CHAOS IN BERLIN.

Evening Star, Issue 18057, 26 August 1922, Page 4

CHAOS IN BERLIN.

LONDON, August 25, (Received August 26, 10.30 a.m.) Tho German exchange opened to-day at 10,000. Apparently Germany has abandoned! any hope of an early settlement with France, which persists in demanding satisfactory guarantees, with tho result that there are general fears that France will tako drastic action. There are rumors—at present unconfirmed—that French troops have invaded tho Ruhr. Meantime tho proceedings of Sir John Bradbury’s delegation are still kept secret, although it is denied that an offer of £2,500,000 has been made. In this state of affairs there has been largo and apparently panicky selling of marks, especially from New York and Amsterdam, where huge amounts of marks are held by speculators. These sales caused a panic on the Berlin Bourse even greater than tho panic in the retail trade. Countless householders are beseiging tho shops, anxious to use tho last few marks for buying something of practical value, _ as the shopkeepers are increasing their prices by 100 per cent, daily. "The trade union leaders ‘requested Dr Wirth to reinforce tho rationing of necessities, andi the Government to control foreign trade, to prohibit the sale of sweets, champagne, and luxuries, and to limit the manufacture of beer. Dr Wirth replied that lie would come to no agreement with Sir John Bradbury’s delegation which would endanger the people’s food supplies. Ho would increase the duties on tobacco and coffee and all luxuries, and prohibit imports as far as possible. Tiie Government proposed to raise an internal gold loan to obtain urgently-needed funds.—A. and N.Z, Cable.