GERMANY.

Taranaki Daily News, 5 September 1919, Page 5

GERMANY.

SUPREME COUNCIL'S ULTIMATUM. NEWSPAPERS' DEFIANT TONE. By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright. Received Sept. 5, 12.45 a.m. Berlin, Sept. 4. German newspapers defimantly comment on tho Supreme Council's ultimatum respecting union with Austria, basing their arguments on the German peace treaty and contending that Germany merely undertook to recognise Austria's independence, and this was unalterable, without the consent of the League of Nations. The Vossiche urges the Government to defy the Supreme Council.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc.

INDUSTRIAL OUTLOOK. BRITISH MINERS MORE REASONABLE. By Telegraph.—Press Assn Copyright. London, Sept. 3. The general impression of the miners ia that the executive's recommendations are the first decisive move in the direction of constitutional action and, as the executive contains some leading exponents of direct action it is unlikely that the delegates to the conference today will prove any more intransigent. It is felt that the danger of an industrial upheaval will diminish as the question moves forward to the full Trades Union Congress and the immediate danger, which was also the greatest, seems to have been averted.

The example set is not likely to be lost on the transporters, who "also include an influential extreme element, but latterly have appeared on the whole less extreme than the miners. Ostensibly the executive's recommendation only deprecates industrial action "at the present stage," but it is considered if the present, stage can be safely passed more mature reflection will lessen the perils of industrial and commercial chaos. It is also believed that the allusions to the "fullest and most effective action" are studiously non-committal, because the extreme spirits are cither convinced that direct action is discredited among the rank nnd file or because they see in constitutional procedure better prospects of success in a wider sphere than the mines.

It is responsibly suggested in trades union circles that the King should be invited to attend tho Glasgow Congress in order to urge tho paramount importance of continuous increased produc-tion.—Aus-N.Z. Cable Assn. MERCHANT SERVICE GUILD. Sydney, Sept. 1. The Merchant Service Guild of Australasia has issued claims for increased wagea for masters, officers, and engineers. LOCK-OUT AT PRETORIA. Received Sept. 5, 12.20 a.m. Pretoria, Sept. 2. The strike at the railway workshops, which has been proceeding for several weeks, culminated in a lock-out by the administration. Four hundred men are affected.