BERLIN'S MOURNING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18299, 16 January 1923, Page 7

BERLIN'S MOURNING.

INVECTIVE IN REICHSTAG. SPEECH BY THE CHANCELLOR. INJUSTICE AND MISERY. By Telegraph—Press Association— (Received 7.5 p.m.) » Reuter. v . . BERLIN, Jan. 14. The German Chancellor, Herr ' Cuno, delivered a speech in the Reichstag yesterday, .vehemently denouncing French military action in the Ruhr region". The admission of French journalists was suspended. The House remained standing while the Chancellor spoke. Herr Cuno said that though the French action ostensibly had been undertaken because 'of small arrears'in deliveries of coal and telegraph poles, he was of the opinion .that it was not a question of reparations, but the 400-year-old policy of destroying the German Empire, the policy of brutal expansion clothed as formerly in the garb of right except that the old watchword of. '.' reunion " . had become " reparation." Herr Cuno added:—"Dare we expect that the compelling force of economic de % velopment will sooner or later lead to a change before a conflagration startsjwhich will be a menace not only to Germany, but to Europe He urged the necessity for most vigilant prudence, self-restraint and co-operation of the people with the State in order to avoid disastrous consequences .to the community. He concluded :: " Injustice, misery" and deprivation are" our fate to-day, freedom of life our aim, and unity our path." The Reichstag voted confidence in Herr Cuno, only Communists opposing. Sixteen Socialists did not vote. Sunday was observed as a day of mourning in Berlin on account of the French . advance. Flags were halfmasted and church bells were tolled. Socialists and Communists refusing "to participate in the demonstration stagemanaged by the Government, held separate indoor meetings. Many thousands of bourgeosie filled the Koenigs-platz in front of the Reichstag. There was a more impressive scene in the Paris-platz,' which was transformed into an armed camp. Hundreds of military police and two squadrons of cavalry assembled to defend the French Embassy,,, but no outbreak occurred. The immense crowd contented itself with singing " Deutschland über Alles." The theatres opened and attempted to substitute gloomy for gay pieces, .while musical comedy houses ludicrously opened with dolorous selections, and then played ordinary pieces. l In connection with the day of mourning a display of the Republican colours at Essen was made for the first time at several fashionable hotels. Patriotic songs ere repeatedly sung. There were frequent cries of " Pown with France." Herr Heslman, president of the Miners' Union, declared that the miners would refuse to work overtimfe, and would use ca' canny measures. Grain brokers on the Hamburg Bourse adopted a resolution refusing to do business, directly or indirectly, with French and Belgian firms. THE GERMAN CHANCELLOR. RE-CREATOR OF GERMAN MARINE. Herr Ouno, the new German Chancellor, who is pitted against M. Poincare in the reparation drama, is like his antagonist a lawyer by profession, but by training he is a Prussian official. Rising quickly to a leading position in the Ministry of • Finance, his organising abilities were called into play early in the war, when he became, first, head of the National Grain Board, and, -later, Food Controller. It was almost an accident that set his feet or? his second path. Negotiating with the shipping companies as to compensation, for Government-requisitioned vessels, he was brought into contact with Herr Baliin, at that time president of the Hamburg-America Line.' Herr Baliin, as (subsequent letters and biographies have shown, was one of the few leading men in Germany who appreciated at his true value or, rather, lack of value, the ex-Kaiser. The gift for assessing personalities thus expressed was displayed again when he met. Dr Cuno. Only this time his conclusion was an exactly opposite one. So impressed was he by Dr. Cuno's negotjatory powers that, already forseeing what wotild foP" low the war, he pressed him into shipping service. Dr. Cuno left his Government office and joined the Board of the Hamburg-America Line. In this position he swiftly proved to his fellow directors that their president's new recruit was worthy. ■ And when Herr Baliin, brokenhearted, committed suicide in the dark days of November, 1918, they unanimously elected Herr Cuno his successor. His task was little less than appalling. Ho had. practically, to rebuild from the beginning. Of that once-great fleet, bidding tor the 1 brae ribbon of the Atlantic, there remained only a few "tramps'' and some lighters. Herr Cuno immediately gave orders. for the laying down of new vessels, and got into touch with other : German companies for the pooling of their poor resources. But those were minor affairs. Herr Ouno i threw a swift glance across the Atlantic. I America had more ships than it knew how to employ. Why not co-operate? j It was a stroke bold to the point impudence- What'had the stricken Ham-burg-America Line to contribute, to a joint agreement? Neither ships nor money. No, replied Herr Cuno, in effect, but we have technical knowledge that you do not yet possess, old shipping relations .all over the worfd that we can renew, • and vast business experience. And „he persuaded Mr. Harriman, the American shipping magnate, that those possessions, though less .tangible than passenger liners and freighters, were worth having at his disposal. Herr Cuno returned from the United States with the famous "Harriman agreement." In the reparation negotiations with his own Government Herr Cuno was equally successful. -Without .having to "water the capital of his company, he soon had its flag flying once more over its own steamers. In association with American and British lines, the Hamburg-America now has its regular services with North and South America, Africa, the Far Last, and- in the Baltic. _ ' , Forty-six years of age, Herr Uuno is blue-eyed, fresh-faced and vigors, though his hair is greying. In appearance; mentality and experience, he is much more the " man of the world than any other German statesman. COMMUNIST FUNDS STOLEN. OVER £740,000 MISSING. EXECUTIVE MEMBERS SUSPECTED. Australian, and N.Z. Cable Association. (Reed. 4.5 p.m.) COPENHAGEN, Jan. 14. Reports from Moscow state that an investigation into the accounts of the Third (Moscow) International discloses extensive' defalcations amounting to nearly 7,003,000 gold roubles (over £740,000). A number of valuables forming the basis of the International's fighting fund have entirely, disappeared. Prominent members of the executive are suspected.