GERMAN ITEMS

Hokitika Guardian, 21 July 1923, Page 3

GERMAN ITEMS

AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION. OCCUPATION OF GERMANY. LONDON, July 19. Premier Baldwin in the Commons stated Britain is still receiving from the operations of tho Recovery Act more than sufficient to meet the cost of the army of occupation oil the Rhine. PARIS, July IT. The Quai D’ Orxay learns that Germany is in negotiation with London and promises capitulation to England, and at the same time requests France to reduce her troops in Ruin and change the character of the occupation by allowing German civil administration there. The Foreign Office however, point's out that I* ranee will not bold out any inducements to obtain a lessation of passive inducements. THE MARK SLUMP. RERUN, July 19. The mark has slumped to 1 ,-150,000 to the pound. This is a new record. Tlie Germans, mi the Bourse, made frantic efforts to buy foreign currency from the banks, presenting demands aggregating twenty thousand milliards which is equal to about fourteen millions sterling at yesterday’s' rale ot exchange. The Director of the Reichsbank described the demands as shameful, since they represented more than the whole monetary reserves in the Berlin banks. If such a demand were repeated the Reichsbank would refuse to discount purchases of foreign currencies, and tints make it impossible to buy sterling or dollars. The Rciofisbauk finally grained a quarter of otic per cent on the day's demands for foreign currencies.

DRAMATIC SK(,IUKL. (Received this day at 9.15 a.m.) BERLIN, July 20. A dramatic sequel is reported to the heroic tact of Max Fladt. a German hotelkeeper who recently risked his life to save two French soldiers who had fallen into th * Rhine. A delegate from the Rhineland ( nniniission called to thank the rescued on behalf of the French Government. He invited Fladt to express any wish lie pleased, promising it would be granted. Fladt hesitated a moment, then begged for mercy for seven Germans sentenced to death at Mayencc. The delegate was nonplussed and asked for delay. It is understood the request has been forwarded to the French General.

BRITISH REPLY. (Received this day at 9.15 a.m.) LONDON, July 20. The British Cabinet had three documents under consideration yesterday for a draft reply to Germany covering the letter to the Allies and explanatory memorandum. The meeting lasted three hours, and will lie resumed today. It is emphasised that, there is no division of opinion on the' policy or methods wlmiewith the British policy is cartied out, hut Cabinet is anxious to place before the Allies not only the British policy, but arguments for it. The ‘•Daily Telegraph's" diplomatic correspondent, giving an instance ol the 'meticulous care wherewith the documents are being prepared, says the views of statesmen outside Cabinet have been informally asceitaincd, particularly those of elder statesmen, whose opinions command confidence at Home and abroad.