THE REPARATIONS

Hokitika Guardian, 12 May 1921, Page 2

THE REPARATIONS

AUSTRALIAN AND-N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION. GERMANS GIVE IN. ALLIED TERMS ACCEPTED. * LONDON, May H. In the Reichstag, Herr Wirth, former Minister of Finance, announced the acceptance by Germany of the Allies ultimatum. MAJORITY OF 50 OUT OF 410. LONDON, May 11. A message from Berlin, via Paris t reports that in the Reichstag, the-e was a curt official motion for the com plete and unreserved acceptance of tha Allied ultimatum. The motion explained, however, that in the event of Allied occupation of the Ruhr it would mean ruin for the country. Therefore, it would be better to accept any alternative. The Reichstag presented a sad appear ance deputies being dejected and unde monstrative, except the pan-Germans who hissed Herr Wirth. The voting was 220 for acceptance and 170 against. HOW ACCEPTANCE CAME. LONDON, May 11. The “Daily Telegraph” Berlin correspondent states: Herr Wirth has formed a new Ministry. It represents the Centre Party, the Democrats and the Majority Socialists.

Other reports state the Majority Socialists predominate. Herr Bauer is Vice-Chancellor.

“The Morning Post’s” Berlin correspondent reports that protracted party discussions preceded Wirtli’s acceptance of the Chancellorship. A was waged on a grand scale between the advocates of acceptance and of rejection of the Allied ultimatum at the People’s Party meeting, where Von Lersner, Leader of the rejectionists, won a sweep ing victory, thirty out of forty-five voting for unconditional rejection.

Ten others, including Stressiman, signified a 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Rhine customs barrier would be suppressed; that the lately occupied area be evacuated; that the 50 per cent, duty be withdrawn; and that authentic assurances regarding the future of Upper Silesia be forthcoming. The Democrats, by a majority of one also defeated an acceptance motion.

The correspondent adds: These decisions do not mean a vote against the principle of acceptance, but a shirking of the burden of responsibility ' and of subsequent unpopularity in tlie electdrates which an open vote for acceptance would involve. These parties realised that the Majority and Independent Sociliasts, plus the Centro Party, already gave an assured majority for acceptance. Thus they left the Democrats free, subsequently, to blame their political adversaries.

It is understood that the Democrats arc not officially represented in the new Ministry, but they have permitted Grocner and Gessler to retain temporarily ttie portfolios of Transport and Defence respectively. The Cabinet consists of four members from the Centre Party, and three from the Majority Socialists, and two Democrats. The “Frankfurter Zeitung,” commenting, says: It is not cowardly to yield to necessity. On the contrary, reckless deeds are often due to the lack of a. certain kind of courage. Reckless-, ness would bring Germany to certain disaster, equivalent to suicide. If no more hope existed, such action would be comprehensible, but we still have hope, we should not shrink from the hardest work, aiming at making our lot in time happier. The. Reichstag voted on a clear-cut issue for or against the acceptance of the ultimatum. The correct voting figures were 221 for and 175 against acceptance.

A STRONG CONDEMNATION. WASHINGTON, May 11

Senator Robert Marian La Follette, the well-known Republican free lance, attacked President Harding for accepting the Allied invitation to allow an American representative to sit in the Allies’ European Council. Senator La Folette moved the following resolution: “That the Senate thinks it contrary to the United States ideas and principles to take part in any Allied Councils; that the Senate denounces the Versailles Treaty as a crime, born of blind revenge and insatiable greed, and a betrayal of the promises of the United States. The resolution further states: ‘That American participation in the Allied Supreme Council would mean an. endorsement of the Imperialistic policies, which members of the Supreme Council are pursuing in Asia, and would be 'a sanction of the barbarous and uncivilised warfare waged against the people of Ireland.” The introduction of the Irish question is considered to reveal the motive •f the resolution. The motion has aroused resentment in official circles.