GERMANY’S “ENEMY”

Greymouth Evening Star, 30 December 1924, Page 5

GERMANY’S “ENEMY”

ANTI-BRITISH OUTBURST. : 1 { ’’ TRADE RIVALRY FEARED? (Australian and N.Z Cable Association.) | ■ i LONDON, December 28. The “Daily News’s” Berlin correspondent says: “The German newspapers angrily condemn the decision not to evacuate Cologne, and they blame British cant more than French militarism. “Vorwaerts” asks if 1925 is to destroy all the patient constructive work towards peace built up in 1924. . George Bernhard, ,’ a leading Democratic publicist, declared that Britain and not France, is eGrmany’s deadliest enemy. He contends that the British policy is one of the obliteration of German trade competition, and this policy demands destruction of German factories. The tendency of the demands, he says, is obvious when it is’ realised that the factories concerned are less dangerous to Britain as contributing to a reconstruction of Ger-, many’s armaments than as competitors with British industry. The Allies’ decision increases Chancellor Marx’s difficulties of framing Cabinet. The parties are depressed. The Junkers are jubilant, demanding as an answer to the Allies the formation of a Cabinet embodying the national will to self-assertion. Regarding the non-evacuation of Cologne, the great danger apprehended is that the decision is'the prelude to the non-evacuation of the Ruhr next September, in accordance with the promise made at the London Conference. 'The Nationalist newspapers especially assert that France intends to remain in the, Ruhr indefinitely, on the ground that Germany has not fulfilled the Peace Treaty. ; / The German Government is awaiting the Note sent from the Allied Ambassadors’ Conference. When this is received, there is good reason to believe that" Germany will protest - to the League of Nations and demand the fixing of 3 definite date for the evacuation of Cologne and the Ruhr simultaneously. ■' '

UNAUTHORISED PUBLICITY. (Reuter.) PARIS, December 29. Spectacular but fruitless search of the offices of “Eclair,” followed, the decision of the Government to prosecute “Eclair” for disclosing secret documents of. importance to national defence..

The announcement raised a storm of protest on the part of almost the entire Press. M. Maleche, President of the Paris Press Association, has written to the Premier protesting against the flagrant attacks on the freedom of the Press.

M. Herriot replied that journalist'’ indiscretions had several times hindered, diplomatic negotiations, and stating “Eclair’s” publication of the abridged memorandum of the Chequers meeting involved both M. Herriot and Mr McDonald, while General Nollet’s report, especially ; the confidential document, was not published without the consent >of the Allied Governments. j Opposition newspapers prophesy that the prosecution will marlu the downfall of the Herriot Government.