THE FRENCH NOTE.

Hokitika Guardian, 23 August 1923, Page 3

THE FRENCH NOTE.

SEVERAL REQI F>TK. AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CACLE ASSOCIATION. (Received this day at 12.2 d p.m.) PARIS, August 22. 'L ii,. Erench Note has been issued and jt asks the Allies to credit France with twenty six milliard gold marks i„ a. and' D. Bonds; also to credit 1,,., „ith C. Bond' to an amount that j will he sufficient under the heading of Vll ifil debts. The Note declares that the Ruhr occupation is fully justified by the treaty and the Allies declarations, notably the Spa protocol in July 10211. ' E.ame claims that thecePsatioii of passive lesistance is an essential condition precedent to further conversation on the occupation. Once passive resistance ceases the occupation will be modified. She definitely suggests that if the resistance ceases France undertake to guarantee a progressive evacuation of Ruhr, in proportion, as Germany makes payments under conditions altogether different from those now obtaining. . .

Frame dees not intend remaining m the Ruhr longer than necessary and ,<|;e Ims no aims ol* a politics*! 01 aI Hnnexatioui't character. France recognises her debts, but is forced to declare that she can only ~:,v after she- has received what is duo from Germany; also that franco m add,lion to the twenty-six milliard o „ohl marks, will claim the amount ol the \Hies claim from her. Hms the lc .o; the Allies claim from her tho sm - 1,.,. will he the amount Gevinany will I, , vl . to r"v This method will not nr-li-su'.e a revision of the treaty, whereas the British suggestion, d rallied into effect, would c’/estroy '-cun a, *7“,™ *:,,..i.1m i. .«W; l" >»■ «»£ ~, »• ui, »"tlor»l»ii<li»p I™ earliest possible settlement- of that pm of the German debt, coi respoti 1 - Mill, the cost of the reconstruction of ( t u . devastated regions, leaving tor later consideration the second part; also the question of the war debt.