FRANCE & REPARATIONS

Hokitika Guardian, 18 January 1923, Page 2

FRANCE & REPARATIONS

FRENCH ATTITUDE STIFFENING

HtXTF.n’fi +Et)F.OH All’s: PARIS, Jan ltf. Tim French attitude has considerably stilTened as a result ot the German obstructionism. There arc signs - that the occupation of Ruhr is likely to become less invisible and less purely economic, and that the German’s resistance will meet with very visible military pressure. Already there is talk in' the press of making hostages among the business men and high officials ni the occupied territory. •||i; “Matin” foreshadows making the Ruhr and Rh.inela.nd a buffer state i in the event of continued German recalcitrance. GERMAN BOXER.S. PARTS. Jan Hi. Advices from Berlin show that the Boxing League decided, owing to the occupation of Ruhr that I*roiich and Belgian boxers will not he allowed to appear in Germany. GERMAN FINANCIAL CRASH. BERLIN, January 16. v When the mark reached the exchange late of 7.800 to £L the B,delis Bank placed some of its reserves of foreign currencies on the market, and stopped the rot. At one time 8.500 marks were offered to the £\. The Uoichs Bank is daily printing •i 0.0000.000 of new bank notes. Even these fail to meet the needs of Germany. On Tuesday there was a crash, which was partly due to a wliolesal,. buying of foreign curieneies in '-> order to meet ! aynmuts fur the newlyordered British coal. LONDON. January 16. The exchange on He.lin Ims collapsed. It closed at about 7600 marks to £l. after touching 8000. THE FRENCH MOVE. LONDON. January 16. The “Morning Post” says the C.oimun view is that the French action in the Ruhr is designed to create _ a . vast All-Europe trust for the fusion of the French German steel industry, including the coal, iron and ore supplies. with power to manipulate an international labour market..

FASCIST! IN BAVARIA. BERLIN. January 16.

Political circles, professedly, are most alarmed at the development of a Fascisti movement in South Bavaria. Their propaganda favours a dictatorship, and it is stated it lias Ivceil enormously aided hv the French occupation of the Ruhr. The Fascisti leader is credited with endeavouring to effect a general rising. The ‘‘Franl furter Xcituug" cites the date of January 20th. for a coup d’etat whi'Ti the Bavarian lender Hitter is contemplating. TRUCE PROCLAIMED IN ME MEL. PARIS, .la unary 16. When the Irregulars reached the centre of Menicl. there was a violent combat for the Allied High Commissioners’ offices. The High Commissioner, owing to the numerical superiority, inf the invaders, ordered the local forces to cease firing. A. truce was then arranged, and a neutral zone was established. The High Commissioner, however, sent, the leader of the insurgents a strong protest against the conp<le force.

The Ambassadors’ Conference will deal "itli the Memel situation to-mor-

FRKXCH ENTER DORTMUND. BERLIN. Jan 16. Tro French forces entered Dortmund at neon to-duv.

ER-MAN OBSTRUCTION POLICY BERLIN. Jan 17.

Referring Lo a French General's threat to arrest the recalcitrant coal owners, the German Coal Director declares this will not induce the owners to comply with the French demands. The “Daily Express” learns that all Frenchmen are being expelled from Germany.

It is officially confirmed that a mob ot Young Communists attacked a French post at Bochum railway station. Sonu> shots were fired, upon which the French replied. Two demonstrations were killed. HARIS. Jan 16. French advices from Essen claim that the prohibition against the execution of the coal requisitions has nut lr en generally observed, as .some of the Ruhr owners have begun to fulfil them to-da v.

FRENCH IM.ANS

PUSHING INTO GERMANY. .'NITKD SERVICE TECEGRAMS (Received this duv at 8.30 a.in.) LONDON, Jan 11. The ‘•Daily Mail’s” Dusscldorf correspondent states the French have com pleted plans lor dealing with any situation that may arise. The belief prevails throughout Ruhr that an advance i- likely oil Munster. If is rumoured ihiiL the forces ol the Rciohswehr there may attempt armed opposition. The madness of -i.cli all act is apparent to anyone .who has watched the march of the perfectly equipped French Army, with seventy-live' howitzers. maciiiuo guns, armoured cars and tanks following closely on the cavalry and infantry regiments. A prominent im mber of the Frenc h mission told the “Times" Dusseldorf correspondent Unit there is nothing we are not prepared to do, to oblige the industrialists to abandon their present attitude. ,‘vch to go to Berlin if necessary. PARIS. Jan 17.

