GERMANY AND THE RUHR.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 17863, 8 September 1923, Page 14

GERMANY AND THE RUHR.

A SETTLEMENT WITH FRANCE. CHANCELLOR'S PLAN. (87 CABLB—PBBSS ASSOCIATIOK—COPTBIGHT.) (•■THE TTJtES.") LONDON, September 6.

The Berlin correspondent of '"The Times" says it appears certain that Germany is preparing for a separate settlement with France. The newspaper "Die Zeit," Herr Stresemann's journal, carefully explains the Chancellor's suggestion for Franco-German industrial co-operation in the Ruhr, and says it does not imply any alteration in German foreign policy. There is certainly no question of creating an economic bloc dangerous to Britain. This appears to be realised in Britain, whence all reports indicate that Germany's attempt to reach \a direct understanding with France is welcomed.

The Stinnes and Krupp interests contradict the reports that they are taking action privately, but the French reception of Herr Stresemann's speech encourages the Government to develop its plan. The difficulty hitherto concerns the control of industrial undertakings. Business circles are convinced that British industrialists calmly view the combination of the Ruhr and Lorraine industries.

The Essen correspondent of "The Times" reports that the labour situation in the Ruhr mines has improved. The men will in future be paid daily or on alternate days, because it is recognised that they are at starvationpoint. The miners are receiving altogether 54,000,000.000 marks a week. Disturbances occurred at the Hagenbeck mine, where the police fired in the air and dispersed the crowd. It was then announced that married men would receive an interim payment of 60,000,000,000 marks, and single men 30,000,000,000. There is great discontent among the Ruhr miners, who believe that Berlin is neglectful. Many foreigners among the miners are prepared to work for the French, but, apart from the-dis-orderly international element, hunger is driving the miners to abandon their passive resistance. The Communists are preaching that the owners are trying to enforce terms giving themselves favourable conditions for negotiating with the French. The trade union leaders declare that the fight will continue whether or not a Franco-German agreement is reached. GERMANY'S CAPACITY TO PAY. AMERICAN INTERVENTION URGED. (Received September 7th, 8.45 p.m., WASHINGTON, September 6.American intervention to break the deadlock .between France and Germany on the reparation question is advocated by Mr Frederck Upham, treasurer of the Republican National Committee, on his return from Europe. He says Congress should appoint a commission of business men to determine guickly what Germany can pay. EX-SOLDIERS' FEDERATION'S PROTEST,

BRUSSELS, September 6. The Inter-Allied Federation of Demobilised Soldiers protested against the campaign tending to disunite Britain, France, and Belgium. It expressed the hope that the three countries would compel Germany to pay reparation in the interest of the war victims and the unemployed.