GERMANY'S PAYMENTS

New Zealand Times, Volume L, Issue 11655, 20 October 1923, Page 6

GERMANY'S PAYMENTS

GENERAL* SMUTS’ SGHEME CREATION OF NEUTRAL ZONE ON THE RHINE. INTEREST IN ENGLAND. R— TelegraDh.—Press Assn.—Copyright Australian Imfl V.Z. Cabi. A«oci»»ea. LONDON, October 18. The newspapers are devoting much attention to a scheme which General Smuts is said to be preparing tor solving the reparations problems. The “Daily Chronicle’s diplomatic correspondent, 'recalling General Smuts senorts in Switzerland during the war to secure a separate peace with Austria, and his diplomacy in connection with the Irish Treaty, asks: ‘ Is eral Smuts now going to Berlin. correspondent ados that General Smuts scent some time in elaborating a scheme for liquidating tihe reparations problems, of which plan the French Government has now been made aware. He also favours the creation ot a Rhineland State with the same relations to Prussia as those of Bavaria, so that it will be possible for the Rhineland to have special economic relations with France. The “Daily Telegraph” says it is an exaggeration to say that the Smuts scheme attempts a full settlement ot reparations. He is in perfect agreement with all the dominion Premiers who have rallied' to Mr Bruce’s view that it would be highly inadvisable to do anything to embarrass or limit the freedom of the British Governmertt m the delicate negotiations about to beoin. General Smuts desires to reinforce the entente with France. He favours a morotorium for Germany, extending over a few years, on similar lines to that embodied in Mr Bonar Law s proposals.

UNDER LEAGUE’S GUARANTEE. ■ According to a message published earlier in the iveek the two main features in General Smuts’s plan relate first to the financial reconstruction of Germany on lines not very dissimilar from tihoste followed in the case of Austria under the aegis of the League of Nations’ standing committee on finance ; and, secondly, the establishment, presumably under the guarantee of the league, of a neutral, that is, a demilitarised zone in. the Rhineland without interfering with the latter’s present political allegiance or administrative links with the rest of Germany.

DELIVERIES IN KIND

CONCESSION BY FRANCE. REVISION OF AMOUNT. Australian and N-Z. Cabin Association. {Received October 19, 9.30 p.m.) LONDON, Ootober 19. The “Westminster ’ Gazette’s” correspondent in Paris says that France, through the Reparations Commission, is prepared to consent to a revision, of the amount of the deliveries in kind due from Germany. All France asks as a preliminary is that deliveries shall he resumed to a certain extent. The funds required to finance the industrialists are being granted by the German Treasury. In response to this hint it is announced that the Germans intend to apply to the Reparations Commission for a reduction of the amount they wero ordered to deliver.

“ CALL A CONFERENCE ”

“AND EXCLUDE FRANCE.” LABOUR M.P.’S SUGGESTION. Australian and N-Z. Cable Association. (Received October 19, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, October 18. Mr J. H. Henderson, M.P., speaking at Newcastle, said that if M. Poincare remained adamant algainst all suggestions from the other signatories to the Versailles Treaty Britain could not afford to sit back and await disaster and rum. Britain could convoke all the signatories except France to iake note of M. Poincare's continuous violations of the Treaty, and deal with the new situation on the basis of international justice.

WOMEN START A RIOT

HUSBANDS CALLED TO HELP. POLICE STONED. Published In 'The Time* ” LONDON, October 18. The Cologne correspondent or “Tho Times” reports that an unusual form of rioting broke out at Gelsenkirchen. Hundreds of workmen's wives forced entry into the premises of the Mannesman n works, and calling on their husbands to assist them, stormed the offices. Great damage was done, and everything of value was looted. The police were greeted with showers of stones and pieces of metal, hut eventually they cleared tho premises after firing a few rounds. Organised hands of plunderers, armed wuh knives and revolvers, attacked fanners near Dochum, but were routed by the police. Many arrests were made. Serious collisions occurred between the unemployed and the police in Mannheim, and there were several casualties.