FRANCE & REPARATIONS

Hokitika Guardian, 16 January 1923, Page 2

FRANCE & REPARATIONS

[bi telegraph—pek press association) COAL ORDERS. LONDON- January 14. It is reported that the Swedish State milwavs have ordered sixty-nine thousand tons of coal from England. There nr indications of a great rush ot ferciigii orders owing to anticipated shrinkage of the coal output I rum 11 ulir. BEK LIN. January 14. The President of the inter- A Hied Commission at Ksson called a meeting attended by a score of mine managers at. which it was agreed eeitain Ruhr districts should deliver coal to Frallc-c and Belgium who would advance payment.

COAL SUPPLY. PARIS, .lauuary 14. If Germany suspends delivery ot icparatimi coal, the occupation of B - clium and sun-mining districts will he necessitated as the suspension involved the stoppage of all Kulir factories. Ihe ana now occupied produces twentysix million tons and deliveries due by Germany on account of reparations amount to nineteen million tons leaving only seven millions for use of factories whose needs are twenty millions. Bochum district produces seventy millions, the seizure of which would satisfy all French and Belgian claims and supply sufficient for German factories. THE OCCUPATION, i PARIS. January It. ! In accordance with Marshal Foch’s ! plan, the occupation of Ruin- is proceeding methodically. Gilsenkerehen was | occupied i n Friday and the orcupaj tion of Bochum will probably he ofI fected to-day when the regrouping of | troops will he completed. Barmen ami | Dortmund will be left outside file oc- | ettpied area. The further advance will I enable the Allied engineers to control | inetaljn:gic and coke furnaces in Ruhr. A BLACK SUNDAY. BERLIN, Jan. 14 The Day of .Mourning was to-day observed against the French advance, and flags were half-masted, and the church hells were tolled. The Socialists and Communists refused to participate in the demonstration, as being one stage-managed by the Government. They held separate inJoor meetings. In the meantime many thousands of the Bourgeosisie filled the Koenig Plat/ in front of the Reichstag. There was a more impressive scene in the Puriser Plat/, which was transformed into an armed camp, and hundreds of military police and two squadrons of cavalry were assembled to defend the French Embassy, hut no outbreak occurred. An immense crowd there contented it.sell , with singing •'Deutschland Cher Ailos." Tito theatres open cd and attempted to Substitute gloomy for gay pieces, while the musical coined y houses ludicrously opened with doiorous selections, and then played ordinary pieces.

In connection with the Day of Mourning (says a Reuter message) a display of Republican colours at Essen was made, for the first time, at several fashionable hotels, and patriotic songs were repeatedly sung. There were frequent cries of "Down with Franco!’’’ Herr Heshnan. President of the Miners’ Union, declared that the miners would refuse to work overtime and would use "Ca" Canny’’ measures. The grain brokers of Hamburg Bourse adopted a resolution refusing to do business directly or indirectly with Franco- Bole-inn firms. GERMAN CHANCELLOR. BERLIN. January 14. The admission of French journalists to the Reichstag lias been suspended. Tile House remained standing to hear a speech hv Premier Cuno. vehemently denouncing the French, military action. which, he said, was ostensibly undertaken for the small arrears in the tic-liveries of coal and telegraph poles. He expressed the opinion, however, that it was not a question of reparation, but a four hundred year old pu 1 - iey of destroying the Herman Empire, a policy of brutal expansion, clothed, as formerly, in a garb of right, except that the old watchword of “Reunion” hat] become ‘■Reparation.’’ Dr Cuno added : —“Dare we expect that the compelling force of economic devoid; - moot will sooner <>t- later load to a

change before a conflagration starts, which will he a menace, not only (o Germany, hut to Europe." Ih l urged the necessity for the mot vigilant prudence, self restraint, and co-opera-tion of the people with tile (state ia order to avoid anv d’sastro’-s conse-

quences to tlic community. Dr Cano concluded:—“lnjustLo. misery, and deprivation is our fate today; freedom of life is our aim: and unity is on- path.”

,rri>ATM)N DFCiIKhN. lice ived this dav at S a.in.) IIEH! IV. dau 15. A has I;-e,. issued at F.ss, u rdi- ving French troops of the obligation to pay the luxury tax. or<h ring the uotiiic.itiou of all propc- d meetings three days ahead, with tin- probable att; ndancc. forbidding siiikcs. and the procession of uniformed persons ; compelling the posting of pfic • lists in German currency in all shop-, and prohibiting German soldiers from crossing from unoccupied into occupied territory. FRENCH ACTION. -NTTKD SETtVICE TELEGRAMS 'Received this dav at 5.30 a.in.l LONDON, Jau. 11 Notwithstamling the difficulties, France takes a most optimistic view of events. A high official to-day told the "Daily Mail's” Paris representative—We can see success coming. Government feels sure that success spells the beginning of a new jsilicy in Europe, with closer friendship with England. By -Monday night the Government will have all the information wanted regarding the working of the unoccupied area. If the German Government refused to credit mine owners with the valve of reparation coal. France would take the necessary money by seizing the whole coal tax on fuel sent into Germany. This can he used to pay the miners. He added that a private agreement between St Tunes and French iron owners is hound to come, sooner or later.