FRANCE & REPARATIONS

Hokitika Guardian, 31 January 1923, Page 2

FRANCE & REPARATIONS

AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION FRENCH THREATEN DRASTIC action. LONDON, January 30.

The outstanding feature in t lie Ruhr is a continued divergence ol French and German claims, the former asserting the situation is satislaclory from their point of view, and the latter that a gradual hold up of the services of public utility is being accomplished. The “Daily Telegraph’s” DtisseldotT correspondent says:—“lt the Germans succeed in a general strike ot the railways, the French will send an ultimatum sit the end of the month demanding the fullest satisfaction, and threatening to impose further most drastic measures, which are not disclosed. The Germans are engaged in industrial guerilla warfare, striking here working there, and seeking to overthrow order elsewhere. It is a case of pinpi'ieking, which is causing as much inconvenience as a general strike.’ BARIS. January 30.

The Germans have now refused to permit a continuance ol the exhumation of bodies of French soldiers who died prisoners of war in Germany. M. Roincare, in conversation with English journalists said: “We shall remain in the Ruhr as long as necessary, not a day longer.”

FRENCH ACTION IN RFT]It. LONDON. January 29. The “Daily Chronicle’s” Cologne correspondent states:—The Trench railwav force of 37i00 men, is a ridiculous one with v.hieh to endeavour to conduct the most, involved railway area in the world, with 700 stations, needing 70,000 skilled men. Many trains, including military ones, have been derailed throughout the area. The Reiclisbnnk. at .Dortmund has been raided, and all the funds seized, including 700,000.000 marks designed lor wages at the Tlisclt Steel Works. Expulsions of high officials are continuing at such a pace that there will not he a Mayor left in the Rhineland soon.

A GENERAL STRIKE. PARIS, January 30. It is officially announced that a general railway strike has been declared on the left hank of the Rhine. | THE RUHR STRIKE, i (Received this day at 8 a.m ) ! LONDON, January 30. i A message from Dttsseldorf. states the German Government is doing everything to persuade the railwaymelt to cease work. They have paid the railway men "age.' •'•<' January and February. so the men have no imamlive lo work for a month, hut tile people in Ruhr, especially the. slmpkeep- | ers realise they will he the first to suffer through the tying up of traffic and are now demonstrating against the strikers to such effect that the men , are returning to work. j THE DARKEST SPOT. , Received this day at 8 a.m.) | LONDON, January 30. j The “Morning Post’s” Paris correspondent says he lias the highest authority for stating the opinion that France’s darkest cloud for the moment

is not Ruhr, but Momel, where a crisis is threatened. If the Lithuanian Government did not actually organise the movement to oust the Allied Governments in the Baltic, they favoured it. The Allies should send at, least two thousand troops there and Britain dees not seem inclined to furnish the men. If the Lithuanians continue in possession of Momel, the Poles will take action, and the Soviet will then join in making the war general.

FRENCH INSTAL CURFEW. (Received this day at u a.in.) LONDON. January 30

Mr Renwiek writing to the “Daily Chronicle" -totes Duisberg is under General Digoueites sterner measures. N<i one is allowed out of doors in Ruhr between ten at night and six in the morning. The reason for the order is to stop acts of sabotage. All demonstrations have also been forbidden. unless a special permit is obtained. Newspapers, theatres and kinemns are 1 eing severely censored. Punishment for breaches of General Degoutirs orders, is live years imprisonment and a fine of ten million marks. The order makes it plain that the .situation is going front bad to worse. Economists have given the matter up ns a hail rh. Politicians and economists have hi on buovrd up with tits' hope that an agreement between the French ami German magnates would he quickly reached, hut the hopes have disappeared. Meanwhile ironworks are closing for lack of coke. The expulsions have raised popular feeling in Aix In C'hnpelle to fever heat, particularly the expulsion of Doctor TCneld. burgomaster of Mainz, who was taken from a hospital and carried into exile in a motor le.rrv. Tim train service at Ruhr is in confusion.

FRANCE READY FOR PEACE

(Received this day at 3 a.lit.) LONDON, January 30. Mr Donoghue telegraphing from Paris, says the French Government is now prepared to open negotiations with Germany, if Germany takes the first step towards bringing about economic peace and proclaims her intention to fulfil her financial arrangements under the Treaty of Versailles. ANTLER EXCH FEE LING. LONDON, l.lan 30. Tlie “Matin” says there is much hostility among Germans towards the French mission engaged in sending home the remains of French prisoners of war. Members of the mission and relatives of the deceased were insulted and stoned on several occasions. The local authorities refused to intervene.

' FRENCH INTENTIONS. [Received this dav at 8.30 a.m.) LONDON, Jan 30. Af. Poincare denied that Franco intends to annex Ruhr in order to enable her to supply coal to French iron industries in Lorraine. Franco would remain in German territory until Gcrninnd paid her reparations debts. Thirteen recalcitrant German officials were expelled from Susseldorf, including the successor to Schultius, the recently arrested head of the Finance office. A general strike of railwaytneu has commenced in the old occupied territory on the left bank of the Rhine. General Legouetie has substituted French rnjlwaymen at certain selected stations, considered essential to the re-establishment of communications with France. It is hoped the subordinate German personnel will collaborate with French, thus avoiding the fntro--1 duction of further Frenchmen.