FRANCE & GERMANY

Hokitika Guardian, 5 March 1923, Page 2

FRANCE & GERMANY

(by TELECIIAPII PER FIIESS ASSOCIATION'] FRENCH REGIME IN RUHR. LONDON. Miiroh 2. A message from Du-ssoldorf states it is estimated that well over 100.000 French rnilwaymeu have displaced 150000 Germans in the Ruhr railway services. GERMAN POLICY. LONDON. March 2. The “Morning 1 bet’s” Berlin correspondent says:- The evidence is continually growing that the German Government has been following a deliberate policy of extravagance, in order to benefit private traders at the expense of the State. Apart from the deferred collection of coal tax from the minoovvneis, the Government allowed the payment of export dues to lie postponed for six months, thus sacrificing £650000 monthly if purchasing power. Similarly the payment of import duties enabled the merchants to pay in depreciated marks.

DANGEIi IN GERMANY. LONDON. March 2. The ■'Morning Post's" Paris correspondent says the belief is growing here that Germany is systematically preparing to transform the present passive resistance in Ruhr into a definite aopcal io arms, and that an attack on the French and Belgian forces might break out at any moment. Tt is reported that the occupying armies are daily discovering secret depots of arms and munitions, hut these are regarded as negligent io the number of bidden stores and munitions. Communists in the Reichstag recently referred definitely to Germany's warlike nreparatiniis. While il is admitted the Ciino Government are not in a position to plan war. it is felt that German secret societies and irregular organisations are planning a desperate attempt to win the last battle of the Franco-German war. FRENCH ADVANCE. this dav at n.m.) PARIS. March 1. The French have occupied Mannheim and Durnisiadt and are advancing on Karlsruhe. FRENCH MILITARY SEIZT'RE. (Received this dav at u n.m.) ROME. March 4 A Du sseldorf telegram says owing to the telephone wires between here and Essen being tampered with, General Degoutte fined the commune a million marks. The burgomaster refused to pav and was arrested. The money was taken from the municipal hanks. Thirty-five million marks was similarly seized at Bochum. Eighty million marks intended for railway strikers was seized at Roeklinghansen. NORWAY POLITICS. CHRISTIANIA. March 4

Government have resigned owing to the defeat of the proposed commercial treaty with Portugal, which stipulated that Norway should import 850,000 litres of heavy Portuguese coins annually.