FRANCE AND GERMANY

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XLIV, Issue 9874, 23 July 1923, Page 5

FRANCE AND GERMANY

draft approj /EIX

TEXT THe DOCUMENT.

aV*** Association, Copyright.) f LONDON, July 21. diplomatic "correspondent of the ’‘Daily Telegraph” says the draft reassents in principle to the German request for the assessment of her capacity payment by an icapai tial body of experts, but carefully omits to specify the composition of that body, It also suggests that three types of guarantees offered in the German memorandum will be "considered withr out prejudicing the question of their completeness or sufficiency. The reply is not unfavourable 'to the German rersst for a conference with the Allies. contains no direct condemnation of passive resistance, but expresses regret at the calamities created by the Ruhr situation. The reply is much shorter than the memorandum to the Allies. , ' , The “Daily Express” understands that that covering letter expresses a conviction that it is desirable to appoint an International Commission to investigate Germany's capacity to pay reparations, and indicates that Great Britain is not in a position to ask the German Government to abandon passive resistance in the Ruhr, because the British Government believes that the French occupation is contrary to the terms of the Treaty of Versailles. The letter adds that if France is willing to refer the question of the legality of the -occupation to The Hague tribunal and abide by the decision, the British Government would press Germany to abandon her passive resistance immediately, and also to abide by The Hague findings. LONDON, July 22. Mr -Joynson-Hicks, speaking at the Crystal Palace, described the British reolv to Germany as an anxiouslyprepared document. It was a melancholy thought that nearly four years after the war, Europe should still be in a condition of smouldering • “We -axe determined to make Germany nav- ” he said, “but we could not help -KSiSing that until some stability .is ISSSLd in Europe the We of the world can never be satisfactory.

NEW BRITISH NOTE.

RECEPTION OF THE NOTE.

COMMENTS IN FRANCE.

The British Note has been received at the Quai d’Orsay. M. Pomcare, receiving the journalists, refused to comment, saying: “If France discloses the contents, England will break off negotiations. Likewise it Britain discloses them France will break off the negotiations.” Nevertheless, circumstantial details are,, m ci rculation Paris These are mainly on the lines of the “Daily Telegraph” extract. Tbe .newspaper “Liberte- says it *rould appear that the chief purpose of the British Government is to secure M- Poincare’s adherence by concession on matters of detail. “Le Temps” says the proposed committee of experts to estimate Germany’s capacity to pay is contrary to the Versailles Treaty,J)ut for^ an eventual compromise on the lines suggested. The Reparation Committee SSfys has had the right to consult the specialists of any country upon any acquest by Germany regarding the means"of payment.

VIEWS IN OTHEH PLACES.

The >British Note has arrived in Brussels. Official circles maintain silence, but the favourable impression continues. ~ A Washington message says the State -Department announces the receipt of -the -British Note regarding the Ruhr and reparations. Comment is declined - LONDON, July 21 The Paris correspondent of the ‘‘Sunday Times” says that what pleases Prance '.is -the fact that the British Note is couched in such terms as to allow for important modifications, leaving the door open for further exchanges between the two Governments.

FOOD RIOTS IN BRESLAU.

BRESLAU, July 21. •Six persons were killed, seventeen wounded, and a. hundred arrests made during food riots, when sixty shops were pillaged by strikers, who became angry at the rising prices and attacked the shops when their wives reported that food -was -still dearer.

EXCHANGE ON BERLIN.

.... . LONDON. July 20. The exchange on Berlin touched two jasillion marks to the £, and closed at * 1,75Qi000. LONDON. July 20. The mark broke all records to-day, once dumping to two millions to the pound sterling, apparently caused by banking trouble in Berlin, but closed shank ’has protested against ithe large amount of business if mark* done by foreign banks and threatens retaliatory measures unless it is checked.

SPEECH BY LUDEHDORFF.

BERLIN, July 21. German gymnasts assembled m Munich were greeted by General Ludendorff with a wild speech melting to war “Germany demands from lts youth a burning love of their own country against the enemy. tics is only a means to that end. Strengthen your fists and your spirits It is the spirit winch raises the fist Lid enables it to fall upon the head of the Fatherland’s enemies.