REPARATIONS QUESTION REACHES CRISIS.

Grey River Argus, 7 August 1922, Page 5

REPARATIONS QUESTION REACHES CRISIS.

GERMANS TEMPORISE AT TIME LIMIT. FRENCH TAKE ECONOMIC MEASURES. George Tocon, an ex-West Coaster, has secured from G-reece very valuable oil rights in Macedonia. By massaging during an operation, the heart of a youth that stopped beating nearly an hour, was revived and he lived 14 hours. Greece informs the Allies her desire to occupy Constantinople is in order to bring peace and protect Christians in the Near East. Lloyd George says the Allies are keeping the Greeks out. An American wheat surplus is expected to cause a big reduction in British bread prices. New South Wales footballers defeated New Zealand by 14 points to 9. Germany repeats her request to France for postponement of indemnity payments. France is expected to take property from Germans in Alsace in the absence of German payments. U.S.A, railway strike is more serious, as practically all operators now threaten to come out for self protection against scabs. Anti-profiteering activity is likely to hasten a settlement in U.S.A, coal strike. D’Annunzio is sooling on the Italian Fascisti against the Socialists, and the former are dominating the situation. At Manila British ships have agreed to scab on the striking American marine officers. Bavaria is coming to terms with, the German Reichstag over the law to protect the Republic. (Received August 6, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, August 5. France’s time limit wherein Germany must give guarantees to pay the two millions sterling due on August 15 expires at noon to-day. GERMANS PROMISE TO DO THEIR UTMOST. LONDON, August 5. Germany has addressed a further temporising Note to France on the subject of being given a moratorium. She reminds France that Britain and Belgium’s replies expressed willingness to consider the German request for reduced payments, with the other Powers, so that a reply in the name of all the Allies might be given. Germany’s Note says that Germany will do her utmost to produce the required sums by levies, and points out, by implication, that the German Reichrath has already given a proof of sincerity in provisionally considering a Bill to further tax those most capable and liable to pay. The Note adds that Germany is collapsing economically and financially in worst possible way, and solemnly urges France to review the whole question, and to withhold action until she confers with other Allies. BRITAIN ACCUSED BY FRENCH PRESS. LONDON, August 5. The “Morning Post’s” Paris correspondent says:—“As before all the previous conferences, the French Press has adopted an attitude of making negotiations difficult. Previously it always demanded Germany’s strict obedience to the text of the Versailles Treaty. To-day it devotes itself to reproaching Britain over the tone of the British reparations debate, alleging that it has prejudiced the success of Monday’s conference.” “Le Temps” protests that Mr Lloyd George, by delaying the settlement of the reparations, has acted as an arbiter bet ween France and Germany, and has prevented the former being paid, and contributed to Germany’s present position. The “Journal Des Debats” deplores Mr Lloyd George’s vagueness, and contends that he has not shown whither he wants to go, and has merely produced a London fog around the subject. PROBABLE FRENCH LINE OF ACTION. LONDON, August 5. Regarding guarantees for the payment of the August reparations, it is improbable that. France will take military action. Reports from Paris indicate t hat France will expel Germans from Alsace, and will confiscate their property. Hugo Stinnes and other German indn tria.list.s, fearing that France will seize their properly in the Rhineland, held a meeting to discuss counter measures. WHY THE GERMAN MARK IS WORTHLESS BERLIN, August 3. A sensation was caused among financier -: when it, was learned that the Reichstag had isrmd fifteen hundred million marks new paper mom y, thereby increasing the floating currency to two hundred thousand millions. Foreign capitalists are, steadily buying German industrial stocks which arc at the lowest level since the armistice.

THE CRITICAL STRIKE SITUATION IN U.S.A. NEW YORK, August 5. Following on O’Shea’s notice on behalf of the enginemen, objecting to working with inexperienced guards, the railwaymen generally are seeking a conference. Ou Saturday night four Railway Brotherhoods wired their legislative representatives, requesting a conference between the union chiefs and President Harding in regard to the railway strike. RAILWAYMEN ALL LIKELY TO JOIN STRIKE. WASHINGTON, August 6. A Cleveland despatch states that the “Big Four” Railway Brotherhoods, the engineers, conductors, firemen, and trainmen, have all telegraphed President Harding stating that unless the railway strike is setljed soon, they may be all forced to join the strike for their own protection. The same unions are petitioning Congress, urging the abolition of the present railway labour board and establishment of a Federal Mediation Board. FEAR MOVES PRESIDENT TO ACTION. WASHINGTON, August 5. Fearful of the complete paralysation of railways as the result of the threat by the other Railway Brotherhoods to join the strike, President Harding has summoned the various strike leaders to Washington. The President may suggest that the seniority questions, which are the main obstacles to a settlement, should be submitted to the Railway Labour Board, both sides agreeing to abide by its decision. MEN MAY WIN U.S.A. COAL STRIKE. (Received August G, 5.5 p.m.) WASHINGTON, August 5. The lowering of the coal prices in the central districts gives a hope that a settlement may be reached at a conference between the mine operators and the strikers which is being held at Cleveland on Monday. * Meanwhile Mr Hoover has announced that the Government agencies have virtually eliminated profiteering in coal. A telegram from Chicago, Illinois, says that the mine operators have rejected the conference proposals (cabled on August 1) put forward by Mr Lewis, President of the United Mine Workers of U.S.A. The owners, in rejecting the proposals, iVmounced their willingness to enter into State negotiations in Illinois, alone, but refuse to consider the desirability of an inter-State or National agreement. EX WEST COASTER’S COUP IN NEAR EAST. GEORGE TACON GETS BIG OIL CONCESSION (Received August 5, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, August 4. Mr George Tacon, formerly of Christchurch, New Zealand, and who subsequently was interested in mining on the West Coast of the South Island, and who represented the New Zealand Government on an Agricultural Trade Mission to the Argentine before the war, has just arrived in London from the Near East. He has informed the Australian Press Association that, while quartered at Salonika with the British forces, during the war, he discovered evidences of oil deposits, and, since his demobilisation, he has explored Macedonia on behalf of the Anglo-Persian Oil Co. He succeeded in obtaining concessions from the Greek Government, in strenuous competition with the Standard Oil Company and the Shell Oil Company. Mr Tacon believes that Macedonia will become a new and important source of oil supply.