FRANCE AND RUHR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18296, 12 January 1923, Page 7

FRANCE AND RUHR.

'SCOPE OF OCCUPATION. ECONOMIC CONTROL ONLY. NOTICE GIVEN TO BERLIN. DEMAND FOR GOODWILL. SANCTIONS IF REFUSED. By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright. (Received 10.30 p.m.) A. and N.Z. • LONDON. Jan. 10. A Note handed to the German Ambassador by the French Government intimates that France has decided to send into the Ruhr Valley a commission of control, comprising engineers, to superintend the operations of (he German combine which controls the coal mines, and the application of measures which the "Reparation Commission decided on to assure payment of reparations. Italy .i» decided to send engineers, who will act similarly. France does not contemplate any military operations or political occupation of the Ruhr region, She will only send such troops as are necessary to' safeguard the mission. Die population will not have to submit to any disturbance or alterations of tho enstog state "of "things. France counts on, the German Government's goodwill. If that is not forthcoming all coercive measures and sanctions deemed necessary will be taken immediately. ■ The correspondent of the Daily Telegraph at Coblenz reports that 225Q troops will enter Essen to-morrow, their sole function being to protect the French civil engineering mission, who will distribute coal and regularise supplies. No press censorship is being imposed, though a state of siege will be proclaimed. The French decrees will be of » liberal character. The rights and integrities of trades unions will be respected, consequently trouble among the workers is not anticipated. The Petit Parisien states that the French troops at Dusseldorf, and the Belgians at Aix la Chapelle, are requisitioning motor-cars. Spahis (French colonial troops) have occupied tho Luxembourg frontier and the customs offices. A. telegram from Mayence says that French Moroccan troops are passing through that town, and that a portion of the troops stationed at Wiesbaden are on the march. Troops are holding tho railway stations in the territory held by the French troops. The Marseilles • correspondent of, the London Times reports that large contingents of French colonial troops are arriving at that port from Africa to take the places of the French troops that are advancing into Germany. The Paris Matin says that the control of the coal deliveries at Essen does not justify the German press in its vehe : ment outcry. If the troops be compelled to introduce martial law, it will be the Germans' own fault. If, on the other hand, calm prevails, M. Poincare will notify the German. Government that the occupation will be limited to supervision by armed police. The French Government is taking a special party of British, American, and ■neutral journalists to the Ruhr region.

WARNING TO WOBKEES. STRIKERS TO BE DEPORTED. FLIGHT OF COAL SYNDICATE. HEADQUARTERS REMOVED. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Reed. 8.5 p.m-) LONDON, Jan. 10. Advices from Berlin state that French aeroplanes dropped leaflets over Essen on Wednesday calling upon the population to keep quiet. The leaflets also bear a. warning that persons stopping work will be deported and persons preventing work from being carried on will be subject to the death penalty. The Rheni3h-Westphalian Coal Syndicate has removed its headquarters from Essen to Hamburg in consequence of the French advance. The directors of Krupps' Works point- out that they cannot leave as 54,00(J workers are dependent upon, them. - The Berlin correspondent of the Daily Chronicle states thait the transfer of the headquarters of the Ehenish-Westphalian Coal Syndicate to Hamburg is highly significant. The syndicate controls 70 per cent, of Gorman coa'i. Rather than deliver this indispensable machine into French hands its owners have destroyed it, as st ceases to exist at the end of March. This act," says the Lokal Anzeiger, nullifies the French attempt to throttle German industry." The work of removal was done in a single night. Tons of documents were removed in motor-cars to Hamburg and the huge building was empty by morning. Newspapers hysterically applaud this so-called coup. *

Nationalist newspapers call upon the railway workers to refuse to carry French troops aftd customs officers to refuse to collect tolls. They also urge the Government to cease all reparations deliveries and to break off diplomatic relations with France.

BRITISH ON THE RHINE. RECALL NOT CONTEMPLATED. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. ißecd. 8.35 p.m.) LONDON, Jan. 10. The Daily Chronicle says that the Gov•rnment has no intention of withdrawing the British troops from the Rhine owing to the French action in the Ruhr region. WHY BRITAIN DISSENTED. A DISASTROUS POLICY, A. and N.Z. PARIS. Jan. 10. The Journal reports that Sir John Bradbury, speaking at the meeting of the Reparation Commission yesterday on Germany's default, said the times were grave, and each one must define his position and take responsibility for it, The reparation problem had taken a tragic turn and threatened to upset the world. France had a right to more than justice. Bier sacrifices and losses give her a privileged position. She must be paid, but she would not be paid by increasing the number of Germany's defaults. He strongly believed that the enforcement of sanctions and penalties would lead to economic disorder, from which the whole world would suffer. That was why he persisted in opposing a declaration of default, not with the object of deciding in favour of Germany, but of dissociating Britain from a policy that he believed W»« disastrous