RUHR OCCUPATION

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XLIII, Issue 9825, 19 March 1923, Page 5

RUHR OCCUPATION

THE POLICY OF FRANCE.

QUESTION OF INTERVENTION.

GERMAN OPINION SUSPICIOUS.

'Per Press Association, Copyright.) LONDON, March 17.

The “Morning Post’s” Berlin correspondent analyses German feeling regarding the rumours of intervention in connection with the Ruhr problem. Some prominent persons consider the possibility of discussion is a carefullyworked French trick, designed to undermine German determination, but it is more generally regarded as an indication that the Allies desire to end the Ruhr adventure. Wonderment is expressed at British passivity, and the conclusion is. frequently drawn that Britain is afraid of France.; On the whole, the Germans consider they have reason to be satisfied, because it is France, England, and Belgium and America who moot the possibility of mediation, showing that it is in the interests of those countries that peace and order be restored in Germany, who, therefore, sees no reason to relax her passive resistance. Moreover, she will not admit the undoubted fact that she is glad the ques- | tion of negotiations is being canvassed by the outside world.

A FRENCH DENIAL. FOREIGN OFFICE STATEMENT. • ->i,H *i '- “<• •• •

■J ; ? f ; .PARIS, March The Foreign o Office denied- knowledge of any attempt ’ W settle the* FrancoGerman question byoa third’Power. It says overtures a third Po.wer will not be any n pffey-pf negotiation 1 must,come direct. J--i !tu

(Received This Day, 10.5 a.m.) PARIS, March* 18.

The Press is in entire agreement with the Foreign Office declaration that it will regard any offer of mediation as an act of hostility. “Le Matin” states that the Government will not discuss the German proposals unless addressed direct to the Reparations ’< Commission or Allied

Powers. y

THE REPARATION BILL,

PARIS, March 17

There have been great discussions in I 'the lobbies |of : the Chamber of Deputies regarding the alleged German offer to fix the reparation total at £1,500,000,000. M. Loucheur declared he could not accept such a figure, as France had advanced £1,200,000,000 on account of the German debt, and also in view of the French foreign debts. ;

BRITISH BANKER IN BERLIN.

LONDON, March 17. Air Montagu C. Norman, D. 5.0.. Governor of the Bank of j'is .Berlin’. ‘ y nit'german ; ;; ; WASHINGTON, March 17i' ’ The visit of Herr Hans D'ilsjhpff, of the German Embassy, 'to Mr C. E. Hughes, of State, J which aroused the suspicion that Germany intended to ask the friendly offices of the United States in ’ respect to the Ruhr situation was, it turns out, for the purpose of handing the United States Government -a memorandum outlining the general situation in the Ruhr from the German standpoint, and reviewing the status of the reparation question.

The State Department declared that the memorandum in no way constituted a settlement proposal, or asked that the memorandum should be presented to the French Government. No reply was requested, and none will be given.

SABOTAGE CONTINUES.

(Received This Day, 10.5 a.m.)

PARIS, March 18,

Sabotage continues on the Ruhr railways. As a result of damaged joints at Friermersheim, troop and goods trains collided. One soldier was killed and three soldiers and three railwaymen injured. The Rhineland Commission has decided that sabotage shall be punishable with penal servitude. The French stopped the German steamer Badenia, bound from Cologne to London, at Ruhrost, and forced her to return and discharge her cargo.

THE GERMAN OFFER.

OPINION IN FRANCE.

(Received This Day, 11.5 a.m.)

LONDON, March 18

The “Daily Express” Berlin correspondent states that there is every

reason to believe that Germany’s best repaations offer remains at £2,500,000,000, guaranteed by a mortgage on German industry coupled with a pact of non-aggression. The Government maintains that the evacuation of the Ruhr must either precede the negotiations or coincide with the first payment.

FRENCH SOLDIER SHOT. (Reuter.) (Received This Day, 11.35 a.m.) LONDON, March 18. Essen messages report that a French soldier was shot dead while working at the central heating plant, situated in the basement of the Essen station. He was shot through the ventilator. A French patrol rushed and arrested three Germans whom they found nearby. A fourth attempted to escape and a patrol fired, wounding him in the head.