DUE TO A CABINET CRISIS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17658, 23 June 1919, Page 5

DUE TO A CABINET CRISIS

EXTENSION OF TIME ASKED FOR PROBABLE EEPLY BY ALLIES ORIGINAL DATE MUST BE OBSERVED r.-:*s Awooiatiea.—By Telegraph Copyright.

THE INEVITABLE ACCEPTED. TREATY TO BE SIGNED. WEIMAR, Juno 2fc The German National Assembly has accepted peace. PAEIS, June 20. _ The Scheidemann Government has resigned, and peace is believed to be assured. . Later. Unofficial advices indicate that a majority of the German National Assembly is ready to sign peace. Herr Noske, Minister of Defence, is forming a new Cabinet. —A.- and N.Z. Cable. PUBLIC OPINION IN GERMANY. VEERING TOWARDS SIGNING. . LONDON, June 20. There is an active concentration of Allied troops on the Rhine, and the Germans are withdrawing their wax material from the points immediately threatened. The tone of the German press is veering towards settlement, although a majority ! oi the Government is against signing. Some papers suggest that a plebiscite of the people would show an increasing bodv of opinion in favour of peace.—A. and N.Z. Cable. A DENIAL. AND A REASSERTION. NEW YORK, June 20. ' The German press denies that the National Assembly decided to sign peace. The Exchange Telegraph Agency asserts that signing is certain.—A. and N.Z Cable. THE COUNTER-PROPOSALS. ■_ j A DELAYED MESSAGE. NEW YORK;' June 16. In the last of her counter-proposals Germany maintains that the Allies have forsaken the Peace of Justice to which they pledged themselves in the armistice negotiations, and instead they have conchided a Peace-of Might. Germany protests against the proposed terms individually and collectively, asks for oral negotiations, and declares that Germany expects justice, based on equality and reciprocity. If the Allies' terms are accepted, it would mean the complete enslavement of the German people and the betrayal of the worlds cherished hopes of peace. Germany declares that the right of self-deter-mination is violated throughout in the treaty.—A. and N.Z. Cable. THE REVISED TREATY. LONDON,. June 20. The newspapers have received the full text of the revised treaty, which occupies 4« foolscap pages and includes 440 articles.—A. and N.Z. Cable. SIGNATURE REGARDED AS ASSURED. POLITICAL RESHUFFLINGS. . COPENHAGEN, June 20. Weimar messages state that the Government resigned after a midnight Cabinet meeting, at which Herr Scheidemann, Count Rantzau, and Herr Demberg definitely threatened to resign if the Assembly decided to sign peace. It is expected that Herr Erzberger -mil form a new Government, including Count' Bernstorff, Herren Richthofen and Muller, in addition to Majority Socialists and Herr Noske. HenDavid (Independent) refuses to join, owing to Noske's inclusion. & It is anticipated that at to-morrow's 'meeting of the Assembly a 90 per cent, majority of the Socialists, 75 per cent of the Centre Party, and 30 per cent, of the Democrats, all Independents, will be in favour of signing peace. It is generally believed that the signatures are now assured.—A. and N.Z. Cable. CONFERENCE AT WEIMAR. > DIVIDED COUNSELS. SIGNATURE REGARDED AS CERTAIN. r COPENHAGEN, June 20. Members of the Weimar Cabinet, the peace delegates, and representatives from the Federal States had a lengthy conference. Representatives from Hamburg, Bremen, and Lubeck supported—Herr Scheidemann's determination to refuse signature. Wurtembuxg and Baden delegates favoured signature, and no decision was reached by Saxony and Bavaria. The Berlin Exchange is firm, owing to a confidential assurance that signature is certain.—A. and N.Z. Cable. ■ • . ANOTHER GERMAN REQUEST. TIME FOR A REFERENDUM. PARIS, June 20. (Received June 22, at 5.5 p.m ) It is reported that Germany has asked for a further extension of time, to enable a referendum on the peace terms to bp taken.—A. and N.Z. Cable. . DIFFICULTIES OF CABINETMAKING. THE DATE OF SIGNATURE. PROLONGATION OF PERIOD POSSIBLE. . COPENHAGEN, June 21. (Received June 22, at 5.5 pm.) The resignation of Herr Scheidemann's Government prepares the way for the acceptance of the trepty, but it is impossible j to sign -within the period fixed owing to delays incidental to forming the new Government It is expected that the Allies will prolong the period if the acceptance of the treaty is assured.—A. and N Z Cable. ' ' TRIAL OF EX-KAISER. PROBABLE , GERMAN REQUEST • • PARIS, June 21. (Received Juno 22, at 5.5 p.m.] It is probable that Herr Erzberger will ask the Allies to eliminate from the treaty the demand for the trial of the ex-Kaiser —A. and N.Z. Cable.

FINANCIAL EXPERTS' ADVICE. i AGAINST SIGNATURE. PARIS, June 21. (Received June 22, at 5.5 p.m ) The Berlin Cabinet summoned financial and economic experts to Weimar, and they unanimously advised the rejection of the treaty as being ruinous and unrealisable— A. and N.Z. Gable. A PAN-GERMAN MEETING. EMDEN'S CAPTAIN MOBBED. AMSTERDAM, June 21 (Received June 22, at 5.5 p m.) Captain Muller, of the Emden, addressed a pan-German meeting at Franktort. His opponents abducted him in a motor car, but the police pursued them and iescued Muller.—A. and N.Z. Cable. . THE SITUATION AT MOMENTOUS CHANGES EXPECTED. NO EXTENSION OF TIME. LONDON, June 21. (Received June 22, at 11.5 p.m.) The Germans at Versailles, on learning ol Herr Scheidemann's fall, burned all papers and correspondence that had passed between Herr Scheidemann and Count Rantzau. Many confused reports are coming from Weimar, showing that momentous changes are talcing place. Ther e is great uncertainty as to the outcome, but ifc is unquestionable that no extension of time w■/ A , f Uowed b y the Allies.—A. and Si.6. Cable. MR MASSEY'S ATTENDANCE. MR LLOYD GEORGE'S REQUEST. Uumro Pkbbs Associatioh.) CHRISTCHURCH, June 21. The following is the text of a letter dated June 9 from Mr Lloyd George to Mr Massey asking the latter to remain in Jingland for the signing of peace:—"l earnestly hope it will not be necessary for you to return to New Zealand before we have arrived at a final settlement with the Germans. I know how difficult it is for you to remain away, and how strong is the claim of the New Zealand people that you should return as soon as possible; but 1 attach the utmost importance to the final decision with regard to peace with the .Germans being taken with the full authority of the representatives of the whole of the Empire. There may be, in fact probably will be, some very important decisions -which will have to be taken before peace is finally signed and sealed, and in these I am most anxious to have your counsel and support. (Signed) D. Lloyd George. J SPECULATIONS AS TO GERMAN ■ CABINET. [ TWO POSSIBLE.PREMIERS MENTIONED.. LONDON, June 22. (Received June 23, at 0.5 a.m.) A Berlin wireless message states that the latest report in parliamentary circles indicates that Herr.. Muller, chairman of the Majority Socialists, will become Premier, and Count Bernstorff Foreign Aiinis ter, while the United Press Association learns that the new German Cabinet will be. formed under the leadership of Herr Bauer, former Minister- of Labour.—A. and N.Z. Cable.