GROWING WORSE

Dominion, Volume 16, Issue 122, 8 February 1923, Page 7

GROWING WORSE

FRENCH POSITION IN THE RUHR POPULACE BEHIND GERMAN GOVERNMENT RESISTANCE ENCOURAGED BY CUNO’S VISIT i Affairs in the Ruhr are reported to be growing worse, and the passive resistance to the French everywhere as strong as ever. Herr Cuno, the German Chancellor, who has visited some of the occupied centres, was given the clearest evidence that the whole population was behind the Government. BY TELEGRAPH—PRESS ASSOCIATION. —COPYRIGHT. London, February 5. The “Daily Chronicle’s” Dusseldorf correspondent says: “Affairs in the Ruhr are growing worse. The German Government’s attitude is unchanged. Herr Cuno spent Sunday in Essen, Bochum, and Dortmund, and was given tho clearest evidence that the whole population is behind the Government, and the people look to the Government for every assistance in their passive resistance to the French. “Herr Cuno allowed it to be understood that the Government would only negotiate on condition of the cessation of the Ruhr occupation, and that there would be no thought of negotiations if the French required the region to remain in French and Belgian hands for five years as a pledge. “The situaticn on the railways is unchanged. The railwaymen are not returning to work or helping the French in any way. Passive resistance is everywhere as strong aa ever. Resistance will certainly bo encouraged bv Herr Cuno’s visit, just as the Government will be made more determined bv the evidence of the people’s determination. Public opinion is not greatly stirred by the e-xtension of the French occupation. “The real reason. is believed to be that bv the occupation of this area an important Frankfort-Basle tram comes under French control, enabling them to command traffic between Frankfort, Mannheim, and other important places. “A Mainz message say§ that the French have occupied the Hoechst dye factory, one of the largest concerns of this kind in Germany. The workers immediately struck. The Germans complain that throughout the occupied area the French are interfering with food distribution. lhe food situation is causing serious concern. — Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

GERMAN NATION MUST HOLD TOGETHER Berlin, February 6. Herr Cuno received an ovation at Elberfeld. Ho declared that he was convinced as the result, of his visit to the Ruhr that the Rhineland and Westphalia would co-operate m repelling the Franco-Belgian lrr . u l’ tl °A Speaking at Munster, he sa’d that.the German nation was lost, unless thei inhabitants of the occupied and unoccu niud tprritorv held together. P At Essmi the Postal officials refused to give the French telephone connections. The French thereupon cut off the batteries, and have declined to reinstate them until the Postal authorities give way. Essen is therefore isolated. same state of affairs is found at Weston, where al the shops were ordered to shut, because thev refused to serve the French. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. GERMANY APPROACHED FRANCE’S TERMS FOR EVACUATING RUHR UNSUCCESSFUL MISSIONS (Rec. February 7, 10.25 p.m.) London, February 6. The “Daily Chronicle’s” Dusseldorf correspondent learns from a reliable that the French Government has caused the German Government to be approached regarding the Kuhr. Germany was told that the French would evacuate the Ruhr and favourably consider a two >' e , arS ta J" or A if Germany would undertake to rai a loan of £325.000.000, and pay £125,000.000 to France immediately as reparations. Germany replied that a loan was impossible owing to the financial chaos due to French The French also sent M. Dawn, a member of the Economic Mission, to interview Fritz Busemann, leader of the German Miners’ Union, hoping to the workers to see reason but M. Daum failed—Aus.-IS-Z. Cable Assn. DESIGNING new COERCIVE MEASURES Paris, February 6. Trocquer. Minister of Works, with General Weygand,.,^ s Die Ruhr to try to expedite the trans port of coal a’nd design new coercive m The r “Journal’s” Berlin correspondent savs: “Neither the Government nor the Press shows any indication o weakening in their resistance to the occupation. Cabinet is again considering breaking off d to l( g na^ c J ela ?° 1 2. 3 with France.”—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. COMPLETE STRIKE 72,000 MINERS OUT (Rec. February 7, 10.25 p.m.) Paris, February 6. •\ Sarrebruck telegram says the strike is complete. Seventy-two thousand miners are out. The managers are encountering the greatest difficulty in tho search for men to maintain the workings. No disorders nave occurred The railwaymen at Treves h a y e struck, interrupting the traffic to Cobienz -Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. STRIKE AT OFFENBURG AVERTED Berlin, February 6. The French commander at Offenburg granted the workers’ request and averted a general strike. —Aus.-JN.Z. Cable Assn. VALUE OF THE MARK (Rec. February 7. 9.50 p.m.) London, February 6. The exchange on Berlin is 175,000 marks to, £1. —A.US.-N.Z. Cable Aaan.