need to occupy the Ruhr region.—Reuter. London, May 25. 1 Mr. Martin Donohoe, the "Daily Chronicle’s” special correspondent in Paris, points out that M. Briand, at a conference of the most friendly character with the IGerman Minister since tho Armistice, received the Berlin Government’s assurances. This is most opportune, as immediately afterwards a National bloc deputation presentea a demand for immediate occupation of Ruhr, owing to the Germans’ entry into Upper Silesia, and M. Briand was able to reply that the Upper Silesian problem was satisfactorily settled. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. (Rec. May 25, 11.15 p.m.) Paris, May 25. The energetic action'of the Allied Commission has secured the cessation-of hostilities between the Poles'and Germans. It is alleged that when the Poles reoccupied Grosstein they found that their wounded, whom they had been forced to leave behind when the Germans advanced, had all been killed. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. MEASURES BY GERMAN GOVERNMENT VOLUNTEERS TO BE DISARMED AND DISBANDED. (Rec. May 25, 11.15 p.m.) Paris, May 25. Herr Mayer has presented Germany’s reply to M. Briand’s Note. It declares that the Government is taking immediate measures to close the Upper Silesian frontier and disarm and disband the German volunteers. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

GERMAN PREMIER’S SINCERITY

DESIRES TO WIN WORLD’S CONFIDENCE. (Rec. May 25, 11.25 p.m.)

London, May 25.

The "Daily Telegraph’s” Berlin correspondent states that Preitjlent Ebert, in response to the French demands, has issued an order applicable to the whole of unoccupied Germany, making it an offence punishable by fine up to a hundred thousand marks, to form or participate in unauthorised military 'bodies. The correspondent says that inquiries in many quarters have convinced him that Herr Wirth is inspired by a sincere desire to win the world’s confidence and avoid the troubles and complications hindering Germany from settling do^n, t 0 work in order to pay her debts. Whether the new spirit will continue depends upon the Allies. If the new policy of honesty is systematically misrepresented as diabolical duplicity, the Government may fall back, as their predecessors did, into the bluffs, concealments, and evesions which caused the mischief of the last two years.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. STATEMENT BY FRENCH PREMIER POLAND’S HISTORIC .RIGHTS. (Rec. May 25, 10.50 p.m.) London, May 24. The Chamber of Deputies was P ack *‘* to hear a statement by M. B1 ; la " d emphasised that France wanted the‘loyal execution of the Treaty. Ho dwelt on Poland’s historic rights in Upper’Silesia, which were unanimously endorsed by the Inter-Allied Commission. He attributed the German success at the polls partly to the fact that the Germans brought back 180,000 voters for the purpose ot the plebiscite. In a pointed reference to Mr. Lloyd George, M. Bnand referred to the inconveniences attending discussions which were held in market-places and made the object of newspaper Nevertheless such methods wei o not with out advantages. Ho admitted that soldiers not always had the qualification on which to base a just appreciation of a treaty, but a decision would be reached in accordance with the experts’ report, under which justice must prevail. M. Briand expressed confidence in Dr. Wirth’s sincerity. Ho (M. Briand) intended to follow the policy of al maintenance of the Entente. If the House disagreed they would have to choose a successor. —Reuter.

ANXIETY OF PARIS NEWSPAPERS W 4.R DECLARED TO HAVE BEEN RESUMED. London, May 24. The “Morning Post’s” correspondent at Paris states that the newspapers insist that the outstanding feature of the day s news is that Germany has resumed the war. and call on Mr. Lloyd to undo the mischief his two incendiary speeches have caused. The fact that 80,000 Germans have entered Silesia, with whom the 14 000 Allied troops cannot cope, is held io justify all the French arguments in favour of the complete disarmament of Germany. Tho papers say that four British battalions are useless as a reinforcement to the Allied army in Silesia, and that thev should be four times as many. France wants to know if she is to bo again called upon to enforce the Peace Treaty and incur nil the odium and expenditure while the rest of the Allies look on and criticise.—Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn.

FIGHTING ORGANISED ON LARGE SCALE GERMAN GOVERNMENT WARNED. (Rec. May 25, 8.10 p.m. London, May 24. The fighting in Upper Silesia is apparently organised on a largo scale, according to a correspondent in Sosnowice, who, quoting French sources, says the German offensive is developing in three directions. The attack near the Oder Riser had as its objective Grosstein, which was occupied after a fierce struggle. A column twenty thousand strong, with armoured trains, is operating along the Kreuzberg-Rosenborg railway, a’ m ’ n B at the industrial region of the Polish frontier, while a third force from Ratibor has Gleiwitz as its objective. The insurgents everywhere are resisting desperately. French diplomatic circles are excited over the foregoing occurrences. It is understood from a Paris correspondent that the German Ambassadors in Paris and London have been requested to warn the Imperial Government immediately to cease the aggressive movements, if Allied reprisals are not desired. —Rculer.

REINFORCEMENT OF BRITISH FORCE CONTEMPLATED. (Rec. May 25, 10.10 p.m.) London, May 24. Mr. Chamberlain stated that the Government contemplated adding to the

Silesian force when trains were avail-able—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF TRADE UNIONS TO STUDY ECONOMIC SIDE OF SITUATION. (Rec. May 25, 10.10 p.m.) Amsterdam, May 24. A conference of the International Federation of Trades Unions is dispatching a commission to Silesia lo study the economic side of the situation. The German and Polish trade unions are urging their nationals to cease murdering and plundering each other. Representatives of tho International Federation are proceeding io North and South America, India, Japan, and Australia for propaganda work. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.