ESSEN OCCUPIED.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18297, 13 January 1923, Page 9

ESSEN OCCUPIED.

FRENCH AND BELGIANS. m OPPOSItSoi offered. A SinJTTBRM) TOWN. MINE OFFICIALS DECAMP. COMMUNIST PROPAGANDA ■try Telestapli— Association— "*•' ' " ' - (Received 9,5 in.m.) ; A. and N.Z. LONDON, Jan. 11. The occupation of Essen by French forces was completed this afternoon. The effectives entering the Ruhr area, are officially stated to consist of two divisions of French infantry and one brigade of cavalry, accompanied by a Belgian detachment. Advices state that tho force is , fully equipped, and includes a large number of tanks, field guns, -armoured cars, lorries, stad cyclists. The troops are even equipped with gas masks. • Advices from Dusseldc-rf stato that there was no opposition, and no demonstration when the force, which set out: on » wide front, started - A Berlin message reporting tho arrival .of the French at : Essen states that telephonic communication with Essen has been suspended. It i* supposed that the first French contingent occupied the Essen past office and the railway station. The advance began at midnight, and an hour later it was reported that the German population .was awaiting the French occupation, calmly and without apprehension.

According to another report there is great excitement in Essen. Some French journalist* were attacked and severely mauled yesterday.'

The .Ruhr population is strong in its determination to thwart the French occupation as far as possible. Only the lower employees who have not the slightest notion of the management of the mines remain in Essen, and they have been ordered not to help the French engineers. When the troops entered Essen the streets were empty and the shops and restaurants were closed.

; The executive of. the Rhsnish-West-phalian labour organisation has decided to proclaim a uhorfc strike in the Ruhr/ district on Monday. . ■ '?

A meeting of 10,000 people of the better class was held a 4 Essen yesterday, and adopted a resolution protesting against the action of France in violating the Peatee Treaty. The meeting declared that the Ruhr was inseparable from the Fatherland. ;

Extracts from Mr. Lloyd George's last nrticje dealing with the celuses of the war and militarism, have' been plastered over the walla in. Essen and other Ruhr towns. Etasseldorf and Duisburg were plastered during the night with Communist placards in French and German inciting German soldiers to revolt against Herr Stinnes and other capitalists.

A French proclamation issued in Etasseldorf states that the local administration will continue to function, and there will be no curfew, but the carrying- of arms is forbidden. •

The French Rhine flotilla is participating in the Ruhr movement, and is policing the Rhine tributaries aind canals. The; German Ambassador ; left Paris without notifying his departure to the French Foreign Office, which . consequently does not regard his departure as a recall. .-; .-iv. ■;."/' ; '/ ; ...'. :

GERMAN C(HmTER.PMNS, COAL DELIVERIES TO STOP. BAY OF NATIONAL MOURNING. "■ Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. {Reed. 7.80 p.m.) _. LONDON, Jan. 11. - It is reported from Berlin that the German Government has decided to take the ,: following measures immediately after the French occupation is accomplished:— F.hsstly,. .the Versailles Treaty will be 'declared broken; and its . execution inojwratiife. ; Secondly, Germany will no longer ' negotiate with the Reparation * Commission unless injustices be removed. Thirdly, the use of alcoholic liquors will hi reduced. Fourthly, Sunday will he

. dtjclared a national day of mourning. The German Government has attjiounced that deliveries of coal to the Allies will be stopped as 1 it ais impos- • Bible 'to .";continue the same while the French and Belgian authorities replace 'the Ruhr Coal Syndicate Moreover, all .coal forcibly extracted must be paid for by the Governments responsible. : The Chancellor, Hew Cuno, stated that .reparation payments •to France and Belgium would cease, as these countries had broken : the treaty.: He .added that the action of Franco would have serious consequences. France was going to cut off that portion of 'Germany that had hitherto paid the reparations. Germany wate helpless but not broken. '" German diplomatic ' representatives abroad have: been ordered to give information to the respective countries Regarding the real reason 'for the French occupation trf the Ruhr; to protest against .the action ,of France; and to proclaim the French move a violation of the Versailles Treaty./ ;

Sunday has been declared a day of national mourning in Germany. Amusement*; will cease and flags will be halfmasted. . Special services will be held in the churches. ':' Trades , unions are also stopping ■ work for half-au-hour oa Monday. Communists urge a general strike to fight both the French and the Cuno (Cabinet. NO ACTION BY BRITAIN. TO WAIT AND WATCH. ■ •-" (Received 9.5 p.m.) Beater. - LONDON, Jan. 11. . The British Cabinet, discussing the position arising from the French occupation of 'tl* Ruhr regions, it is authoritatively learned that no spectacular action, *uch as the withdrawal of British troops from the- Rhine, is contemplated. Bnlain will continue to be represented on the Reparation Commission and Council of Ambassadors, thereby proving her earnest desire to act' as far as possiDle in co-operation with I; ranee while disapproving of the latter's policy. In the meantime she ,will watch . the results "*>£ France's action. . ...;

FRENCH CONTROL, SCHEME. COAL TAX ANdTcUSTOMS RING (LandN.Z. LONDON, Jan. 11. I ■'- The Franco-Bclgian control o[the I Ruhr region will secure iour-fiftbs 7of the 1 total Germm coal production.. r. v • _ T-. ■■■■■<: -The Paris Journal says that coal irorn i-: the Ruhr accustomed to be sent to ueimany will now ca«y. a dut>_ nof J o ?* 'narks, which France intends to pu. in the Exchequer. : Withthis and theS poeed customs ring:.. France will soon : ; 1,000,000,000 marks in nana. ~