FRANCE & REPARATIONS

Hokitika Guardian, 14 February 1923, Page 3

FRANCE & REPARATIONS

AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION

THE POSS&ESSION OF MEMEL. ißocoived this day at 10.30 a.m I PARIS, February 13.

It is foreshadowed that Memel will shortly be. handed over to Lithuania. Following on diseussion.4 at the conference of Ambassadors, the meeting whereof noted Allied reporters from Memel, showing that the Allies’ demands were being satisfactorily carried out. FORCING A WAY. (Received this day at 10.30 a.m ) PARIS February 13. Th,. “petit Parisien’s” Essen correspondent reports incidents are increasing as a result of the boycott of Frenchmen by the hotel and cafes. Managers of the hotels in which French officers mess and engineers reside, who refused to serve them, the officers immediately introduced infantry who cleared the Germans from the hotel, and replaced them with Frenchmen.

THE METAL BLOCKADE. CLAVE FEARS FOR THE FUTURE. ißeceived this. <lav at 10.30 a.m.) LONDON, February 13. The Daily Chronicle's Dusseldnrf correspondent states the new metal blockade is traceable to the Belgians who have for some time been demanding sterner measures. The Frdnoh (here have not greeted the step with rejoicings. They realise that its adoption is a condemnation of their policy of the past month, and a confession of its complete failure. The Ruhr Trade Union leader says if will mean the complete cessation of all work in the Ruhr. There will be serious stoppages in the occupied territory within ten days, then Heaven knows what will happen! Ruhr is fast approaching the condition of Belgium in the war time. Trade and industry have been throttled. Scores of people are being dragged from their homos at a few minutes notice, and expelled. Others are being arrested and imprisoned. The temper of the population is naturally vising. Tt will not he surprising if trouble breaks out. THE BLOCKADE. PARTS, Fob 13. 'l'lio "‘Echo ile Paris” reports Herr Tliyssen as saying:—“We can hold out for two months if France stops the export of coal ; one month if she stops the export of metallurgical products; one week if she prohibits import of iron.”