GERMAN ITEMS

Hokitika Guardian, 9 August 1923, Page 2

GERMAN ITEMS

AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION. THE REPARATIONS. LONDON, Aug. 8 A Brussels message states tho Belgian Cabinet lias considered the question of the Inter-Allied relations and the Reparations problem. It is understood it was decided that Belgium shall intervene if France and England delay resuming negotiations. Belgium would first endeavour to reach an agreement with France on a minimum programme. It is suggested Belgium and France might be satisfied with payment for material damages, whilst England might abandon the intcrAll ic'd debts, being satisfied with payment by Germany of the English debt to America. Belgium nlso would consult London and Paris, and possibly call an inter-Allicd Conference to sock a definite settlement. THE MARK FARCE. LONDON, Aug. ?. The •‘Morning Post” says the Stock Exchange is not inclined to pay nmcti heed to the extraordinary fluctuations of tho mark. Months ago it was believed the present question would in Vl .i u the political and financial collapse of Germany. Now that marks are practically valueless, without a invisible signs of sill'll a catastrophe, it js only natural that there should be illUift’ereuco to tho iliiily (jnotations.

A financial authority, interviewed by the "Daily Telegraph,” declares this is merely Germany's wilful depreciation of the mark for political purposes, in order to present Germany as a bankrupt. It is all part and paiccl of the passive resistance movement. There can be no question of the ruin of Germany. She has nil tural resources and riches, nlso up-to-date mines and factories, while hei shipping is increasing. The “Daily Telegraph’s” Berlin correspondent jvoints out that the pound reached the fantastic figure of 15,00(1,(XXI marks, and there is no apparent reason wily they should not soon lie as valueless as the Soviet roubles. The collapse is not due to speculation as much as to the importers’ needs of foreign currency for the purchase ol imported coal and toodstntls. A demand for a few hundreds sterling means a drop of millions in the mark. The collapse is producing endless confusion Prices in the shops and restaurants are varying hourly. As a protest against the prohibition of the retailers from fixing prices on a gold basis, as the wholesalers are permit toil to do, all the retail shops in Berlin, except pnnision stores, have decided to close on Thursday. A loaf of black bread costs 9090 marks. IS GERMANY SI’NDURING ? * LONDON, August 8. The ‘-Daily Express” Berlin c-orres pendent says: ‘ln addition to economic difficulties, tlie internal political situation of Germany is becoming worse. Saxony and Hitriiigia, on the one side, and Bavaria on the other, are coming into open opposition to the Central Government. Unless Chancellor Cuno can find a remedy, it is feared there will he no Reich next year. GERMAN UNREST GROWS. LONDON. August 8. The “Daily Express” Berlin correspondent says the full of the mark is likely to precipitate a general uprising. Ilalf-a-dozen adventurers to-day are openly advocating a revolution, and are offering themselves as dictators, and inviting the public by posters and leaflets to attend meetings to arrange for the overthrow ot a Government which is unable to find a remedy for the economic chaos. General unrest is growing every hour. Although the daily output of paper marks exceeds 8,000,000,000 the banks are still unable to cash cheques. Motor lorries filled with police guard the Reiehsbank.

GERMAN SOCIALISTS. BERLIN, August 7. Dr. Loebe, the Socialist President of the Reichstag, in a speech at Zittau, said that, without direct negotiation with France, there was no hope of salvation. His party on the reassembly of the Reichstag would suggest leopening negotiations with Eiance. A SUSPICIOUS -MOVE. BERLIN. Aug. <l. Remarkable scenes occurred at the laying of the foundation stone of a mosque in the suburb of Charlottcnhurg for the furtherance of .Mohammedanism in Germany. Aluhar A kali, representative of the Amadhia movemem in Islitinisin, in laying the stone, and speaking English, said the object of tho- movement is the propagation of the pure religion of Islam throughout the world. The attendance included Egyptians, Persians, Indians and representatives of the Prussian Government.

The Egyptians frequently interrupted Afiihar A kali, .And later a committee of the Egyptian National Party made a statement to the Press, declaring the Amadhia movement is lining conducted hv a group of Englishmen and Indians in order to siipjiori the English colonial policy throughout Islam, and that the English Government intends, through the Amadhia Party, to use tl:o new mosque for pan-Eng-lish propaganda.