GERMAN ITEMS

Hokitika Guardian, 22 September 1923, Page 3

GERMAN ITEMS

AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CARLE ASSOCIATION.

RFUR SOLUTION

LONDON, Sept. 21

The Daily Telegraph's Heflin- eorrespondent says:—“Early next week is likely to see the end of the German Government’s support of the Ruhr resistance. The Reichstag on Wednesday will be faced with an accomplished fact.

BRUSSELS, Sept. 21. At. Jaspar reported to Cabinet that Chancellor Stresetnann had admitted in the recent conversations with the French and German Ambassadors in "Berlin, that his Government was unable to continue the passive resistance in the Ruhr. Herr Strcsomann said lie feared a Nationalist outburst. PRESS COMMENT. LONDON, Sept. 21. The Daily Telegraph in an article signed “Political Observer,” and con- - . taining evidence of authority, states —“M. Poincare was privately able to toll Mr Baldwin what lie could not express in public speeches and notes. Air Baldwin was able to convince himself that, once the question of the resistance is overcome, the French terms to Germany would not be too harsh or exigent. One can well imagine M. Poincare repeated the view' that Iho military occupation of the Ruhr could eventually he limited to maintaining a small force within striking distance of Essen. It also is not impossible that tile activities of the Franco-Belgian regime would be limited to the railways on (lie left bank of the Rhine, and the expulsion edicts be maintained only against higher officials wlm have been despotic organisers of the resistance. Incidentally it is useful to point out that the new German offer to cease the resistance if the expelled persons were allowed to return had been made before, and been discussed by the British and French diplomats. The French have always said thov are willing to allow the return of thousands of minor employees who were merely the victims of Berlin, but would refuse an amnesty to officials who bad taken an active part in organising resistance and acts of sabotage. These could only return if thev consented to appear before a French court martial. GERMAN TERMS FOR ,SETTLEMENT LONDON, Rept. 21. The Daily Chronicle’s Berlin corre-s- ---__ I'ondent says:—To-night the following officially inspired statement was given to the press:—The Allies are aware that all Germany's efforts are being directed towards the creation of a. basis of definite reparations negotiations.” Germany is prepared to do everything in her power to bring about a restoration of economic activity in the Ruhr, but obviously success in this direction depends on what the Allies do. Peace in the Ruhr and a return; to normal economic conditions are not thinkable, even provisionally unless the prisoners are set at liberty, expelled people allowed to return to their homes, and the administration of the region given back into German hands. The return to normal life in the occupied areas also depends on free labour, and free Government communication between the occupied and unoccupied areas. Tf such a state of affairs is brought .about, as quickly as possible, it would mean that the reparations question could he solved by an effective payment, to assure if which the evacuation of the Ruhr and the return of the Rhineland to the condition laid down in the Peace Treaty are necessary.” The evening papers give prominence to the statement which is an antidote to reports regarding the surrender of the Ruhr. RAIDS FOR FOREIGN MONEY. LONDON, Sept. 20. The "Times’s” Berlin correspondent says: Berlin is a place which foreigners fight to avoid at all costs at pretout. It. is not only one of the most expensive and inhospitable places in Europe, lint it has become now most uncomfortable, if not actually dangerous. A considerable proportion' of the money seized during the raid on hotel guests was taken from foreigners passing through Berlin, who were told that if their claim was hona fide they could demand the return of the money on the morrow. If the police considered they were residents, they would he ns liable as Germans. Any treaty rights they r ■thought were possessed were thus overridden by German necessity, which knows no law.

