REPARATIONS.

Hokitika Guardian, 10 January 1923, Page 2

REPARATIONS.

AURTI.IAL7AN AND N.t. CAULU ASSOOIATIOK

FRENCH STATEMENT. PARIS, January 8. poll owing on a meeting of Cabinet, M. Poincare announced it was not intended to mobilise a single soldier or railwayman. GERMAN FEELING. LONDON. Jan 9. The “Morning Post’s’’ Berlin eoryW^—F pond; nt states: The aroval of Freneli ti-oops at Dussoldorf was apparentlv regarded with calmness thi'imghimt the country. Ibis attitude must not he mistaken for indifference* There is smouldering a consuming, yjxmomentarily impotent, bate against fresh usurpers. It seems certain that France must draw a Customs burlier around the occupied territory, which will cans:, a smooth interim! working

of its industries. The Dailv Chronicle's Berlin correspondent says the Trade Unions arc zealmislv discussing the question of hampering the French plans by a general strike. As in the Kapp coup, practical plans for this purpose were drafted some time ago. Meetings tuw--till' coal mill; rs in the Ruhr yesterday 7 passed a resolution of protest against tiie French ai tioii. He adds: -The French threats have done more in n tew days to tealisc and unify the Labour organisations than all the internal political appeals. The “Dailv Express’s” Paris correspondent states: —A high French GenFlail oflicer told me the Ruhr may ,-over be nmipleteiy occupied. Mtll'shal Foch will only peacefully penetrate.

GERMAN PLAN. BERLIN. Jan b. The paper “Deutsche Allgomeine” is clamouring for the publicity of _thc German reparations plan , 11 out that publication would obviate th need for a moratorium. Germany would find satisfactory guarantees to str< ligthen its industry. Hugo bt.ntie. and other industrialists are now pßpared to meet the obligations they had hitherto repudiated.

COMMUNISTS ACTIVE. LONDON. Jan 9. .Mr Martin Donoghue. the “Daily Chronicle’s” Paris corresponden The French (oimnumsts have sent representatives to the Ruhr, rheso left before th. Erenel. engineers. 1U said that they will organise the mtnto strike, or will in other ways seek to thwart, the French fdan. M. Roll.care. In' adds still ehngs to ~ ni) liov of extreme caution. He' oppose- any precipitate action, seeking ■i,, alternative to adventuring into the U Th'c Reparation Conimissiott has heard the German exports the default in the oal dehiuKS. U L understood Sir F. Biadhury is J tl„. opinion that this detai.lt is not. vvil"'h is considered tikdy M. Poincare will not proceed with iju’ a German liemission Inis ani-wtn «• maud for a fresh moratorium.

GERMAN CABINET CRISIS. BERLIN- January 9

\ Cabinet crisis is threatened, owing to the Social Democrats demanding that the Bergmann proposals, "Im’ll |'., r i- conference refused to heal, shall be published and adapted id eng the lines of the British plan. I,e S °' eial Democrats also demand that lender C.no shall introduce forcible <ures to make German industry, agriciilture, provide a guarantee as required for the reparations loans, and that an appeal he made to the Entente nations and the League of Nation-.

AMERICAN ATTITUDE. WASHINGTON, January 8. J? The United States Government has ,<p •iH- announced that it regards with distinct disfavour Hv proposed. French .] ii to occupy a. German industrial region. It is understood this view has been communicated by Ambassador Horrick. but there is no idea at present of making any formal protest.

KOCH'S ARMY READY. LONDON, Jan. 8

Kraiice stands on the eve oi action. Marshal Koch's army of from forty to fifty thousand troops is awaiting a signal to sweep forward to the Ruhr.

There is intense anxiety in the Rhineland over the imminence of the advance.

The “’lime’s” Cologne eorrespondenl report s: — Tlie first train conveying French troops. destined to occupy Fssen, passed Cologne this morning. This move has completely surprised the British Headquarters, whom the French suddenly requested to provide military guards at the stations and bridges in the British area during tinpassage of the troops. This was done. The German population was surprised and alarmed.

