ALLIES’ DEMANDS

Taranaki Daily News, 12 May 1921, Page 5

ALLIES’ DEMANDS

ACCEPTED BY GERMANY. ACTION OF NEW MINISTRY. ■PARTIES NOT UNANIMOUS. CLOSE VOTE IN REICHSTAG. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Received May 11, 5.5 p.m. London, May 11. Herr Wirth, ex-Minister of Finance in a former German Ministry, announced in the Reichstag the acceptance of the Allies’ ultimatum. The Reichstag voted on a clear-cut issue for or against acceptance of the ultimatum. The voting resulted: For acceptance 221 For rejection 175 BATTLE OF PARTIES. BIG FIGHT FOR REJECTION. THE NEW MINISTRY. HERR WIRTH CHANCELLOR. Received May 11, p.m. London, May 11. The Berlin correspondent of the Daily Telegraph states Herr Wirth”s new Ministry represents the Centre Party, Democrats and Majority Socialists. Other reports state the Majority Socialists predominate. Herr Bauer is ViceChancellor. The Berlin correspondent of the Morning Post reports that protracted party discussions preceded Herr Wirth’s acceptance of the Chancellorship. A battle waged on a grand scale between advocates of acceptance and rejection of the ultimatum.

At the People’s Party meeting, where Herr von Lersner was the leader, the rejectionists won a sweeping victory, thirty out of forty-five voting for unconditional rejection. Ten, including Herr Streseman, signified their willingness to vote for acceptance conditionally upon the Allies furnishing satisfactory declarations that the Rhine Customs barrier would be suppressed, that the lately-occupied area would be evacuated, that the 50 per cent, duty would be withdrawn, and that an authentic assurance regarding the future of Upper Silesia would be forthcoming. The Democrats, by a majority of one, also defeated an acceptance motion. The correspondent adds that these decisions do not mean' a vote against the principle of acceptance, but the shirking of the burden of responsibility and subsequent unpopularity in electorates which an open acceptance vote would involve. The parties realised that the Majority and Independent Socialists, plus the Centre Party, already gave an assured majority- for acceptance, thus leaving the Democrats free subsequently to blame their political adversaries.

It is understood the Democrats are not officially represented in the new Ministry, but they permitted Herr Greener and Herr Gessler to retain temporarily the portfolios o-f Transport and Defence respectively. The Cabinet consists of four members from the Centre Party, three Majority Socialists, and two Democrats.

The Frankfurter Zeitung, commenting, says it is not cowardly to yield to necessity. On the contrary, reckless deeds are often due to lack of a certain kind of courage. Recklessness would bring Germany to certain disaster, equivalent to suicide. If no more hope existed such action would be comprehensible, but we still have hope, and so long as there is hope we should not shrink from the hardest work, aiming at making our lot in time happier.- —Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn. GERMANY’S FEAR. OCCUPATION OF THE RUHR. REASON FOR ACCEPTANCE. Received May 11, 2.40 p.m. London, May 11. A message from Berlin, via reports that Herr Wirth, in a curt official motion for the complete and unreserved acceptance of the ultimatum, explained that the occupation of the Ruhr would mean ruin foi' the country: therefore it was better to accept any alternative. The Reichstag presented a funeral appearance, deputies being dejected and undemonstrative, except the PanGermans, who hissed Herr Wirth. —Aus. and N.Z. Cable A-ssn.