THE ALLIES

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 15 August 1924, Page 5

THE ALLIES

RUHR ‘EVACUATION. ANOTHER DIFFERENCE. f. TROUBLES OF M. HERRIOT. BY CABLE—PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT LONDON, Aug. 14. There is no doubt that the negotiations between the Germans, M. Herriot (French Premier), and M. Theunis (Belgian Premier), regarding the date of the evacuation of the Ruhr, have broken down temporarily owing to M. Herriot demanding commercial privileges in return for the Ruhr evacuation and refusing a date for the beginning of the withdrawal of the French troops, although he suggested that the withdrawal would be . completed within twelve months.

Dr. W. Marx (the German Chancellor) last night went to Mr. Ramsay MacDonald (the British Premier) to explain the position. He also cabled lengthily to Berlin. M. Herriot meets Dr. Marx this morning, and the council of fourteen meets later. All this, of course, is apart from the conference dealing with the Dawes report, though influencing its successful termination. Meanwhile despatches from Paris reveal the activity of the opposition to M. Herriot and it is even affirmed that his reception at the week-end was an organised affair. Reviews of the work of the conference are undoubtedly painful leading the to Frenchmen who supported M. Poincare’s Ruhr policy. The diplomatic correspondent of the Daily Telegraph says that M. Herriot, under the criticisms of M. Loueheur and a section of the Paris press, showed himself reluctant to evacuate the Ruhr under twelve mouths, although he delivered a moving speech in which he emphasised the spirit of democratic France. The German Ministers were not insensible to M. Herriot’s sincerity, but feared that during the twelve months he might be succeded by a premier less conciliatory. Asked when the final year of occupation would begin, M. Herriot said he must postpone an answer until to-day. Presumably the year would date from the signing of the London agreement, but this has not been made clear to the Germans. The latter argued that a further year’s occupation would endariger both the Dawes plan and private credits to Germany, The German delegates came to the conclusion that they must consult Berlin, but expressed the conviction that German opinion would not agree to another year’s occupation. The chief / trouble has undoubtedly arisen from M. Herriot’s sensitiveness to domestic criticism and his omission to produce a really practical scheme of evacuation. The difficulties can hardly be overcome without the intervention of Mr. MacDonald, or, preferably, of Americans. There is no doubt that -u’ err * .had previously suggested that the military evacuation would follow shortly upon the economic evacuaUon. The Germans have approached Mr. MacDonald to act as mediator.