AUSTRO-GERMANY.

Taranaki Daily News, 7 December 1916, Page 5

AUSTRO-GERMANY.

HUNGARIANS SUSPICIOUS. (6f GERMAN TASKMASTERS. Received Dec. (!, 5.5 p.nv London, Dec. 5. "Hp Daily Telegraph's Hungarian corro.'i.ondent states that General von Falkcnhayn and several of his Generals are learning the Hungarian language as part of the German policy of ingratiatioii. which, it ie hoped, will lead to the political domination of Hungary after the war. Hungarians are suspicious, and declare that dependence on Germany is undesirable, and will only tie a change of misters. "We want complete political and economic independence, and if the Entente agreed to further this object it would create sympathy with a large part of the Hungarian nation. VON JAGOW'S RETIREMENT Received Dec. 0, 10 p.m. Berne, Dec. 6. Maximilian Harden; in Die Zukunft, states that von Jagow left the Foreign Office because he disapproved of the sub marine policy and the deportations of the Belgians and French. GERMANS EASILY PLEASED ! Berlin, Dec. 5. The Vossiche Zeitung all feel that the events of the recent veeks have brought the end of the war considerably nearer." COAL AND STEEL 'PRODUCTION. London, Dec. 5. During the debate on the German Mass Levy Bill, Herr Helfferich stated that Germany's coal production, which had sunk to one-half at the beginning of the war, to-day had risen to SO. per cent, of the peace production. Steel production was reduced at first to onethird, but had now been raised to 85 per cent. The English coal industry was always greater than the German, and excelled i in 1916 the peace-time figures, but her steel decreased considerably. ! THE DUTCH XOTE. Amsterdam, Dec. 6. The Foreign Minister, replying to a question, stated that the Dutch Government sent -a Note to Germany, protesting against the Belgian deportations, and pointed out that the Dutch authorities in 1!)14 encouraged Belgian fugitives to return, after making a convention with Germany guaranteeing the personal liberty of the returning Belgians. They, theretore, hope that the fugitives deported to 'Germany will be sent home. Germany's reply was unsatisfactory, and diplomatic conversations are proceeding.