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Hokitika Guardian, 25 August 1923, Page 3

LATEST CABLE NEWS

GERMAN ITEMS

AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION. A BRITISH LABOUR VIEW. LONDON. August 23. Tho Rt. lion. ,T. (i. dynes, interviewed, said: “'J'lio French Note is slightly better than some recent French speeches, but, taken as a. tost of France’s desire to get a reparation settlement, instead of permanent dominion over n large part of German territory, tile Note is disappointing. It is some encouragement to have a large part- of the Note devoted to questions of finance, hut France still rejects the sensible and reliable methods of fixing these within Germany’s capacity to I ay. Ari Inquiry Commission is surely tho best body to deal with the subject. A rigid reliance upon the terms of the Treaty "ill never settle the issues. ENGLISH PRESS CRITICISM. LONDON, August 2->. The “Westminster Gazette'’ says: “In our opinion, the French Note imposes upon the British Government the duty of facing not merely the possinility, but the necessity, of separate action. Further discussions will only delay a settlement, which may ultimately he obtainable by methods. A prompt reply to Germany is necessary.’’ Tho Labour paper, “Daily Herald'’ says: “Everywhere the working classes are the chief victims of the policy of

squeezing Germany. Their common interests demand that they work together to prevent the final subjection of Germany to French militarism and economic imperialism, and to press for a policy of international co-operation in the re-establishment of peace.” The “Daily Express” says: “M. Poincare has yielded nothing. We are to get nothing out of the raparations til] France has had payment in full from Germany. Then AI. Poincare offers to pay tlio French debt to Biituin in “C” bonds, worth about a; much as marks. While we regret France has met- the British | reposals ill this spirit of obduracy, it brings ns to the inevitable conclusion that Britain must turn her hack on Europe, and leave it to stew in its own juice sin rendering nothing to Germany, France or anyone else. Wo are the war’s only ‘Don Quixotes.’ We alone are paying reparations. Since the armistice, we have paid £(>00,000.000 ir. uncmplo.vnKMit relief. Wo cannot fso on. Let 'England withdraw from Cologne and leave the ‘Witch’s eouldron’ of Europe. Let her call in the new world’s overseas to redress the balance * of {lie old world in Europe. In the Dominions and Crown Colonies resides our future.’' The “Daily Chronicle” expresses a hope that the Government will not allow itself to bo drawn into endless discussions and controversies. “I liese exchanges of views,’’ it says, “might have taken place before the French occupied Ruhr, hut not now. The French having taken that disastrous course must either come to terms at once with us, before we are all involved in disaster, or we must part company. The worst result would bo if " c neither settle nor part quickly.” NO AGREEMENT LIKELY. The “Daily Telegraph” says: “There is little hope of an agreement concerning the Ruhr." It asks is there a letter hope regarding the amount, of the reparations and the in-■tor-Allied debts. Unhappily there is not. The world opinion will view tho French .stubborn refusal to submit to an outside body the question of Germany's capacity to pay, with even greater disfavour than her occupation of the Ruhr. There is no advance, no movement. For all practical purposes, the Note leaves tilings precisely as

4-hey were. The French occupation which was designed to create a will to pay the reparations, has simply produced a furious resolve to pay nothing all I"

Tlio ‘'Morning Post" says: “I he 1 crux of the situation is tlie Ruin 1 , and ’ -the first . stop to a solution. Ik's in a cessation of the passive resistance. Herr Streseinann Ins a clean slale. The greatest service he can ilo is In end the measures which liis produces- _ sor launched. If the (iermnns ended s the resistance, we are certain ther 1 would he surprised at the generosity r< with which M. I’oineare would treat j them. The result of the modification 11 of the Ruhr occupation would he that Britain, without loss of dignity, could associate herself with France in sanetions widen must he imposed, or held 1 j„ reserve, if itdec[iiate reparations are 11 not forthcoming. As France and sl Britain come together ttgain. eon- l< l roversios such tts that over the legal- ' j t y „f the occupation, inter-Allied lilebts. and assessment of payment would ' soon disappear.” " Mr Lloyd George's twenty-filth ar- n tides discuss the effeets of the Ruin h oecupation. FRENCH HINT?. r > LONDON, Aug. '-'1 I The “Daily Chronicle’s” Berlin cor- a respondent reports that Herr St rose- ’ maim, German Chancellor, having i studied M. Poincare's reply, will make an important speech on Friday, when t lie is to lie entertained by the represen- ■ tatives of industry and eommeree at a I luncheon. There is little doubt Herr c Streseinann has received certain encouragement from the French to he c frank and hold. The (correspondent says:—"l can state, on the host authority, that note- i worthy hints have been given, private- , lv, from Franee that- there exists on "'the French side a real desire to make timers easy for him. A study of the French Reply has led the German Government to think that, perhaps, ai te. all. M. Poincare will negotiate." •‘A high German Government official said that Herr Stresemanu's speech will he straight talk, instead of a tOploumlic document.” LA VOl'R ABI ,K FKATI' R EB. LONDON, Aug. giBritish official circles see in M. Poincare's note several favourable tc at tires. The question of the method of the evacuation of the Ruhr is set lotth —Gt, black, and white. The conditions show an advance on his previous attitude, while the possibility of having experts, in an advisory capacity. to assist the Reparations Commission in modifying the method of the payments, is not altogether precluded, nor is the possibility of friendly conversations between M. Poincare and Mr Baldwin blanketed. ISELGUM'S REPLY. LONDON. Aug. 211 The “Daily Telegraph's” Brussels correspondent says: A portion if the Belgian reply, regarding Belgium's priority, will probably cause something ol a sensation. It will follow, from figT' ures that are to he quoted, that Britain has received from Germany sums at least equal to those which, by her prior right up to the present, really belonged to Belgium. The Belgian reply, after establishing the absolute legality of the Ruhr occupation, will be devoted to sketching a plan of reparations which might serve as a basis for discussion, ana lead to a definite agreement,