GERMAN ITEMS

Hokitika Guardian, 11 August 1923, Page 3

GERMAN ITEMS

AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION. BELGIUM’S NEW POLICY. PARIS, August 9. The l“Escelsior’.s” Brussels correspondent understands that tlio Belgian Government will take the initiative in intervention between Paris and London. It will propose that France and Belgium only demand from Germany reparation for material damage, is stated Belgium will claim five milliards of gold marks, France to draw up her own account, and submit it to Britain, who, it is suggested, should abandon tho in-ter-Allie:l debts, nml receive from the Itoieh a sum equal to Britain’s debt to the United States. BRITAIN’S REPLY READY. - LONDON, August 0. *■ The British Cabinet to-day completed its replies, which will be sent to France and Belgium (to-morrow. Subject to the Allies’ consent it is expected the whole of tho papers will be published simultaneously in the Allied countries early next week. Official circles still hope it will be possible to send a joint Allied reply to Germany, but if France and Belgium do not modify their views Britain will l>c compelled to send a separate answer.

BELGIAN PREMIER'S THREAT

BRUSSELS, August 9

M. Theunis warns the Stock Exchange Committee against reckless speculation in foreign exchanges, and plainly hints that if the warning is unheeded, legislation will be introduced providing imprisonment for the speculators. -MR ASQUITH’S VIEWS. I/ONDON, August 9. Mr Asquith, in a valedictory address to a Liberal Summer School at Cambridge, said that Inst year be had believed in the prospect of a practical settlement of the reparations problem, but bis hopes had been disappointed. A new and worse complication had been added by the French occupation of the Ruhr. Some people (not many) imagined that if Britain had supported tho occupation, Germany would long ugo have capitulated. He believed the overwhelming opinion in Britain would rightly have, opposed British support of the occupation, not on the ground that the occupation was illegal, or immoral, but that the policy was wholly impolil)*c and calculated not to accelerate securing reparations, but to retard or frustrate its own purpose. Some few imagined that n crippled, impoverished Germany was to British interests, as it would remove a- formidable industrial competitor. Tt was neither to the interest of Britain, the Allies, Europe, or the world to leave Germany bankrupt, dismembered, and outcast from tho community of nations. A FRENCH VIEW. (Received this day at 9.0 a.m.) I‘AIUS, August 9. Government takes the view that Herr Ouno's proposed new international loan on a gold basis would violate the Treaty of Versailles and points out the Reparations Commission lias power to seize contributions.

BERLIN, August 9. The “Lokal Anzeiger” declares that France is preparing for a great offensive in Ruhr with a view to breaking down the passive resistance, and all foreigners are being advised to leave. GERMAN COMMENT. (Received this dav at 9.-3 a.m.) BERLIN, August 9. The Reichstag debated Cuno’s statement. Stressmnn said he was convinced England would lake a different st- • tittido regarding passive resistance in Ruhr and would officially, demand it "should be ended. Germany would gain nothing by a rupture of tlie EnC'ente and did not wish to see it. Germany’s breakdown would lead to moro unemployment in England followed by an outbreak of Bolshevism in both countries. He warned France that Germany was not so far spent as to take the filching of the Rhine and Ruhr lying down.

Heigh, a former Minister for Finance, said if England was so weak as to allow At. "Poincare to flout her and decline to reply to her questionnaire, it. was not Germany’s business, hut Germany had the right to ask England to carry out the promises made at the hi filing of treaty. FRENCH COMMENT. (Received this.day at 0.45 a.m.) PARIS. Aug. 9. «L» Temps” says Herr Cuno’s speech vas not intended to discourage Eon! (Tirsson, hut on the contrary to stimulate Britain to do more than h'th«r[ on behalf of Germany. lf u Kv-ivs vields to Germany, h ranee w ill ulwa. . be there to defend the dearly hoiignt | fruits of victory, and to saicgua.d the Allies patrimony. GERMAN PRICES. (Received this day at 0.0 a.m ) BRRETN, Aug. 10Shops present a. carious spectacle with absolutely empty windows. Shopkeepers refuse to display goods, owing to the regulations. compelling them to , )r j,. e the articles displayed. Jht. point out it is impossible to keep >» stop with the climbing prn-es.