RUHR PROBLEM.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18518, 1 October 1923, Page 7

RUHR PROBLEM.

A'. and N.Z.

BfilTAffi'S ADVICE.

PROMPT NEGOTIATIONS.

CHANGE IN OCCUPATION.

GOOD FAITH TO BE PROVED,

LORD CURZON'S OPINION.

By Telegraph—Press Association Copyright.

(Received 5.5 p.m.)

LONDON, Sept. 29.

The conference between the Marquis Curzon, Secretary of State fur Foreign Affairs, and Dr. F. Sthamer, German Ambassador to Britain, is tho subject of an article by the Daily Telegraph's political observer. Ho says that Dr. Sthamer's instructions wore to press for tonic acknowledgment on Britain's part of Germany's colossal sacrifice in calling off passive resistance in the Ruhr. Lord Curzon could only tell Dr. Sthamer there was no reason to believe that the character of the occupation would not change when tho .consequences of the recall of the ordinances proved Germany's good faith. The ' correspondent hints * that Lord Curzon advised Germany to appoint Ambassadors to Paris and Brussels to commence negotiations promptly. Mr. Neville Chamberlain, speaking at Birmingham, said tho Prime Minister, Mr. S. Baldwin, had not changed his opinions. What was done was to change the attitude of the French into friendliness and confidence. We were now in a favourable position to take up the whole question with Franco again, and possibly evolve a common policy.

STARVING "MILLIONAIRES"

BERLIN'S COST OF LIVING.

PLIGHT OF WORKING MEN.

Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.' ffiecd. 5.45 p.m.) : .. LONDON. Sept. 28. The Daily Telegraph's Berlin correspondent says the cost of living in Berlin is still increasing by leaps and bounds, a great factor being the high cost of coal. The price of Westphalian is now 2% times that at which English supplies are selling in Hamburg, and even inferior German brown coal costs 90 per cent, more in Hamburg- than good English. Fares ,on the: railways, trams, and buses have advanced tenfold in a fortnight, and have been doubled in the last two days. The, cost of central heating is now so great / that tenants in blocks of flats aro giving it up, preferring freezing te starving as they pay. As to prices, what can a married wageearner getting 700 million to 1200 million marks weekly do when beef costs 40 million marks 3 pound, butter 60 million, and margarine 25 million, and every time he goes to work he must pay 9 million for a return ticket. Yet these men are the aristocrats of labour. Charwomen get only 13 million marks a week, plus their fares. Women often return from the market weeping because they are unable to buy even the cheapest articles ot food.

" ROCKED IN A DELUSION."

POSITION OF THE FRENCH.

UNPREPARED FOR NEXT STEP

r Australian, and N.Z. Cabl» Association.

CReod. 6.5 p.m.) LONDON, Ssrt. 80The Paris correspondent of the Observer says that for eight months the French people have been rocked into the delusion that the end of passive resistance would bring them within sight of the promised land of payment by Germany. Thos3 whoso better knowledge delivered them from such a mistake long foresaw that when the German surrender came it might find France unprepared for the nest step, on which the last remaining chance of obtaining reparations depends. That step could be teiken only with the Allies. In the meantime there is no sign of a general return to work in the Ruhr, and stall less of any collaboration of Gorman officials with the French authorities. •.-■'../..' FIRM 'FRENCH -DEMAND. RESUMPTION OF WORK. ESSENTIAL TO NEGOTIATION. Eeuter. PASIS, Sept. 28. Germany has issued an' ordinance rescinding five Government orders made on the occasion of the Ruhr occupation. It is intimated by French official quarters that it should be well understood that no agreement will be concluded between French representative? and German authorities until Dr. Slresemann revokes all contentious orders. . Furthermore, the occupied territiries must revert, to the normal regime, and resume completely and permanently tho work of supplying doliveries in kind. Fiance accordingly intimated and the Reparations Commission has emphasised that M. ■ Poincare always made the resumption, of negotiations dependent on these precise essential conditions.

CONFERENCE LIKELY.

FRANCE AND BELGIUM.

Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Reed. 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, Sept. SO.

The Paris correspondent of the Morning "Post states that he enderstands that a conferinco between France and Belgium is likely soon, the outcome of which may be a meeting of tho Supreme Council of the Allies, independently of whether any proposals are received from Berlin.

ONE DICTATORSHIP URGED.

REICH REQUEST TO BAVARIA. A. and N.Z. BERLIN, Sept. 28. Cabinet at a meeting held at.midnight, 'decided to ask Bavaria to canc«l Dr. von Kahr's appointment and unite under Dr. Gessler's dictatorship.