BLUFF AND INTIMIDATION.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 April 1919, Page 5

BLUFF AND INTIMIDATION.

. A DELIBERATE POLICY. London, April 22. The Geneva correspondent of the Daily Telegraph learns on reliable authority that the German Government is determined to continue the policy of bluff and intimidation. A former Entente diplomat from Berlin, where he interviewed leading statesmen, is of opinion that the German dele- ■; gates will either refuse to sign the treaty ov that the Government will resign in consequence of the military party's pressure. Either course would indelinitely postpone the peace indemnities. What has caused the most alarm is that Herr Schieli'or lias resigned, because he has refused to consider the acceptance of the terms. Herr Schieffer told an informant that the Entente was powerless to force them by military and economic measures into financial slavery, therefore they did not see why they should sign away their wealth and liberty for the next twenty or thirty years. It appears that the Berlin Cabinet was divided -on the question of the acceptance of the terms. The younger Ministers urged the refusal of the terms, accompanied by an ironical invitation to the Allies to c.'cupy Germany. They argue that occupation is impossible, and that the Allies' dare not continue the blockade, fearing the spread of Bolshevism. They also calculate that the Allied Socialists will support Germany's passive resitsanec. On the other hand Counts Rantzau and Bernstorff and Herr Dernberg advocate obtaining all possible concession? by bluff and then accepting the terms, trusting that future developments will enable a modification or avoidance of \Vfulfilment of the obligations-—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc.