GERMAN ITEMS

Hokitika Guardian, 20 April 1923, Page 3

GERMAN ITEMS

AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CAULK ASSOCIATION. MARK EXCHANGE. (Received this day at 19.•t0 a.m.) BERLIN. April 19. Kxchango’s sudden break in London is not easy to explain. At one time the exchange rate leached 1-10.090 marks to tba pound but later recovered to L!3.HO(t lleiehsbank returns show a eontinned expansion of the note circulation. The bank in consequence of tills, has a gigantic task to maintain exchange by means of gold placed with foreign banks. LABOR REPORT ON I! FI HI. (Received this day at 19.15 a.m.) LONDON. April 19. Messrs Adamson, Shaw, Buxton, and Goneinl Thomson (Labour members of the Commons) after a visit to the Ruhr reported to the Party that the situaa t ion cannot be dealt with by any machinery under the Versailles 1 reaty. Ail appeal should immediately be made to the French and Orman Governments to submit reparations proposals to an international tribunal. Britain should take the initiative b,v a trank and definite statement of Impolicy. and spare no effort t" maintain constant touch with beta sides in order to take advantage ot every fresh development tending to narrow the gap between the conflicting claims. No settlement can l.e expected if the French Belgians and Germans are lclt to themselves. Sooner or later they will tight it out with terrible consequences to Kurepe anti Lhe world. Hit* British army of occupation in difficult mid politically humiliating circumstances, maintained British prestige at a high, level, but German business men arc amazed at Britain's passive acceptance of a stain of things which is destroying British trade. Consequently an impression is growing that Britain i-* now a negligible factor. 'I be report describes the general situation in Ruhr as though greater London were occupied by a hostile army of one hundred thousand. The French forte can shoot citizens, destroy and terrorise, but cannot control. It is risking being inextricably involved in the common min. The Party adopted the report.