Herr Bellinger, the Exchange Dictator, personally participntcd in tin* laid on one cafe, where lie declares he saw (Iprnian and forenguers trading in ■' <>ign currency, passing notes under the tables. WAGE SLUMP CREATES RIOTSLONDON, Kept. 20. The “Daily News” reports there is sanguinary lighting in several towns in Baden in Germany, owing to the :n-----sufficiency of wages, which is due to the collapse of the mark. The populace of J.oerrneh are demanding the factories cut olf the gas and electricity, and came into conflict with the police, eMllting in a pitched battle l>v torchlight at mid-night. Thirty-nine were Lifted and wounded. foreign DUMPING. LONDON, Sept. 20. Sir W. Bench Thomas, writing in the “Daily Express” on the effects of foreign dumping, state's: ‘'The present cost- of labour in Europe is in the ratio of one in Germany, two in CV.oeho-Slo-vakia, four ill France, and six in Britain. French lace can he sold in London 20 per cent, below the cost- ot Nottingham lace. German Inner tubes for cycles are being sold at two ponce. Two complete motor cycle tyres are being sold for 18s.. German scissors are being sold in Britain at a price per dozen approximately the cost, of a single pair of English scissors. Bad as the position now is, it is believed an era of yet eheal'er dumping is pending. ILi tain's only remedy is the inclusion ol the e industries under the Safeguarcli m of Industries Act.

FRANCE CONDEMNED BY LLOYD GEORGE. LONDON. Sept. 21. Mr Hovel George, in tile pretaee to his new book “Is It Peace:” declares that the present year Ims been maikccl by growing gloom. The menace of the international temper is becoming worse and worse all round. He reviewed with apprehension the character ot the settlements which might scion bo wrung out of Germany's despair in the Rohr, and out of the Greek impotence in the Adriatic. A peace wrung by triumphant force out of helplessness was never a good peace. The apologists tor the French action in the Ruhr contended that France was driven to co-operate in bringing legitimate pressure to hear on Germany. Those putting forward this contention were arguing in ignorance of the proposals Britain submitted to the Allied Conference m August of 1922, which would have exploited to the full, all possible methods of obtaining reparations to the limit of their productiveness. These proposals woie substantially accepted by ol except Franco. Repented but fruitless effort* wpro made in.. the ou - e 0

Commons to induco the Government to publish its scheme. Mr Lloyd George says he therefore discloses, for the first time the British proposals of August, PJ22. They included stern provisions fur supervising German finance; and that a percentage of the value ol German exports would he paid into a special account, carefully scrutinised by the Allies. Provision was also made for a moratorium and for fixing tin annual payments. It was also stated that the Reiclibank should bo taken out of Government control. Mr Lloyd George adds: “We were resolved to have a settlement which would end the fiscal chaos inside Germany. I laving thus put her in a position to pay, we were equally resolved she should pay to the limit of her capacity. We therefore undertook that if Germany rejected the terms finally agreed upon, to join with h ranee anf. the other Allies in any coercive measures deemed advisable to compel ac-

ceptance. M. Poincare s retusal alone rendered this eimterenee fruitless. Over a year lias elapsed. M. Poincare has pursued it dillereiit policy. Hitherto it has brought him nothing. I am hold enough to predict that in future it (till bring France less than the August. R)22. plan would have produced.” PREMIER'S CONFERENC E RESULTS. ißeceived this dav at 0.-Io n.m.) PARIS, Sept. 21. Tim Oeuvre states the sum total of the I’oinenre-Baldwiu interviews follows—Firstly, abolition of academic correspondence and return to man and man conversations ; secondly, British note of Aug. 11th is considered cancelled ; thirdly. Britain docs not insist on her right to interfere in the FrancoGerman communications. The “Journal” announces another interview between Poincare and Baldwin, together with .Jaspar and Theunis will shortly he held in Paris or I,undo u. THE “TIMES’S" VIEW. [“Tin: Times” Service.] .’Received this day at 8.110 a.in.) I.ONIION. Si-pi. 21. The “Times” comments ,oi Air Baldwin’s meeting with M. Poincare as unlikely to produce any immediate positive effect as Italy and Belgium v.e:e not represented. .Air Baldwin is unlikely to take a definite division without consulting Cabinet. The Impotence is purely psychological resulting in sheer delight in France and replacing the hitler and violent press criticism on Britain's latitude regarding the Ruhr. Afr Baldwin’s reputation for simplicity, directness and business honesty appealed to the Rarisicns. Tlis visit is likely to ease the deadlocK at present rendering hopeless the task of restoring Europe. The “Times” hopes that the moral of these friendly meetings will restore Italian confidence in British friendship which the Italian press concluded was dead, because public opinion condemned the bombardment of Corfu.