PASSIVE RESISTANCE.

Auckland Star, Volume LIV, Issue 72, 24 March 1923, Page 7

PASSIVE RESISTANCE.

POLICY TO CONTINUE. CUNO PREDICTS VICTORY. RAILWAYS WEST OF RHINE. FRENCH CONTROL FOR 20 YEARS. (By Cable.—Press Association. — Copyright.i | C Received 10.SO a.m.) * j BERLIN, March 23. \ Herr Cuno, Herman Chancellor, in a ! speech at Munich, declared detinitely that passive resistance in the Ruhr must continue. He predicted victory, provided the Parliaments, Federal and State, supported the policy and the nation remained united. The "Daily Express" Cologne correspondent reports that ficncral Pagot made a significant, announcement to German railway officials. He said that the railways on the left bank of the Rhine would be run hy France for twenty-live a ear?. Interference byBerlin would not be tolerated.— ("Times." I RHINE AND GERMANY'S RUIN. CUNO ON WANTS OF FRANCE. NEGOTIATIONS NOT BEGUN. (Received L'.:io p.m.i BERLIN. March 23. Herr Cuno. in a second speech at Munich, said that Germany was ready for honest negotiations, but France wanted the Rhine, the Ruhr, and Germany's ruin. France was the greatest military power, and not Germany, but France wanted guarantees of safety. Negotiations not based on the prior evacuation of the Ruhr were impossible. The reports that Germany had attempted negotiations were absolutely untrue. The Central News Agency reports from Paris that Captain Rossbach. who was connected with the abortive Kapp rising, was the head of a vast organisation aiming to expel the French from the Ruhr and overthrowing the German republic. Rossbach intended to attack allied troops in the Ruhr, and declare war. Tt is reported that he made a statement. as the result of which many houses were searched and seven people arrested. Three deputies refused to leave, thus escaping arrest. — (A. and N.Z. Cable.) NEW RHINELAND ORDINANCE. A ONE-SIDED REGULATION. LONDON. March 23. The Inter-AUied Rhineland Commission has issued an ordinance whereby materials and goods in the occupied area owned by Allied Governments or nationals may be seized and placed to the reparation account. The "Daily Chronicle's" correspondent at Dusseldorf declares that since January the British member of the commission has been ignored, the commission merely registering the decrees of Brussels and Paris. ■ The correspondent adds: "The legality of the ordinance is more than doubtful. As the British authorities will not put it into practice its application is likely to be one-sided, ensuring favoured treatment by force of French and Belgian traders as against British traders." It is authoritatively announced in London that the difficulty regarding the tax on British coal imported by Germanyhas been overcome. Coal is now to enter Germany free of taxation. Likewise, the difficulties regarding British trade in the unoccupied are/a and the British occupied area have been settled.—(A. and N.Z.) EFFECT OF MARK'S RISE. BUSINESS FIRMS IN TROUBLE. BERLIN, March 23. Continuous steadiness of the mark is causing considerable difficulties for business firms. A well-known Berlin company dealing in precious metals has suspended payment. Its liabilities are staled at 4500 million marks, and assets at 2500 millions. It is reported that this failure has involved other firms. The "Vossiche Zeitung" states that report? come from Hamburg of the insolvency of several grain, fodder, and cocoa firms. A fall in prices caused difficulties for many other firms. Uneasiness in Hamburg is increasing. as there is a possibility of these firms finding support growing less.— (A. and N.Z. Cable.) FRANC STIEE RISING. LONDON. March 23. Exchange on Paris fluctuated greatly to-day. It touched 67.50 francs to the pound, and closed at 00.75, against 00„sr yesterday.—(A. and N.Z. Cable.)