FRENCH IN THE RUHR.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIV, Issue 670, 2 April 1923, Page 5

FRENCH IN THE RUHR.

A CONSPICUOUS MOVE

TOWARDS SETTLEMENT

By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. BERLIN, March 30. Germany's most conspicuous move towards & settlement of the Ruhr difficulty is the announcement that she will not insist on French evacuation as essential lo the opening of negotiations. This development is considered (t reply lo Mr Ronald McNeills statement in the House of Commons that Germany's acceptance of .Mr Hughes' proposal was weakened by 11 err Cuno's supposed'condition that the withdrawal of the French was essential to the opening of negotiations. The German Government declares that no such condition was made. If is believed in diplomatic circles that Germany's new attitude is a prelude lo a definite proposal to the Entente, which will probably be made when the Reichstag reassembles, and that the Ruhr deadlock is approaching an early solution.—A. and N.Z. cable.

WILLING TO NEGOTIATE

M. POINCARE'S STATEMENT

PARIS, March 31. XI, Poincaro, in an interview, informed Ml" Hen Tillett that France was willing to negotiate with the German Government, but not with the German capitalists, who were responsible for Germany's repeated evasions of the Versailles Treaty. M. Poincare, in replying'' to Socialists' criticism in the Chamber, said: "It is not otir intention to appropriate a single inch of. German soil, but we will not be duped by new manoeuvres. Germany has no foreign or internal debts, and is less burdened (ban France. It is just and necessary that she should repair the evil she has caused." In a message to the Chamber of Deputies, M. Poincare said: "Franco will examine any offer Germany may make through the' Allies for a settlement of tho Ruhr problem, provided it is precise, serious and direct." The Chamber adjourned until May Bth, after voting appropriations necessary to maintain the administration in the Ruhr. —A. and N.Z. cable.

NO FOOD SHORTAGE

SUPPLIES FROM RUSSIA

LONDON, March 31

Tho Morning Post's correspondent rc>' ports that resistance in the Ruhr will not collapse owing to shortage of food. The Germans at home and abroad have already given food valued at twenty million marks. A Soviet ship, carrying fourteen hundred tons of rye from Russian peasants and workers, has reached Hamburg, and others are following with 8500 tons of corn.—A. and N.Z. cable.

WORKMEN IN CONFLICT

SEVERAL KILLED BY TROOPS

LONDON, March 31

The Central News's Berlin correspondent reports that six Germans were killed and twenty wounded in a conflict between French troops and Kvupps' workmen at Essen. The French unexpectedly occupied certain motor works. The workers stopped (he machinery and offered opposition, ignoring' die French ofliccrs' persuasions to resume. They surrounded and threatened to attack '.he' troops unless they withdrew. Further attempt:; to pacify them failed. 'I he men trrew more turbulent and declared they would defend the works. Eventually lour Frneh machine guns \\i:vf ordered to lire on them, inflictiny ike above casun ties. The remainder of the workmen (led and the French occupied the works.-A. and A. L. cable.

ESSEN CASUALTIES

BERLIN, March 31. The Essen casualties are seven killed arid twenty-two severely and thirty-two slightly wounded. The crowd attacked four Frenchmen, killing two—A. and i\M cable. ROLE OF MEDIATOR. DECLINED BY BRITISH PREMIER. PARIS, March 30. The Echo-de-Paris states that Hcrr Sthamer recently asked Mr Bonar Law to initiate negotiations between k ranee and Germany. Mr Law replied that Germanv must address herself , direct to France, 'Belgium, or the Reparations Commission—A. and N.Z. cable. RECENT GERMAN LOAN. REPARATION COMMISSION'S RIGHTS. PARIS, March 30. The Reparations Commission has sent a letter to Germany dealing with the recently issued ten million pounds gold loan, pointing out the priority of the right of the Commission, under article 248 of the Versailles Treaty, over all the Reich's resources, and in this specific ease over the nionev necessary to pay the interest or repay the capital of the loan, more especially if the money raised is not devoted to the payment of the reparations. The Commission does not dispute Germany's right to issue the loan, bur contends that, the reparation payments must take priority,—A. and N,Z. cable.

UNDER SUBSCRIBED

BERLIN, March 31. Twenty-five per rent only of the lifty million dollar loan lias been subscribed,

General Degoutte bus issued a proclamation at Dusseldorf ordering tho railwayman to work for Franco or leave the occupied area.—A. and N.Z. cable.

GERMAN WOMEN'S APPEAL

'TO END HORRORS OF OCCUPA

TION."

BERLIN, March 30.

Mass meetings of women belonging to tho Social Democrat Party, which were held in Dortmund, Cologne and _ Elberfeld, adopted resolutions appealing to women throughout tho world to raise their voices in support of the plea to end the horrors of the French and Belgian invasion, asserting that German women do not want another war. but co-operation in peace and industry with all the nations of the world toward'; reconstruct ion.—Router. MOTOR WORKS SEIZED. MEN DOWN TOOLS. ' Received April 2, 11.30 a.m. BERLIN, March 31, • The' French have occupied a suburb of Mannheim, seizing large motor works. The workmen have downed tools.—A. and N.Z, cable. THE RIOTING IN ESSEN. GERMANS BLAMED. Received April 2, 11.36 a.m. LONDON. March 31. The Sunday Express's Paris correspondent says that the Esson rioting was prearranged by the Germans, who sent organised agents into the city. German photographers took pictures of workmen holding up their hands in token of surrender. The Foreign Office declares that the workmen turned lire hoses on the troops and threatened them with revolvers. After that the troops fired in the air, but the Germans took no heed of the warning.—A. and N.Z. cable.