France & Germany!

Hokitika Guardian, 15 February 1923, Page 2

France & Germany!

[bt TELEGRAPH —PER pr.Ess association] PRESS CORRESPONDENT'S I OPINION. ! PARIS. Fob 13. ! Tlio “Petit Journal’s” Dusscldorf correspondent says: After a month of hesitation and direful sounding. France lias reached a new formula which is simply investment of the Rhine. This is no longer considered merely a- pioductivc guarantee, but a guarantee of compulsion to make the occupation of tin. Ruhr productive. A guarantee was necessary to assure the working ol the mines and the circulation of trains, two tilings intimately associated. Ihe correspondent gathers the impression that there is a growing convict ion that it is difficult if not impossible, to exploit the occupied areas ol Ruhr and secure profits, now that Ruhr will he entirely isolated regardless of wluu univ happen externally. The maul object being to cut off from Or many a source of wealth. France may have the Ruhr, hut neither shall Germany object if the occupation of Meson mid Klmerich is to control all tile customs doors to Ruhr. It would seem intentional to form a kind of frontier parallel with tin Rhine, joining the bridgeheads of Mayence, Coblent/, and cologne. HERMAN PRKKI DENT NOT TO ENTER.

RERUN, February 13. The French commander at Olfenbnig has instructed the .Mayor to prohibit the entry into the occupied zone of the Herman President, Herr Ebert. PARRS. February 13. The new Franeo-iiclgian order prohibiting the export of dyes, gram si nil's and chemicals, operates at midnight. It means cutting olf tile great dve and chemical works of the Rhinoland. ~ The French Foreign Office announces that Helseukireben has been lined LOW 000 marks and the burgomaster and leading eilizens oi the town have been arrested. This is in consoqnonce of a riot. PARIS. February 11. A noteworthy step towards the reestablishment of railway traffic has been taken in the assumpti ni of control by the Frauen-Belgian railway commissioners of the entire Rhineland and Ruhr railways. With a view of ending the sabotage, Herman hostages will in future he placed alongside the French and Belgian enginedrivers on all trains. KFMMINB UP THE SITUATION. LONDON, February 14. The “Daily Telegraph’s" Dusscldorf correspondent, who is taking stock of the political effect of the occupation, points out the workers in the Ruhr take a different view from the Rcrlia Socialists. Whilst the former dislike the presen'ce of the foreign troops, they do not approve of Premier Cuvio s policy, believing that ( nun is impelled thereto in the interests of the capitalists. At the same time the workers* leaders have not lost sight of the moral causes of the occupation, and they point out that Premier Cuno lias done absolutely nothing to help Germany to meet, her obligations, whereas Dr. Wir'tli (late Premier) made sincere efforts in that direction. They argue that there is no reason why the coal deliveries should not have been maintained. as at the normal rate of output the Ruhr supplies will last for six centuries. Many Herman trade union leaders readily agree that the Ruhr should compensate for the destruction of The French mines. It would he assuming over-much, however, to imagine that the opponents of Premier C'uno’s Ruhr policy would be able to influence a change. That depends on whether the coal and steel kings can resist Urn blockade. EXTENSION OF BLOCKADE. (Received this dnv at 8.30 a.in.) LONDON. Feb 14. The “'Westminster Gazette's” Berlin correspondent states it is reported that the French intend tn extend the blockade to Bremen. Hamburg, and Stettin. Kiel and Danzig. Though the lasi named is under the League of Nations. “only open war would justify such an action, home the profound impression caused by a message from America to the “Frankfurter Zcitung" •stating that France contemplates a formal declaration of war." FRANCO-GERMAN Cl. A SIT. BERLIN, l<Vb 13.

Another German soldier has died as the result of the Gelsenkirchen affray. ft is reported that a French soldier .shot dead a Recklinghausen merchant. ABOUT THE OCCUPATION. PARIS. Eel, 13.

"I.e IVit .Journal's” Dusscldorf correspondent -ays that allrr a month of hr-'ilation and careful sounding trance has readied a new formula, which is simply the investment of the Rhino. ’l’llis is no longer considered merely a productive guarantee of compulsion to maki the occupation of the Ruhr productive. A guarantee was necessary to assure tin* working of the mines and the circulation of trains, tv o things intimat'd,\ associated.

The correspondent gathers the impression that there is a growing _ conviction Lhat it will he difficult, li not impossible, to exploit the occupied ansi of the Ruhr and secure profits. Now ill. Ruhr will he entirely i-dated. regardless of v.hat may happen internally the main object being to cut off from Germany thi- source of wealth. France may not have tic Ruhr. Imi neither -hall Germany. The object of the - ennatiou of Wesen and Emmerich is to control all the Customs doors to the Ruhr U would seem that the intention is to form a kind of frontier parallel with the Rhine, joining the bridgebeads of Mayenoe. Cohlentx and Co-