LATEST CABLE NEWS

Hokitika Guardian, 27 September 1923, Page 2

LATEST CABLE NEWS

GERMAN ITEMS

AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION. GERAIAN DECISION. BERLIN, Sept. 25. The Premiers of the States cante to their conclusions owing to inner political and financial reasons. They resolved that the Unity of the Reich must be maintained and defended against any attempt to destroy it. Government and tho Reich circulated a telegram to the effect that in the event of internal disorders all the authorities and officials of the Reich must strictly oltey the orders of the ’Government and the Reich. The President will in each event issue tho necessary emergency regulations. GERAIAN BACK-DOWN. BERLIN, September 25. The clinching argument, which convinced the State I’remieis of the futility of continuing the Ruhr fight was Chancellor Strcscmann’s revelation that it would cost at least eight thousand milliards of marks in the coming week, lie added that this drain on the national finances was that which caused the collapse of the mat IT. The ultra-Nationalists aro furious, but neither they nor the Communists are able to early out a toil]) de main. RECONCILED TO NEW POLICY. LONDON, September 25. The “Daily Chronicle’s” Berlin correspondent says : The abandonment of tile passive resistance has been received calmly. Even the German Nationalist Press, although it must publicly conitcmn tlie action, is inclined to recog nise that it is inevitable.

“It is noteworthy that llerr von Knilling, the Bavarian IVemier, fully agreed with the conference’s decision, which agreement discounts considerably me wild rumours that have been circulating about Bavaria’s intentions. "The danger of a ‘putsch’ is now ’ogarded as lessened. “The mark has improved to-day, elos ing about 125,000,009 to the £1 Hotter on the selling exchange. '■ i lie abandonment; of the passive resistance ends it serious source of inflation. for the cost of maintaining the Ruhr campaign had reached a total of 8,090,000, marks weekly.”

FR A NCE’S OCC U PAT 10 X

LONDON, September 25,

Tho “Daily Telegraph’s” correspondent at Berlin, understands that France in replying to Chancellor Stresemann refused to consider the suggestion that an Inter-Allied Commission, should control the Ruhr, and also rejected a request for it general amnesty for the prisoners and those expelled. France stated that only selected persons would bo allowed to return to the Ruhr. France, however, is willing to make her occupation as invisible as possible* She has indicated that a special commission, appointed by the Reparations Commission, and responsible solely thereto, will examine Germany’s capacity to pay, and her economic position generally.

BRITISH CABINET.

LONDON, September 26

The Parliamentary lobby correspondent of the “Daily Express” says: Lord Ctirzon (Foreign Alinister), as the author of the Notes to the Allies, has been perturbed by the recent events hut Air Baldwin has reassured him that he has not surrendered at Paris any principles on which the Cabinet lias resolved. His first important pronouncement will he made at the opening of the Imperial Conference.

LONDON, September 25,

The “Daily Express,” editorially asks: “Can we claim our share of tile reparations which France will collect from Germany?” It answers: “Yes”, but it suggests that there is an obstacle. since the British Note to France declared the Ruhr occupation to ho illegal. Britain is thus logically precluded from taking part in the proceeds of such illegal action. It continues: “The British nation never took this attitude, yet the British taxpayer may he unable to claim morally any share of the Ruhr reparations, unless a change is made in the Cabinet personnel, and offices. The statesmen who have lead the people into costly errors ought, at least, to have the grace to move to other posts of usefulness rather than allow innocent citizens To suffer for their blunders. II wo are to have money out of the Ruhr the Ministry "ill have to he reconstructed.”

LABOUR LEADER'S VIEW

LONDON, September 25.

Air Ramsay MacDonald ALP. (Lender of the Labour Party), in a farewell speech before visiting the Near East, said that the French had gained what they described as a great success France’s success, however, really meant that the means for the reparations had been largely destroyed. France’s debt had increased enormously, nnd she had destroyed the resources from which she could make it pood. Iler conduct was making her bankrupt, it had enormously complicated the problem of reconstruction in Europe. Britain should insist on Air Baldwin defining his position. “He (should toll us where he sands,” he said, “and what he said in Paris. If lie has changed his opi•nion, the country should he informed. Parliament should he summoned immediately, and a new policy outlined.”

Air Ramsay MacDonald continued that all the French victory meant was that a powerful and well-armed country had taken a broken disarmed country and strangled it. But France would not get more reparations than she could hare obtained without putting a single soldier in the Ruhr. Although 'the Frenchmen, individually, were better off than tlie Britishers, France was unable sufficiently to tax her health to enable her to balance her budget. Tlie time laid now come for France, Britain, Belgium, and Italy to reach an agreement on the inter-AJlied dents. Britain must again take her proper place and help to recreate Europe.

Air Ramsay .MacDonald added that in view of the serious position in Europe. he would curtail his visit to the Near East.