The French authorities in Cologne anticipate that the French troops will

la- concentrated ai Dusseldorf, and that the actual move to Fssen will he made on January Dili, o. later. Meanwhile France is mobilising par- - ties of skilled worker-, civil and naval engineers, re'l ..ay men. and industrial speviali-ts in order to control the industries in the Ruhr. Some have actually gone forward. It i- noteworthy that Belgian and Italian engineers and officials are cooperal mg. Various regiments have been warned to he icadv to move at a moment’s not ice. Germany awaits the move in a mood of impotent protest. Civic officials in E-seii deprecate any idea of organised resistance. Reports have reached Berlin that, while ihe population will undoubtedly adopt psasive resistance, the workmen arc prepared to go further. The loader of one of the biggest Trade l ilioils in the Ruhr told the Cologne ‘‘Times correspmdi n: - I pledge you my word that the first movement of the hrem-h troops -hall he the signal for a general strike in the Ruhr. This military folly means ruin and starvation to the workers. The correspondent suggested that the miners should adopt the ‘ca camp policy. The leader replied : We have always -aid in the Ruhr: • ■\Ve ran do nearly everything with the bayonet except pick coal! The pick is a better producer ot reparations than the bayonet. An important conference oi all the Trade Unions in the Ruhr will be held on -faunarv Dtli, at which the attitude Of the v< risers, in ca-e of an advance.

will finally be decided. Meantime the Burgomaster of Essen is in a dilemma over the impending invasion. There are no barracks or buildings to accommodate the troops. Ahousing shortage there is acute at present. Fourteen thousand civilians are compulsorily billetted upon a majority ol lamilies in Essen. If French troops come in. the bitterness of- the population "ill he most acute. fkkncTi deficit. PARIS. .RiiU'.y 8. The deficit in the current budget I'as been reduced bv eight and a-half millions to £139,180.000. It is noteworthy that the official repot t' 1 :' to the Budget Commission declares that the Government has not done its utmost to icestablish financial equilibrium, rejecting all the Fitiaaneial Commission'- proposals, including the suppression of bearer bonds. In addition to tile ordinary deficit there is a special devastated region budget of lOfi million sterling. french enter ruhr. (Received this dav a a.m.) LONDON, January 9. The “Times” correspondent reports eleven troop trains are passing through cm route to Ruhr. Much accommodation of hotels is requisitioned for the French staff and a large party ol civil engineers, who are taking over control of the Ruhr mines have arrived. Forty French armoured ears are expected to participate in the advance Many cavalry arc accompanying them although it is quite certain no resistance "ill lo offered. It is interesting to note that the only German armed forces in Ruhr consist of green police numbering e gbt thousand, of whom two thousand are stationed at Essen. FRENCH TROOPS. ADVANCE IN GERMANY. (Received this dav at 9.30 a.m.') PARIS. Jan ft. The report that Pnited States Covernment semi officially expressed disapproval of the French occupation of Ruhr is authoritatively denied. The “Petit Pansienne” states Ereneli engineers arrived at PiiNseldort. hut cannot proceed to Ruhr Iteeausc no French troops are there. Belgian and Italian engineers shortly proceed to Dtisseldorf. “Ee Journal'' says another contingent of French engineers have gone to biisseklorf with detachment- of railway workers and five officers.

Tine “'Matin’s” Coblenz correspondent reports engineers will he accompanied to Essen bv twenty-live thousand soldiers. Violent anti-French tracts are being circulated throughout Rhineland. The "Petit Parisieiine" says the only soldiers sent to Ruhr an. those replacing General Degoutte’.- army whir'll are spread over too large an area. The “Eoeuvre” says arsine will be taken on. Thursday when Regoiitt'--advance guards will pass Die I rot. Per of the neutral /sue I routing. Du- "i----dorf. Guisherg and Ituhrort. When -M. Poincare mounts the tribune in the Chamber of Deputies. France will already have piled arms on Essen soil. Belgian soldiers will accompany the French soldiers and Allied engineers. GERMAN VIEWS. 'Received this day at 5.30 a.m.) RERUN, Jan 9. Faroe French contingents have arrived at Dusseldorf. The French advanced as far as Mulbeim without informing the authorities ot Essen "bat further progress they propose to make. Cabinet considers the French action violated the Versailles Treaty, and .s preparing an appeal to ones It is stated Germany will l M us< t meet her financial obligations mi IbU January owing to the breach and also owing to the absolute collapse ot Hu mark.

A M KIMX'AN' ST.A'I KM I.N’I S llcci-ived Mus ilny lit I —■’ l‘ “'■} WASH IN' ITON, .J nonary TIh j Stiito Department officials exp cessed amazement at despatches from '|>aris -tntiiifj; the French I-'uif i Office denied receiving in any way, I nited States proposal for an iutonintionnl eonunission of experts to recommend Hen,rm repanitinns figures. Inc higliost Allniinistnition officials reiteratethat Air Hughes proposal was submitted to France in a ilelinite way. through the regular official diplomatic channels. Officials- stated regarding a_ similar denial that 'France received Fnited States protest against the Ruhr occupation. that there has been no form,.l protest, hut at the same time tinted States strongly intimated its opposition to such an action.