HOPE OF INTERVENTION

Dominion, Volume 16, Issue 172, 9 April 1923, Page 7

HOPE OF INTERVENTION

BASIS OF GERMAN RESISTANCE

INFLUENCE OF THE VATICAN ITALIAN PREMIER EXPECTED TO PROPOSE COMPROMISE PLAN

The French and Belgian view is that German resistance Is maintained solely in the hope of intervention. An English correspondent says there is reason to believe a Vatican ■scheme for settlement of the-reparations problem is being prepared. He adds that the visits to Italy lead to the conviction that the Italian Premier will make proposals for a compromise. The Paris “Matin” suggests that negotiations may be resumed, and that Britain s neutrality is likely to be abandoned.

BY TELEG3IPH—PEEIS ASSOCIATION. -COPYEIGHT.

(Rec. April S, 5.5 p.m-) London, April 7.

The “Daily Telegraph's” correspondent states: “France and Belgium are convinced ■ that German resistance is maintained solely in the hope of intervention, thus preventing the humiliating admission that she has lost in the battle. With daily expresses to Cologne, the French have achieved a considerable victory; in fact, the German public, which once boycotted the Rhine railways, are now crowding the Frenchdriven trains. “There is reason to believe that a great Vatican scheme is being prepared for the settlement of reparations. The visits of Germans to Italy load to th® Conviction that Signor Mussolini, whose party is strongly influenced by the Vatican, will make proposals for a compromise.' —-Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

REDUCTION OF DEBT FOR PROMPT PAYMENT

ACCEPTABLE TO FRENCH CABINET Paris, April 6. The Press is concerned with M. Loucheur’s interviews with British statesmen. / M. Baudot, the Paris Deputy, na* lodged a notice of interpellation in the Chamber. The “Matin” states that M. Loucheur’s reparation views are not opposed to those of the Cabinet- France would accept a reduction of the German debt in consideration .of prompt payment, instead of in thirty. years. “The French Government admits tne possibility of meeting the debts by a tseries of international loans. Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn.

RESUMPTION OF NEGOTIATIONS FORECASTED WITH UNITED ALLIED FRONT (Rec. April 8, 5.5 p.m.) Paris, April 7. M. Loucheur, in an interview in the “Matin,” said he had come back satisfied to have the fixed idea that British views on reparations are slowly changing and are now largely favourable to trance. He did not meet an Englishman, whatever, his politics, who did not approve of his declaration that France should proceed to the very end in the Ruhr enterprise. Not even Mr.

Lloyd George disagreed with this declaration. The “Matin” comments: it seems very possible that negotiations will be resumed on a basis agreeable to France and likely to result in renewed unity on the Allied front.” The “Matin” hints that M. Loucheur brought suggestions from Mr- Bonar Law likely to lead to the abandonment of Great Britain's neutrality.—Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn.

WHEN FRENCH TROOPS ARE WITHDRAWN DEMILITARISATION OF RHINE BANKS

(Rec. April 8, 11.15 p.m.) London, April 8. The “Sunday Express” gives prominence to an article by the. I 4 rencli writer “Pertinax,” which is regarded as semi-official, stating that the French Ruhr scheme is not unchangeable, but that France will retain control of the economic exploitation of the Ruhr until the reparations are paid, though these will probably be reduced to twenty-five miliara of gold marks, free of the Allies’ counter-claims. The extent of the force in occupation will depend on the degrees of resistance. Secondly, when the troops are withdrawn France will enforce the strict demilitarisation of the left hank of the Rhine .and a zone fifty miles wide on the right bank. The guarantees will be the management of the Rhineland vnilways by a Franco-German company, and later bv an international company, also the limited garrisoning by international troops, and later a defensive aliance of thel Powers contributing to the formation of an international garrison.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

THE ESSEN VICTIMS

WERE THEY SHOT IN THE BACK? (Rec. April 8, 11.40 p.m.) London, April 8. According to the Dusseldorf correspondent of the “Sunday . Express” the funeral of the Essen victims has been postponed, the reason being that French and German doctors do not agree whether the wounds were inflict•:d from the front or the back. The German doctor Ostermann declares that the eleven victims were shot through the Lack, and French doctors maintain that four wore shot in the front, five in the side, and two in the back.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.