ALL OVER.

Taranaki Daily News, 10 April 1920, Page 5

ALL OVER.

RUHR INCIDENT CLOSING. rKOOPS WITHDRAWING SOON. Br Teltpapo.—Press AMoclattoa, Received April 10, 12.15 ajn. Berlin, April B.\ The Vorwaerts says the Defence Minister stated that if possible the troops will be withdrawn from the Ruhr in two days—Renter Service. Received April 10, 12.35 a.m. London, April 8. fhe Australian Press Association learns that there - is increasing likelihood of an amicable settlement of tint international differences arising out of the Ruhr incident. There is every Indication that the Reds are rapidly disarming. To-day's Supreme Council meeting Was postponed, probably in order to await events. It is hoped that when the Council assembles the end will be in liflht.—All3.-N.Z. Cable Asbu. • THE TIMES INDIGNANT. BRITAIN'S ACTION CRITICISED Received April 0, 11.5 p.m. London, April 9. The Times describes Britain's disapproral of France's action as the rudest shock to Anglo-French relations since the establishment of the Entente, and says It amounts to a political apostasy equally fatal to Britain's interests and good T"he Times proceeds: "The scandalous communique from Downing Street outlining the disagreement actually adopts Germany's disingenons version of Watter's policing invasion of the Ruhr. Apparently France's independent action hurt the small and personal vanities of the British authorities and affected narty interests." It is stated in Parliamentary circles that the Premier's opposition is attributable to his desire to influence the struggle proceeding at the National Libera! Club between Coalition supporters and Mr. Asquith'fl followers.—United Service.

WITHDRAWAL DEMANDED. .OLICE IN3TEAD OF TROOPS. # Received April 10, 12.35 a.m. Berlin, April 8. rhe National Assembly has been convened for Saturday. The Trades Unions and Socialists parties have submitted to the Government joint demands for the withdrawal of the regular troops from the neutral tone and the reorganisation of security Jotite.—Aos.-N.Z. Cable Assn. PROTEST BY GERMANY. I fEAKCE INSISTS ON GOOD FAITHParis, April 8. •fne Government has received GerMany's Note protesting against the French advance. It is couched in somewhat violent terms. The Note expresses surprise and indignation, and says that the Reichswehr's operations tfe merely police measures. M. Millerand communicated the Note to the Ambassadors' Council and also mltlined the French reply, namely that trace was willing to come to a reasonable understanding ,as regards the policing of the neutral zone, also for general economic collaboration,'but Germany must establish her good faith as regards the Peace Treaty on which France intended to insist. French newspapers point out that Bermatajr's position in regard to the neutrol Spite} changes on April 10, because the period during which Germany was permitted to keep a number of troops there expires on that day.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. Berlin, April 7. The Vorwaertg states that tfuT Minister of Defence promised a Labor deputation that all troops guiltv of excesses should be disbanded and "the Civie be reorganised.—Aus.-KZ. Cable Assn•FIGHTING AT ESSEN. BETWEEN REDS AND GOVERNMENT. Amsterdam, April S. A fierce battle has been raging since Monday between the Reds and the Government troop* near Essen. Mobs at Essen ransacked the shops and ships for food and clothing. Berlin, April 8. There are indications that a Rhine . Republic will shortly be declared. Excitement among the population is inJfeaslng and .political action is imminent. Frankfort, Darmstadt, Hanan, and Jtombnrg, the German towns which the French Government has occupied, are all situated in the 50-mile neutral zone fceyond the Mayence bridgehead of the Anied zone of occupation. A recent cable message stated that the German Cssvenunent, in-order to quell the insnrrtttion In the' Ruhr region, which lies i» the neutral zone, requested the AIMS to permit the despatch of 100,000 tHJops. France feared the presence of sMh an army u a serious menace to Hjr safety, but Britain and the other Anies, recognising the importance of the restoration of order, favored acceding to tM German request. Ultimately, in response to French representations, the Allies offered to permit additional Gertroops to enter the Ruhr region, pfoyided an equivalent Allied force ocefpied Jfenkfort, Darmstadt, and other trans in the neutral zone. The Geraans refused to accept such conditions, Minting out that they involved an Allied advance of 20 kilometres.

FRANCE ACTED ALONE. ALLIES DISAPPROVE OP THE MOVE. RELATIONS STRAINED. Received April 9, 7.25 p.m. London, April 8. A serious crisis is believed to have arisen in the Anglo-Frencli relations, Cabinet having notified its disapproval of France's advance in the neutral zone.— Times Service. London, April 8. It is learned authoritatively that France acted entirely on her own responsibility in deciding to advance in the neutral zone. Britain, Italy, Belgium, and America, all opposed such action, and Frances military move caused, obviously a delicate situation. , The Anglo-French Governments are discussing the matter in the hope of easing the tension. When trouble started in the neutral zone it was essential that steps should be token to restore order, but the question was whether the. Allied or the Germahs: forces should act. One proposal was that Germany should be made responsible for restoring order, and should be allowed to Send troops to the Ruhr under the strictest guarantees, which defined that Marshal Foch and Allied officers should accompany the German forces in order to determine when a retirement was justified. TAKING NO RISKS. Another proposal was to leave the decision to the German Government, strictIly providing that if the zone was not evacuated immediately circumstances ! permitted, the Alies would exercise their option of occupying important German centres. The German Government appears to have acted precipitately, and France responded by adopting the plan which had ■been suggested as a last resort by the Allies as a whole. The Allies, except France, felt that Germany ought to restore order, and they opposed the idea cf their regular forces being called oh, except as a last resort, to undertake what -were virtually police duties. France, with her long experience of the German yoke, and the proved Worth ;of German assurances, evidently concluded that the German movement of troops into the neutral zone was undertaken for some ulterior object. I

I NO BRITISH ACTION". France doubtless acted bona fide, but [ the immediate result is that the responsibility for her action cannot be shared by the Allies as a whole. Certainly there is no intention on the part of the British Government to allow British soldiers to act as police between hostile German factions. The view taken in London is that our Army of Occupation is on the Rhine for totally different purposes. If and when the French suspicion of ulterior German motives and deliberate flaunting of the terms of the Peace Treaty become accomplished facts, the situation would instantly change, and the Allies doubtless would be prepared to act vigorously and concertedly, but for the time being it may be taken that no British soldier will participate in the occupation of German cities in the neutral zone.—lmperial Service.