GERMANY.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLII, Issue XLII, 13 August 1923, Page 7

GERMANY.

DR. CUNO RESIGNS. by cable—peess association—copteight Received Aug. 13, 12.20 p.m. LONDON, Aug. 12. | Dr. Guno. has resigned, and Herr Stresemami has been asked to form a . Cabinet.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. Received August 13, 0.35 a.m. PARIS, August 12. M. Poincare, speaking at Marville, Ardennes, said that no doubt Dr. Cuno i would not have used the wild language ! in the Reiclistag he did about resist- : a'nee- if the Allies had been unanimous in showing their will in calling upon I Germany not to resist . the perfe^ciy legitimate Franco-Belgian measures. As for us, we are not only sure of our rights, but sure of our methods. As in 1918, on the eye of a military debacle, Germany is again seeking to ring the changes, and-as in 1918, we have only to remain firm in oider to have the last -word. The nation desires to win peace, and will do so. Your dead demand it, and their will shall bo fulfilled.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.. BERLIN, Aug. 11. "Herr Cuno tendered his resignation but Herr Elbert (President) reiused to accept it. The banks, including thei Reichsbank, have stopped payment, o\vii:y; to lack of money due to the printers' strike. Other shipping firms at Hamburg ar« following Blohm \ ross's example, and have dismissed their workers.. Twelve thousand men axe now idle. . j The President (Herr Ebert) to-day : had a conference with Dr. Juno ;>ikl other Ministers at Hen- Ebert's iesidence in the Wilhelmstrasse, where the -\ gates were guarded by soldiers, while! outside Commuflists ~clamoured for a peasants' and labourers' Government. The Socialists' met and decided to support the Communists in" the vote on Monday's inption. of no-confidence in the Government, and consequently Dr. Cuno proffered his resignation. Hew Ebert has issued a proclamation, declaring it is useless for Germany to expect outside • help. Strikes continue everywhere. The Communists have proclaim.?-; n three days' strike, and are issuing posters, which read: "A vobLeu u«y;s v.ork for a /rotten day's nay." They domanri the resignation of Dr. Cuno, the confiscartion of foodstuffs for the benefit of the workers, higher wages. on a. gold standard, and permission to liold public demonstrations. : To-day is the anniversary of the present German constitution, adopted in 1919, but the fact passed unnoticed, owing to the internal and external crisis. Pinactically all the coal miners in Central Germany are on strike. A strong force of communists, after plundering a gunsmith's shop in Radbor, fired on- the police, who retaliated, killing four and wounding forty. . I

that is the reference of the dispute to the League of Nations. That would be an enforcement 'of the Treaty of Versailles. That suggestion the British Government has refused to press on to France. It may be assumed that France will insist, at all costs, on enforcing her will. Incidents inseparable from foreign occupation have exasperated Germany, and opinion has reached depths of hatred never stirred even by the great war. The deportation of 15,000 Germans from their homes in the Ruhr, repressions, shootings, and the myriad insolences of unchallengeable force and hatred are bad negotiators. There is a movement to create a Hhineland republic, fostered by French agencies and financed by French subventions. If it is declared, the Prussians will not be alloAved to suppress it. We may therefore soon witness a Rhineland republic, whose glorious freedom and independence will be jealously guarded by the coloured warriors of Senegambia or Cochin China. If Germany dissolves, then the Rhinelard and Ruhr will remain under French dominion. France would not secure reparations, but she would enjoy security and the conjectures of enormously enhanced power in the world —an old French dream would be realised. Bismarck's work would be undone, and Napoleon's restored and perpetuated. There is an old Welsh saying: "It is easy to kindle a fire on an old hearthstone." This idea of the Rhineland under French domination is the old hearthstone of Charlemagne. Mazarin sought to relight its flame; Napoleon kindled on it a blaze that scorched Europe, and Napoleon 111 ha<l hope? of wanning his hands at the glowing embers. Now the great victory of 191£ has once more set French ambition tc revive the fire on the old hearthstone. It is a bad lookout for Europe.—Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn.