FRANCE AND THE RUHR.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 17808, 6 July 1923, Page 9

FRANCE AND THE RUHR.

BRITISH ATTITUDE STIFFENING. "EXTREMELY GRAVE AND DELICATE SITUATION." (HI CABLE—PRESS AS9OCIATIOK—COPTBIQKT.) (AUSTRALIAN AND X.S. CABLE ASSOCIATION.) LONDON. July 4. Lord Curzon, Foreign Secretary, lengthily communicated to Cabinet his conversations with the French and Belgian Ambassadors. The strictest secrecy is being maintained, although it is admitted that the situation is extremely difficult, owing to the tenacious insistence by France and Belgium on the cessation of the Germans' passive resistance. The "Daily Telegraph's" diplomatic correspondent says it has transpired in political circles that the situution as between Britain and Franco is one of exceeding gravity and delicacy. The general feeling is that the time has passed for diplomatic finessing and that a businesslike answer to a businesslike questionaire is the only way out of a serious impasse. The correspondent understands that Lord Curzon strongly represented to the French Ambassador that the patience of the British Parliament and nation was nearly exhausted. The "Westminster Gaaette" says Lord Curzon's report to Cabinet was of such a nature that it raised doubts as to the advantage of continuing, discussions which produce so little result, but it was decided to make further efforts. The Paris correspondent of the "Westminster Gazette" says M. Poincare is understood to be preparing a written reply at Lord Curzon's request. [The British memorandum which was submitted to Franco, and also to Belgium, asked (1) What France means exactly by passive resistance, and what Germany must do to ensure l'Yench goodwill (2) What Franco will do if Germany agrees to cease passive resistance. (3) Will France return to the regime projected for the Ruhr before passive resistance entailed the present oragnisation.]

ITALIAN POLICY. INCLINING TO BRITISH VIEW. (Received July sth, 9.5 p.m.) LONDON, July 5. Lord Curzon had a conference with the Italian Ambassador, who stated the views of Signor Mussolini on the Ruhr and reparation problems which incline increasingly to tho British (view. ALLIED WAR DEBTS. SIGNIFICANT HINT BY BRITISH PREMIER. (Received July sth, 9.35 p.m.) LONDON, July 5. In his speech on the Finance Bill l in the House of Commons, the Prime Minister, Mr S. Baldwin, described tho settlement of the American debt as a first step in the direction of solving world problems. He was convinced that no action a British Government had ever taken had so greatly helped America to understand Britain. It had made America more willing than she had ever been to work with ua lcr the regeneration of the world. Regarding the Allied debts, tho Prime Minister said the British offer made to France in January having been refused, our hands were left free to deal with these matters in the way we deemed best. [At the conference between the British and French Prime Ministers last January, Mr Bonar Law submitted a scheme for the settlement of the reparation question which fixed Germany's liability at £2,500,000,000. payable after a four years' moratorium by fixed annual instalments in German Treasury bonds. • Conditional on the acceptance of this scheme, which was elaborated in great detail, Britain was prepared to write off practically the whole of the debts of France, Belgium, and Italy.]

GENERAL LABOUR TROUBLE FEARED. | BERLIN, July 4. The metal workers havei proclaim d a general strike. This it is feared is the beginning of general labour trouble. I DUISBURG BOMB OUTRAGE. FUNERAL OF VICTIMS. (bi cable —fke3B abßouiatiok —coptbioht.) (austbalian akd n.z. cable association.) LONDON, July 4. Advices from Dusseldorf state that the Belgian military authorities ordered the closing of every business establishment in Crefeld, on the occasion of the funeral of the nine Belgian soldiers 'killed by a bomb explosion on a train near Duisburg. The authorities also forbade the Germans to appear in the streets through which the procession passed.Those present included General Degoute, French Commander-in-Chief in the Euhr, and Major Barne, of the British Anny of Occupation. The procession marched from the hospital to the church, thence to the railway station, where the coffins were entrained for Belgium. Included in the procession were little Belgian girls, dressed in white, with sashes of Belgian colours, soldiers, railwaymen, and other 3 who carried hundreds of wreaths. •- Baron Jacqquemyns, Belgian High Commissioner, referred to the cowardly assassination. He said the High Commission would fully support the measures against the pretended passive ctesistance dictated from. Berlin.