SPA CONFERENCE.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3530, 17 July 1920, Page 5

SPA CONFERENCE.

GERMANS ACCEPT. BLUFF TILL LAST MOMENT. • LONDON, July 15. The Germans have accepted the Allied demands for supplies of coal from the Ruhr Valley. The ultimatum which the Allie s proposed to send to the Germans to-mor-row will not. therefore be necessary. GERMANS MAKE CONDITIONAL ACCEPTANCE, LONDON, July 15. Spa reports that the Germans presented a Note signifying conditional acceptance, which the Allies are considering. Germany agrees to supply two million tons -of coal monthly for six months, providing the Allies withhold occupation of the Ruhr, and that a mixed commission of Entente and German experts proceed to Essen immediately to study and supervise the feeding of miners and. workmen; that Germany be given credit for the purchase of food; that Germany receive the future output of the Upper Silesian mines, or alternatively 1,500,000 tons of coal monthly. Spa telegrams state conferences among the Allies, lasting all day. resulted in an unanimous agreement as to the form of 'the final answer to the Germans. A plenary session of the conference had been summoned for to-morrow morning, when the Germans will be asked to give an unqualified “Yes” or “No<” Further discussions will not he permitted.

The Allies have informed the Germans that in the event of further occupation of Ruhr no coloured troops will he employed. SPA. July 15. Herr von Simons sent Mr Lloyd

George a Note intimating Germany’s

acceptance of the Allied terms in regard to tire delivery of coal in time to prevent.the presentation, of an ultimatum. An hour later a formal German Note was delivered. The Conference subsequently discussed the German proposals. The situation is regarded as improved, but it is unlikely the proposals will be accepted in their present form. BERLIN, July 15. After a conference of coal workers at Bochum, Hue urgently telegraphed Von Simons at Spa declaring that there was a growing disinclination on the part of the miners ~to increase the number of extra shifts or even to continue the present number owing o the extraordinary bad food and high • temperature and the reports from Spa of the ifl ensures for compulsion. Hue added: The Union of Christian coal workers protests against increase of hours of work and. hopes coal workers throughout the world will join in the protest. Hue concluded: The German workers are not cut out of such soft wood as. to allow themselves to be robbed of their rights by the bayonets of Senegalese negroes, or to be forced to slave in the service of foreign capitalists. LONDON. July 15.

The Allies propose to pay five marks per ton for coal above the Treaty price., They will occupy the Ruhr on November 15th if deliveries are short