In view of tin- German resistance, France Inis definitely determined to begin requsitiuniHg on Wednesday, unless they agree to commence deli'erics and the collection of coal tax. They are also contemplating the establishment of a customs’ cordon round Ruhr and the issue of a special municipal coinage lor Ruhr alone. _ The money is presumably only to lie issued iu the event of the Owners’ refusal to pay wages. RUHR BOYCOTT. FRENCH THREAT. LONDON, .Tan. lfi The “Morning Post's” Paris correspondent states: Information from the Ruhr does not indicate the German passive resistance is abating. Bills ars posted at the entrance ot every mine and factory stating that owing to the irruption of the French and Belgian troops into the Ruhr, all deliveiies of coke and coal, even when payment is offered in advance, are prohibited

The Germans evidently count on causing trouble by a food shortage. All stocks of Hour "'ere removed before the arrival of the l rench ; also the rolling stock and railway material. The report that the coal owners are prepared to resume coal deliveries in order to avoid having their supplies requisitioned, lias proved unfounded. The sysfeih of requisitions operated io-day. Several train-loads of Coal were’ despatched by the French to France. German coal owners have cameo customers abroad that owing to force majeurc they are compelled to cancel contracts for export coal. The “Daily Telegraph” says: Hugo Stiones has obtained credit for two million sterling from a group of Ismdon banks for the purchase ol coal. PARIS, dan. H>. A conference at the Allied Hindquarters at Dusseldorl, between Generals Degouttc, Simon and Danvignes, and the German industrialists officials and miners' unions, ended with the Germans' refusal to deliver the coal demanded by the I'rench. ; General Simon presented a final order that work must begin to-morrow. He said the firs! sanction was the occupation of Dortmund. If tbe urder were not obeyed, other sanctions would follow immediately. The German spokesman attempted to speak. I lie meeting was peremptorily closed.

TIIF, MEMEL TROUBLE. Received tliis day at 12.25 p in j PARIS, .Tan. 1/ The Ambassadors Conference decided Pi send to Memel immediately, a coinmission to create a Provisional Government, which under Allied authority will he given the task of restoring order, alter which the I.ithuaman Government will he reminded ol their (f,avc responsibility and asked to take all practicable means u> induce I.it >- uaniaii inhabitants of Memel area to accept the .Commission's authority. SHIFTING (H'All'l HRS. Received this day at 12.2.; p.ni.) BKiM.IX, dan. I* Stilines Company has removed Us headquarters from Mulh'-’m to Ham burg. FRENCH INTK.X I W)NS. PARIS, ,1 ainiary 1 7. The '‘.Matin’' warns Berlin ol the c«nwque.’ices of its attitude recalling the fact that a million Germans in the Rhineland and Ruhr are economically independent of the rest of Germany, and pointing out ill 1 a solution i>u be found by organising the Rhineland and Ruhr into a buffer state, under international control. Irom which the Allies can obtain reparation payments, without affecting the prosperity of these regions.

The “Kch<i Xatiomil" says unless Germany yields, France will be forced to curry out the entire play by establishing a customs cordon, east of Ruhr, along the right hank of the Rhine, rendering herself mistress of the economic relations of Ruhr, and Rhineland and also the rest of Germany. RESULT OF OCCUPATION.

fßeceived this day at 1.0 p niR PARIS, January I"

The ‘‘Petit I’nrisieii’' says while ‘inly f.hthousand tons oi ooiil have hitherto been diverted to Allied countries, it, is hoped tepidly to iittnin litteen thousand tons of eottl ttnd tilteen thousand tons of coke daily. The demands should yield nhont 1350 thousand tons of coal monthly. M. Poincare informed [United States Government that the total nnmhor of occupational troops is forty-five thousand. OK UMAX ATTITUDE. PARIS, dan. 17. German industrialists met at Dusseldorf and declared they would not deliver coal. Slimies’ representative said he would no to prison rat Tier than disobey the Government's orders. The “Petit Parisien” Herlin correspoiulent says, following: an interview with the French generals, the engineer and industrialists of occupied region approached the Government seeking instructions. They said while they were disposed to confirm the Governmental decrees, the* position was very dillieult. They drew attention to the grvae crisis which would result Irom a si riel observation of the decrees of the Government. A semi-official note declares Germany "'ill refuse to negotiate as long as Frcifch and Belgian troops remain in Ruhr.