FRANCE & REPARATIONS

Hokitika Guardian, 12 March 1923, Page 3

FRANCE & REPARATIONS

AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION. FRANCE'S DANGER. DISCUSSED BY ‘OBSERVER’'. (Received this dav at 8.30 a.m.) LONDON, March It. Tlie “Observer” continues the discussion on the Ruhr situation in an article headed ‘‘From Folly to .Madness” and ask» v.-ho thinks France’s present unchecked supremacy can lust. It is rile result of a combined effort by the Allies and has no natural basis in France alone. France has arms, but Germany breeds men. and after the hatred the Ruhr policy has created German women would fight if they had a chance. Nothing can prevent Germany becoming the stronger. If F ranee reappears in the old fixed role as the hereditary enemy, German unity and the German cause will conquer, because it will he .just. When that day comes, what can France expect if a precedent is to be the merciless example of her present policy. The nnparalleld coalition which saved France, in the last struggle would not be seen again. Britain and America would not intervene and Russia would take the other side, and Italy would take Tunis and Syria. A vast majority of tiermans have no desire to throw in their lot with the Bolshevists, hut they will do so if no other hope is left. Moscow openly desires German resistance to fail, in order that there shall be no alternative left to the German people lint to join the Bolshevists, and heroine ultimately the spearhead of a real world revolution. If Frame persists in demanding impossible reparations ns a pretext for the permanent occupation ; if her policy becomes the increditable re-embodiment more and more identical in every feature of the l’otsdam theory of force and forcible acquisition ; if France abuses her temporary military ascendancy in order to ignore even the Allies who saved her in the war and to attack their real interests, it will only be a matter of years and not many years, before she will be crushed. France's choice at the parting of the ways lies between the course leading to true safety on the right hand and to the Nemesis of Doom on tTie left. That time is lint distant—il is now.”

RUHR MINES DETERMINATION (Received this dav at 0.30 a.mA LONDON, March 11.

The “Daily Express” Essen correspondent reports Ruhr, foundries and coal mines are determined not to pay the ten per cent export coal tax imposed I>y the French startin'? on loth. March. The owners will refuse to export an ounce of coal or coke, and will dump it in the yards knowing the French will refrain from seizing it, owing to the possible consequences. The owners are prepared to endure a long siege and then make a mercantile sortie which will shatter other nations export trade. FRENCH COLORED TROOPS. m PARTS, March 11. M. Poincare declares France upholds tile right to use coloured troops in the occupied territory, though none are there at present. Franco does not distinguish between races living under the protection of the Tri-colour. The colonies are an integral part of the Motherland but colonial troops arc not used at present because it is inexpedient to furnish a protest for German propaganda. INVITATION TO AMERICA PARTS. March 11. The Allies have invited America to co-operate in securing reparations from Germany. Details of the proposals are not published, pending consideration by Washington.