THE RUHR.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 17882, 1 October 1923, Page 9

THE RUHR.

ORDERS RESCINDED.

PAVING WAY FOR NEGOTIATIONS.

(»r CASUS—PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPTEIQIS.) (Router's Tilegranis.) PARIS, September 28. Germany has issued an ordnance rescinding fir© Governmental orders made on the occasion of the Ruhr occupation. It is intimated by Paris official quarters that it should be well understood that no agreement will bo concluded, between the French rcpresertatives and the German authorities until Br. Strescmann revokes all tho contentious orders. Furthermore, tho occupied territories must revert to the normal regime and resume completely and permanently the work of supplying deliveries in kind according to the intimation of the Reparations Commission. It is emphasised that M. Poincare has always made the. resumption of negotiations dependent on those precise essential conditions. A midnight meeting of the German Cabinet decided to ask Bavaria to cancol Voh Knur's appointment and unite under Dr. Geesler's dictatorship.

EARL CURZON'S ADVICE.

(By Cable—Pre9s Association—(Australian aud N.Z. CaMo,.As»u»tion.) (Received September 30th, 6.5 p.m.) LONDON, September 29.

The political observer of -the "Daily Telegraph" says Earl Curzon had a conference with Dt. F. Sthamer, German Ambassador, whose instructions were to press for some acknowledgment on Britain's part of Germany's colossal sacrifice in calling of? resistance;. Earl Curzon' could only tell Dr. Sthamer there was no reason to believe that the character of the occupation would not change when the consequences of the recalled ordinances prove Germany's good faith. The correspondent hints that Earl Curzon advised Germany to appoint ambassadors at Paris and Brussels to commence negotiations promptly. Mr Neville. Chamberlain,' speaking at Birmingham, said Mr Baldwin had not changed his opinions. What ho had done was to change his attitude towards the French into friendliness and confidence. "We are now," he ,said, "in a favourable position to take up the whole question with France 1 again, and possibly evolve a common policy."

FRANCO-BELGIAN CONFERENCE,

(By Cable—P»aa Association- Copyright.) (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) (Received September. 30th, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, September 28. The Paris correspondent of the "Morning Post" understands that the Franco-Belgian conference is. likely to take plajp soon, the outcome of w\hich may be ameetittg of the Supreme Council of the Allies independently of whether any proposals, are received from Berlin. COST OF LIVING RISING.

(Received September 30th, 6.5 pim 1 .) "'. ; LONDON, September,&.;C Tho Berlin correspondent of .the "Daily Telegraph" says tb* cost of living is still increasmg by leaps, and bounds. A great factor js. the, high cost of ooal. English supplies are.now selling in Hamburg at 125 percent, cheaper than Westphilian, arid oven inferior German brown coal costs ■9o;per cent, more at Hamburg than good English. Railway, tram) and bus- prices have advanced ten-fold in a fortnight, and doubled in the last two days. The cost of .central' heating is now so great that tenants in blocks of flats are giving it up, preferring freeemg to starving. They say as to prices, what can a Tnaxried wage-earner getting 700 million to 1200 million marks weekly do when beef coats forty million marks per lb, butter sixty million, margarine tyenty-fivo million, and every time he tgoes to work he must pay-nine million marks for a return ticket. Yet these men are the aristocrats of labour. Charwomen only get twelve million marks per week, plus their fares. Women often return from the market weeping because they are unable to buy the cheapest articles of food. A FRENCH DELUSION. (Received September 30th, 11.5 p.m.) LONDON, September 29. The Paris correspondent of tho "Observer" says that for eight months French people have been rocked into a delusion that the end of resistance would bring them within sight of the promised land of payment by Germany. Those whose better knowledge delivered; them from such a mistake long foresaw that when the- German surrender came it might find France unprepared for the next etep on which the last remaining, chance of obtaining reparations depend-, ed. That step could only be taken witn the Allies. In the meantime there,is no sign of a general return to work in the Ruhr, still less-any collaboration j of the German officials with the French;., authorities.

REPARATIONS AND DEBTS.

AMERICA'S ATTITUDE.

(Eeceived September 29th, 11.5 pjn.) NEW YORK, September 29. The Washington correspondent of the "New York Evening Post" says the bankers' resolution fell on deaf ears in official circles. Mr Coolidge's Administration, like Mr Harding's, looks favourably on the proposal to widen the powers of the American. Debt Commission, and to appoint a representative' on the Reparations Commission, but Mi Coolidge could not, if he f . wished, make the Allied indebtedness part

(Continued at foot of next column.)

! of the reparations question. has jpreviously indicated to such proposals, andieannotpeeted during tho coming' iession »?40 show any change in its attitude.' CooJidge and his advisers with Congressmen ontbia wish to keep reparations -^ two separate questions. OffoiaVcartles 'j%M derivo gome satisfaction *rom i&osnatfy *«f| lution as indicating that Amerla f^fW?, '.''|%|| ciers realise that 'AmerfcaV « c^»j^f destiny is closely tranquillity. The Administration, jjjxr* sS||| thermore feels that in the, intend .'of. &»ya European peaco the Fnlteß Siiwfagg postpone the payment bf/some debts for a number- of yeaV >■ -\ „ "4|S [A previous message Baid:~At' f AtlftnJ< - 7 #lll tic City, tho -convention I .of the can Bankers' Assodatton lado^4 f iiffl resolution asking Prcsidcat' appoint 'aih offlciai tho Separation Commlßsion-^|a' t; the American should' enter into Britain and Jrancevin such part of may bo included ednesa. - The resplutfon out policy .of complete European afiaitt, indefinitely v)thO>tigra^||s^«^K»^| American considered to .ihow Mm favour a-partial cancellation^W MSB debts and' tion in the solution ||fl