GERMAN ITEMS

Hokitika Guardian, 24 July 1923, Page 2

GERMAN ITEMS

AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION. FOOD RTOTS IN BRESLAU. BERLIN, July 22. Messages from Breslau slate that for several hours the Silesian capital was in the hands of a mob which was looting the cafes and shops. The police , were ordered to delay the use of arms L as long as possible, but finally tho streets wore cleared by them with carbines and sabres. About 150 people were injured in r. various degrees. Over 1000 arrests were made, though most were soon released. The -Socialistic Federation of Trade Unions offered its help to the police to restore order, ami its assistance was accepted. The cause of I lie riots was the rise in prices, which has been so rapid recently that the new scale of payment provides for a 270 per cent increase on the wages prevailing in June.

M. POINCARE’S REPLY. PARIS, July 22. M. Poincare, at the unveiling of a war monument at Villers-Carterets, w- , plied to Mr I/loyd George’s recent criticisin in tho House cf Commons of the French programme. M. Poincare referred to the Germans’ systematic obstruction of the French efforts to repair ..,© war's ravages, and said:—“This is the moment chosen by an eminent statesman, the former Prime Minister of an Allied country to .seek to create a mischievous comparison between France and Germany, and to characterise as amusing the fact, that, while France lias been spending so much money in repairing the devastated regions, she was complaining of the extravagant expenditure by the Berlin Government All this might be very amusing for Mr Linyd George, hut it is saddening, and oven intolerable for France.”

M. Poincare said lie wished all tho Allies had gone to the Ruhr with France. They would have undoes toed better the real danger of to-morrow. He drew a graphic picture of the tremendous industrial organisation which teh Germans had built up in the Ruhr. Jhis organisation was substituting itself more ami more for the State, which it was enveloping, dominating, ami annihilating. It was the master of tlie press and of the Government. It subjected the German Republic to a domination more powerful than that of the junkers. Against this danger, England, Belgium, Italy and France must unite. It would not he difficult to supply the 'Allied Governments with a basis for instructive comparisons, and grounds for an equitable decision. It would be sufficient for them to visit Ais tie department and then pay a visit to the Ruhr. It would not demand the aid of financial experts to enable them to make comparisons. M. Poincare did not refer to the British Note.