FRANCE AND GERMANY.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 17707, 8 March 1923, Page 7

FRANCE AND GERMANY.

ANOTHER CONFEREiNCE COMING. "MOST IMPORTANT SINCE VERSAILLES." (BY CABLE- -VSES3 ASSOCIATION —COPYRIGHT-) I 'THE TIMES. ') LONDON, March 6. The Paris correspondent of "The Times" states that, though tiie Government denies that the occupation is as much concerned with security as with reparation, there is little doubt that when negotiations do actually begin they will deal with every side of the problem. The Treaty of Versailles will probably be remoulded, and France will again put forward the claims not granted in li>l9. The conference, when it takes phice, will be the biggest ami most important since iiiat at "Versailles.

In a recent article on tho French occupation of the ituhr, an Eughsii paper relerring to the French claims at the Conference of Versailles in 1919, said tlie demands included the Rhine as the strategic frontier of Fiance and absolute control by military occupation of . . . Essen and the principal Krupp's establishments the greater part of the Rhenish-AVestphalian coallields, and the metallic industries which depend upon these. The Paris correspondent of "The Times" in a previous message said the terms ultimately to be offered to Germany are being discussed with greater earnestness. The idea of a new treaty to supersede or amend the Treaty of Versailles is making headway. There appears, ho ft" over, to be a cleavage in French official circles. One section desires a great inter-Allied debate in consonance with the spirit of the Versailles Treaty. The other wishes to confine the negotiations to France and Belgium, which would mean a separate treaty. Meanwhile early action is unlikely. THE BRITISH BRIDGEHEAD. FRENCH TO USE RAILWAYS. (Received March 7th, 8.15 p.m.) PARIS, March 7. General Payot and Sir Alexander Godley, Commander of the British Army on the .Rhine, have reached an agreement regarding the use by the French authorities of the railways in the British zone. No details are available. A DELICATE SITUATION. (Received March 7th, 8.15 p.m.) LONDON, March 7. The Cologne correspondent of the ■'Daily Express" says the delicate situation east of the British bridgehead hns been accentuated by the French tightening the blockade on the exits from the British area in the neiglihourhood of Lennep. Unpleasant AngloFrench incidents have already been reported. The new movement of troops n'ear Reinscheid is so near the houttdary of the British zone that the danger of a clash is enhanced.

MORE TOWNS OCCUPIED. PARIS, March 6. The French have occupied Reinscheid Riid Kromberg, iron manufacturing towns. THE FRENCH ARMY. (AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION.) PARIS, March 6. Cabinet has decided thai the 1021 class, which is due for release in a few weeks, is to remain with the colours until May 31st. TROOPS SHOOT GERMANS. PARIS, March <3. A French patrol discovered Germans tampering with the railway at "Westerhold, and fired, one German being killed nnd two wounded. Germans attacked a French soldier at Horde. The soldier fired and killed one of the attackers. MORE STRIKES EXPECTED. PARIS, March 6. The Berlin correspondent of the "Journal" reports that official circles fear the outbreak of strikes, and » new revolution similar to thie "Knpp putsch" is spoken of. Butchers, carpenters, transport workers, and metal workers are concerned.

A UNITED GERMANY. CHANCELLOR DENOUNCES FRENCH POLICY. (Received March Sth, 12.35 a.m.) BERLIN, March 7. The Chancellor, Herr Cuno, addressing a specially summoned meeting of the Reichstag, detailed the French acts of injustice in the Ruhr, and fervently appealed to the world to consider Germany's position. He accused M. Poincare of being afraid to tell the French people the truth about the Ruhr campaign. French terrorism had succeeded in uniting Germany, and would never succeed in anything else. Germany was resolved to hold on to the end.

Herr Cuno pointed o u , that France's so-called restricted use of soldiers for the occupation in fact meant' occupation hy five divisions of troops, io tanks, and hundreds of aeroplanes. The Rhineland Commission, taking no heed of legal grounds, simply issued decree after decree. It had placed itself at (Contlnaefl at foot of nexTtwinm"-}

the service of French violence, but France had reckoned without the loyalty of German officials. INTERFERENCE WITH COMMERCE. AMERICAN PROTESTS. WASHINGTON, March 6. Mr H. C. Hoover, Secretary of Commerce, in a statement, said that the French occupation of the Ruhr wa9 causing serious interference with American commerce, although it might be due to confusion attending the occupation, rather than a French Governmental policy of obstruction. Scores of important American business groups, particularly the drug and dye trades, are endeavouring to induo© the Administration to protest against French methods in the Kuhr. Ths State Department is conducting a cursory investigation.