GERMANY

Evening Star, Issue 17327, 15 April 1920, Page 4

GERMANY

THE OCCUPATION COUP. FRANCE JUSTIFIES ACTION. Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. Imperial Nows Service. PARIS, April 13. In the Chamber of Deputies M. Millerand made a statement on the PrancoBritish situation. He quoted Articles 42 and 44 of the treaty, and said that the Allies attached great importance thereto for the security of Prance. He recalled the fact that Germany, through her military circles, was responsible for a coup d’etat, yet Germany requested a derogation of the Peace Treaty despito the fact that she had not executed any of the essential provisions of the treaty. Therefore he telegraphed to -London on March 19 expressing the opinion that the Allies would commit a grave, perhaps irreparable, mistake if they did not fore-arm themselves against a very evident danger, by Brmly opposing the entry of the Germans into the Ruhr district. The Government's view was that the possession of certain guarantees that the treaty would not bo violated was neccssarr.

M. Millerand paid an eloquent tribute to Belgium’s action as (increasing the affection and admiration of Prance for the Belgian people.

Ho dismissed the question of the AngloFrench misunderstanding in a few phrases, declaring that after a "loyal exchange of views the Cabinets in London and Paris had both agreed that, if there was a divergence of opinion, respecting the best means ot assuring the execution of the treaty, both must recognise more than over tho necessity of maintaining their intimate cordial agreement for the settlement of the grave questions still confronting them in Germany and throughout the world. M. Millerand. when interviewed after his speech in the Chamber, again emphasised the fact that tho recent minor divergence of views in no wise affected the deoprooted Anglo-Prenuh friendship. He pointed out that tho French people living on the left bank of the Rhino knew Germany intimately. He stressed the importance of a real Entente, especially at tho present time, with a view to assuring -the ful execution of the Treaty of Versailles and solving a number of overseas problems. Franco was ready to help Germany, but the latter must show a real willingness to carry out the treaty. Hitherto she had done little respecting disarmament, the delivery of war criminals, coal, and the surrender of guns, etc. Moreover, the militarist spirit stdi existed in Germany. M. Millerand concluded: “ Tho question of tho occupation of German towns is finally settled between tho British and French Governments, and no had feeling remains. Lord Derby is resuming his seat at th©_ Ambassadorial Conference, and the unity is as complete as ever it ivas.” FURTHER ADVANCE, Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. BERLIN, April 15. , _ Semi-official: French troops have occupied the Hamm district east'of Frankfort, and removed the police. They seized 50 horses and all the arms and equipment of the Civic Guard and police. ENFORCING TEEMS. ALLIED PROGRAMME. Reuter's Telegrams. . ■ PARIS, April 13. An important conference was held hers regarding tho technical means applicable to securing the carrying out of the provisions of the Treaty of Versailles in connection with tho delivery and destruction ot Germany war material, especially artillery. Mr Winston Churchill, the French War 'Minister (M. Lefevro), Marshal Foch, and General Wey.gand attended. A complete agreement was reached on all points of principle, also in regard to the necessity of increasing the number of French and British officers employed on this work by the Inter-Allied Control Commission in Germany. BERLIN SPECULATORS. A BAD “FALL IN.” BERLIN, April 13. There were tumultuous scenes on the Bourse on announcement by the Government that shares in companies in Entente countries, which it was required shbuld be surrendered under the Peace Treaty, were to be taken over at the quotation of January 10. Dealers declared the action was socialisation by trickery, and hotly denounced tho Government. Tho agitation caused a suspension of business, and lire bourses at Hamburg and Frankfort closed in sympathy. The Stock Exchange rioters demobilised tho furniture, and finally closed the exchange owing to a leakage of the Government’s intention to confiscate German holding in concerns established in Allied territory, with a view to , surrendering fome of the shares to the Allies, not at current prices, but at those ruling in January, before the rises occurred. Some of rhe shares had quadrupled in value since then, and the difference means ruin to tho speculators concerned, who allege that extensive operations have been conducted with the connivance of the Government. THE SAXON ANARCHY. BERLIN, April 13. Hoelz has suddenly reappeared in P’auen. His incendiary detachments terrorised the manufacturers and firms. Hoelz is exacting a ransom ol 1,000,000 marks to save the factories.

LCKN'DOhT, April 13. Iho Daily Chronicle’s’ correspondent journeyed to Klingentha! and interviewed Doelz, who was iound sitting in a cate near a big hotel which he has commandeered as his headquarters after leaving Falkenstein.

lloelz disclaims the idea of establishing Communism. Ho has enrolled 5.000 troops with the simple object of overthrowing the Reichswehr. but he admits the hopelessness of the cause. He does not intend to fight, and will cither cross the C zetho-Slovakian border and surrender, or will quietly dissolve his force and hide among the working classes as other bandit Kings have done in the post. Hoelz explains t-h-it the incendiarism was merely a reprisal against the Reichswehr. this zealot has a fine appearance and has had a good education. Although he knows lie _ must soon surrender, etill he permits his troops to batten noon dim country. • * -

MUNITIONS EXPLOSION.

BERLIN, April 15. Altogether 40 explosions occurred at the Roteustein munitions store. Two hundred persons were sent to the hospital at Komgsberg, oi whom 50 died. Ninety-foor bodies'were recovered. It is impossible to Approach tho conflagration excent iu armored cars. The shock of the‘explosion was ic-It at Tilsit, 600 miles away.

BERLIN ALLEGATION. FRANCES SECRET AIM i DISMEMBERMENT*OF GERMANY. BERLIN, April 13. (Received April 15, at 9.6 a.m.) Herr Muller (Chancellor), speaking in the National Assembly, expressed the Government’s.undying hostility towards all forms of„mily,arism. The Wolff Bureau officially publish a report cf a secret meeting of French officers at Mayence ou April 9, at which it was stated that, as the Rhine was necessary to secure France against German militarism, it would he necessary to annex Frankfort, the Ruhr region, dad Dusscldorf, and to create a buffer State. Fmnce must make good use of the troubles of Germany iu order to new advantages. •

Germany (so the Mayence conference decided) must be divided into five republics, as follow: 1. Bavaria, Baden, and Wnrtembnrsr. 2. The Rhine. 5. Pomerania, Mecklenburg, Hanover, and Schleswig-Holstein. 4. Thuringia and Saxony. 5. Berlin and Silesia. France must support the German Independent Socialists as a negative ally against -the Berlin Government.