A DEADLOCK.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18152, 15 August 1924, Page 9

A DEADLOCK.

RUHR NEGOTIATIONS. QUESTION OF EVACUATION. MR MACDONALD ASKED TO MEDIATE. (B7 CABLE—PHE3S ASSOCIATION?—COPTB.IGH?) (BEUTEH'S TELEGP.AXS.) LONDON, August 13. The Ruhr negotiations have reached a deadlock, and the Germans have approached Mr E-amsay Mac Donald to act as mediator, ATISTKMiIyK AXD n.l CABLIO iSSOCTATIOIT.' (Received August 14th, 8.5 p.m.) LONDON, August 14. There is no doubt that negotiations between the Germans and MM. Herriot and Theunis, regarding the date of evacuation of the Ruhr, lirve broken down temporarily owing to M. Herriot demanding commercial privileges in return for Ruhr evacuation, and refusing a date for .beginning the v itlidrrtwnl of French troons, although suggesting that withdrawal be completed within 12 months.

Dr. Marx last night went to Mr Mac Donald to explain the position, and also cabled at length to Berlin. M. Herriot meets Dr. Marx this morning, and the Council of Fourteen meets for half an hour later. All this, of course, i 3 apart from the conference dealing with the Dawes report, although influencing its successful termination.

Meanwhile despatches from Paris reveal the activity of opposition to M. Herriot. It is even affirmed that his reception at the week-end was an organised affair. Reviews of the work of the conference are undoubtedly painful reading to Frenchmen who supported M. Poincare's Ruhr policy. The diplomatic correspondent of the "Daily Telegraph" says that M. Herriot, tinder the criticisms of M. Loucheur and: a section of the Paris Press, showed himself reluctant to evacuate the Ruhr under 12 months, although he delivered a moving speech in which he emphasised the pacific spirit of democratic Prance.

The German Ministers were not insensible to M. Herriot's sincerity, but feared that during the 12 months he might be succeeded by a Premier less conciliatory. Asked when the final year of occupation would M. Herriot said ho mush postpone the answer until today. Presumably the year would date from the eigning of the London Agreement, but this was not made clear to the Germans. The latter argued that a further year's occupation would endanger both the Dawes plan and private credits to Germany.

Dr. Marx and his colleagues came to the conclusion that they must consult Berliu, but expressed the conviction that German opinion would not agree to another year's occupation. The chief trouble undoubtedly has arisen from M. Herriot's sensitiveness to domestic criticism and his omission to produce a really practical scheme for evaluation. The difficulties can hardly bs overcome without the intervention of Mr MaeDonald or, preferably, fho Americans.

There is no doubt that M. Herriot had previously suggested that military evacuation should follow shortly upon economic evacuation.