FRANCE’S REPLY.

Taranaki Daily News, 7 August 1922, Page 5

FRANCE’S REPLY.

FIRM ACTION TAKEN. COERCIVE MEASURES. DRASTIC PROPOSALS. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Received Aug. 6, 11.5 p.m. London, August 5. France’s reply to the German Note is a curt intimation that she has taken the following steps to protect her rights:— The French Government has instructed the Paris and, Strasburg compensation committees to abrogate German credits. Not to pay Germany the compensa- ! tion awarded by the mixed arbitration tribunal for German property liquidated in France. Not to notify Germany of the amount of such compensation. Other coercive steps mentioned are I the suspension of the restitution of Ger-man-owned property in Alsace-Lorraine i and drastic measures against Germans in I Alsace-Lorraine, which, if they do not j lead to a swift settlement, will be supplemented by stronger action. It is stated that since the dispatch of the French Note Germans living in Al-sace-Lorraine, in expectation of coercive measures, have been removing their property to Switzerland and other countries. Received Aug. 6, 5.5 p.m. London, August 5. France’s time limit in which Germany must give guarantees to pay the £2,000,000 due on August 15 expires at noon to-day. It is improbable France will take military • action. ! Reports from Paris indicate that she ! will expel Germans from Alsace and con- ' fiscate their property. Herr Stinnes and other German industrialists, fearing that France will seize their property in the Rhineland, held a meeting to discuss coun-ter-measures.