EUROPEAN CRISIS

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XIII, Issue 284, 16 November 1923, Page 5

EUROPEAN CRISIS

The Impending Disaster German Economic Problem FULL INQUIRY URGED BY GENERAL SMUTS. (By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright.) (Received 16, 9.25 a.m.) London, Nov. 15. General Smuts, in a letter to “The Times,” says:—The last chance of staving oil a European disaster is for Britain, without delay, to summon a conference of the Powers interested in reparations which should not be confined to the narrow issue of whas Germany can pay, but extended to an examination of the whole question in its widest aspects from the financial and economic viewpoint. We would also have to consider measures and devise means of putting Germany’s finances in order, reforming her currency, balancing her budget, and securing the necessary foreign credit, and also how Germany could secure real peace and be accorded an opportunity to work out her salvation without the constant menace of interference from outside. “Germany cannot iiay reparations unless her currency and credit are restored, which is impossible unless the total reparation sum is fixed. The situation has become so grave that it is threatening the future. It should be our aim to reach a real solution with no further marking time. Our duty is clearly to go forward even though France is not with us J’— (Times.)

GRAVE SPEECH BY LORD GREY. THINGS SHAPING FOR A NEW WAR. FRANCE’S MISTAKEN POLICY. (Received 16, 10.45 a.m.) London, Nov. 15. Viscount Grey made a grave declaration in the course of a speech at Bath. He said that things in Europe were shaping for a new war, perhaps not immediately, but very certainly. The root of the trouble was that France and Britain had not been pulling together. He was bound to say that Britain had been doing its best to work with France, and the cause of their not pulling together was that France had conducted a poKcy in the Ruhr which we believed in the beginning was mistaken and would produce results the opposite of the French expectations. Events had proved us right. Britain must stick to the League of Nations. He had not expected to see Britain again involved in war. but if that unfortunately happened he would rather see us engaged in war to uphold the Covenant of the League of Nations than anything else.—(A. and N.Z.) EX-CROWN PRINCE’S RETURN.

EXPLANATION BY STRESEMANN I NO REASON FOR REFUSING PERMISSION.

(Received 16, 9.5 a.m.) Berlin, Nov. 15.

Stresemann, interviewed, declared that the Crown Prince was promised, when the Ruhr struggle was over, that he would be allowed to return. The Government weighed every, aspect of the question and came to the conclusion that everything was against refusal of permission. This was no time to create martyrs. An outcry would be raised, not only by the Nationalists but by the German people if the father of a family was not allowed to return after five years’ expulsion from his native country. It was the irony of fate that his return coincided with the Hitler insurrection. Stresemann said he was satisfied himself that the Crown Prince had no intention of mixing in the intrigues of the Nationalists and militarists. It was safe to say he supported a policy of moderate constitutional government in Germany. The Crown Prince was no long, if he ever was, the reckless, dashing, sport-loving young cavalry lieutenant, but the ageing father of a growing up family. He was convinced that public opinion would yet be forced to adpnt that it had been mistaken regarding the real personality of the Crown Prince, who was a man of ideas and courage.—(Times.) WILHELM AT OELS. AN INTERVIEW. HAPPY IN HIS OWN HOME. London, Nov. 14. The “Daily Chronicle’s” Oels correspondent had an interview with the Crown Prince, described as his latest statement before his retirement to private life. “1 am happy after nine years to again to be in my own home on my own estate, happy to bear with my countrymen the trials that have come to our Fatherland. I have only one intention, namely, to devote myself to private duties and within my sphere of work and duty to forward the task of reconstructing my country, concerning whose recovery 1 have no doubt.” The ex-Orown Prince displayed interest in the political situation in England and was surprised .at the news of the election. He speculated on the likelihood of Mr. Lloyd George returning to power. During the interview the two princesses came into the room. The exCrown. Prince said: “The last time I saw my children was at their christening.”—(A. and N.Z.)

KRUPP DIRECTORS RELEASED.

(Received 16.10.5 a.m.) Berlin, Nov. 15. Krupp and his co-directors have been provisionally released, presumably in consequence of an agreement for resumption of reparation deliveries from the Krupp mines. It is generally assumed that this means a definite pardon. Mueller has also been released.— (A. and N.Z.>