FRANCE AND GERMANY.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 17813, 12 July 1923, Page 9

FRANCE AND GERMANY.

BRITAIN'S POLICY. RUMOURED SEPARATE NEGOTIATIONS. (BT CABLE —PP.Ed3 ASSOCIATION—COfYBTQHT.) (AUSTRALIAN AND N.z. CABLE ASSOUATIOK.) LONDON, July 10. V> ell-informed circles understand that the statement which the Prime jUnister, .Mr JJaJrhvin, will make in the House of Commons will leave the door open wide tor France to range herself on the British side. It is emphasised that the only differences between the two countries is purely political, anu is limited to the Ruhr question. PAR 16, July 10. The London correspondent of the "Journal" declares that tho British Government, considering France's arguments insufficient, has abandoned the idea of arranging a mutual concert with Franco regarding the Ruhr and reparations, and does not intend to make a further effort in that direction. Britain is now engaged m drawing up a separate answer to Germany. The "Echo de Paris" states that Britain is considering tho isolation 'of lrance. BELGIUM'S ATTITUDE. BRUSSELS, July 10. Cabinet re-examined the international situation. ThoiTgh the moment does not seem favourable for opening Franco-British pourparlers, Belgium has decided to continue its efforts to reach an entente.. SABOTAGE IN THE RUHR. LORD CURZON'S HINT TO GERMANY. LONDON, July 10. Lord Curzon (Foreign Secretary) lia'tT a conference with the German Ambassador, Dr. Friedrich Sthamer, and discussed the sabotage in the Ruhr and tho Rhineland, and also the general question of passive resistance. He gave a decided hint that the German Government would be well advised to make unmistakably clear its disapproval of acts of sabotage. MORE BLOODSHED AT DUISBURG.

BERLIN, July 10. Another, outrage has occurred at Duisburg, a soldier being shot by a German who escaped. THE ERRATIC EXCHANGES. SPECULATION IN GERMANY. (Received July 11th, 7.55 p.m.) LONDON, July 10. The foreign exchanges fluctuated erratically to-day, but closed firmer. The rate on Paris closod at 76.85.francs to tho £ sterling, on Berlin 1,150,000 marks to the £, and on New York 4.57} dollars to the £. The '.'Daily Express's" Berlin correspondent says a curious feature of the exchange situation is that tho lower the mark falls tho greater seems to ba the material prosperity of individual Germans, particularly the smaller officials who a year ago had n struggle to live. Now they dress in silk shirts End enjoy other luxuries. While the Chancellor, Dr. Cuno, pays £3O a month, and others Ministers £27 a month for apartments, they live rent, free, and have motor-cars. They live at the expense of tho State. Deputies receive 140s a month, but have numerous privileges. Beautiful villas i.u the fashionable suburbs of Berlin are being built in large numbers by Germans who are making fortunes on the Stock Exchange. Luna Park, which is Berlin's Coney Island, has nevtfr had sucii success; while hundreds of people are unable to obtain admission to the theatres, and all the cafes are crowded. The explanation is that everybody is speculating in shares, which increase in value as much as 50 per cent, in a day, and practically none fall in price. The excitement among all classes is tremendous.