CHANGE IN POLICY

New Zealand Times, Volume L, Issue 11705, 18 December 1923, Page 7

CHANGE IN POLICY

FRANCE AND REPARATIONS M. POINCARE DECIDES TO HEAR GERMANY’S CASE. MOTIVE DOUBTFUL. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. LONDON, Deoember 16. The “Daily Chronicle’s” Paris correspondent writes: “M. Poincare’s long period of passive resistance has ended. For nearly a year he had stubbornly turned a deaf ear to representations both from Britain and from Germany. He is now going to hear Germany’s case.” The Quai d’Orsay says that the volte face is due to the passive resistance in the Ruhr ending. Others contend that at is due to fear of what would happen to the Entente in the event of a Labour Government being set up in Britain.

LANDS GERMAN PLAN REJECTED. TREATY PARAMOUNT. Renter’s Telegram. LONDON, Deoember 16. The German Charge d’Affairs, Herr von Hoesch, and Herr Roediger, waited respectively on M. Poincare and M. Jaspar at Paris and Brussels, and made cimilar remarks in reference to reparations, the Ruhr, and the Rhineland. Herr von Hoesch proposed the. constitution of a commission with a view to restoring the administrative machinery in those districts. . M. Poincare said it was impossible to discuss the powers conferred on the Reparation Commission by the Treaty of Versailles, and it was impossible for France to deprive her agents in the occupied territory of their proper authority. There could be no question of modifying the conditions in the territory. The inter-Allied Rhineland Commission administered the territory. In order to avoid all possibility of misunderstanding, he requested Herr vow Hoesch to prepare a written statement explaining the views of his Government, and Herr von Hoesch undertook to furnish the statement at the earliest opportunity. M. Jaspar took cognisanoe of Herr Roediger’s declaration. He stated that he would communicate with the French Government with a view to a reply. NO WITHDRAWAL POINCARE’S FIRM REPLY. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Received December 17, 9.15 p.m.) PARIS, Deoember 17. Directly Herr von Hoesch delivered the German proposals in writing, M. Poincare began drafting his reply. “France will not consent to the withdrawal of the Franoo-'Belgian authorities in the Ruhr or the InterAllied Commission in the other occupied territory,” he said, “but is willing to accept any conservations relative to the prorogation of the agreement with the German magnates.” M. Poincare concluded' by calling attention to the fact that the InterAllied Commission of Military Control has not resumed it 6 regular working. Until this is done, Germany is not loyally executing the Versailles Treaty. While advanced Republican organs desire M. Poincare to proceed with the negotiations, the Nationalist newspapers regard Germany’s move with much suspicion, and urge M. Poincare not to give up any pledges given. “ENGLAND PARALYSED” POINCARE TAKES ADVANTAGE. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Received Deoember 17, 9.5 p.m.) BERLIN, December 17. The general belief is that England is paralysed in foreign affairs, and that M. Poincare is using the fact against Germany, for which reason M. Poincare has chosen the present time to declare negotiations possible. COST OF OCCUPATION GERMAN PAYMENT STOPPED. PubHsbad in "Th* Timas.* LONDON, December IG. According to the Cologne correspondent of “The Times,’* different indications point to January Ist as the date when the question of the Rhineland will come to a head. Tlie German Government has already announced its intention of stopping tho payment it is at present making for the maintenance of the armies of occupation; and it will then remain to be seen whether Franoe will exert pressure to extort further payments, or agree to reduce the gam - sons and meet the cost. RELEASE OF PRIBONERB EXPECTED SHORTLY. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. BERLIN, December 16. Advices from Essen state that the French and Belgian military commanders have informed the German Red Cross that a large number of political prisoners will shortly be released, as passive resistance may now he regarded as having ended. SAXON CABINET CAUSE OF RESIGNATION. Reuter’s Telegram. BERLIN, December 16. The Socialist Government of Saxony has resigned. The Democratic Party withdrew its support owing to the Socialists refusing to join in a vote of no-confidenoe against Herr Liebmann, Minister of the Interior.