GERMAN ITEMS

Hokitika Guardian, 13 June 1923, Page 2

GERMAN ITEMS

AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION. FRENCH ACTION. BERLIN, June 11.

The Flench are taking drastic steps in Dortmund, as the consequence of the two French non-coms, being recently killed in the stieet. The As-sistant-Mayor has boon arrested. A reward of one hundred million marks has been offered for the arrest of the dead Frenchmen’s assailants. A curfew will also he rigorously enforced, and any German found in the streets thereafter will bo liable to be shot immediately. Five German civilians were thus shot dead on Sunday night. French tioops have occupied the Town Hall, and hundreds of arrests have been effected. NEW FRENCH PROPOSITIONS. LONDON, Juno 12. Lord Curzon had a conference yesterday with the- French Ambassador, who handed him a communication from M. Poincare regarding the German ofif*r. There was subsequently a. Cabinet meeting which lasted an hour and it is stated unofficially ttuit the Cabinet did not see its way to accept unreservedly M. Poincare’s propositions It is thought that a solution may Te found by the British Government u*gisg Germany to end tho passive resistance in the Ruhr, on the understanding that her offer will To taken by the Allies as the basis for a final reparations settlement. • BRITISH ENDEAVOURS. LONDON. June 12. The British Cabinet has decided to communicate further with the Ftench Government, and to keep the Allied conversations open in the hope of overcoming the difficulties raised by M. Poincare’s conditions. A suggestion receiving consideration is for a consultation between the Allied technical experts concerning the Ruhr, as a means of bridging, the French and British attitudes. Another proposal is that the French should offer an amnesty in the Ruhr, and make their occupation as peaceful as at first intended. _lt would then l>e easier for the Government at Berlin to persuade the Germans in the Ruhr to work under Allied supervision for the purpose of the reparations.

While an official announcement is withheld, pending conversations, there is ground for tho belief that the British Cabinet’s efforts are directed to finding a Ruhr compromise that would satisfy the French as a prelimnairy ! to a united Allied effort to settle the reparations question finally.