NO ACTION INTENDED.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18758, 11 January 1923, Page 5

NO ACTION INTENDED.

SENATOR ATTACKS ADMINISTRATION. NEW YORK, January 5. (Received Jan. 10, at 10.10 p.m.) The Timcs’s Washington correspondent says: The Administration is convinced that no action by the United States at this time would change the plans hi regard to the French invasion of the Ruhr, as the French Government had ample time to consider the attitude of th" American Government. It is felt further, that action by the United States might cause bad feeling among the French. Senator Robinson, nr a bitter speech assailing the Administration, declared that the ship of State was drifting without chart or compass, while the helmsman was apparently asleep at the wheel. He demanded to know why the Government had not withdrawn the troops from Germany in conformity with the Reed resolution.—A. and N.Z. Cable.

THE COAL QUESTIONr COMMISSION DECLARES DEFAULT. * PARIS, January 9. The Reparations Commission declared Germau”s default in respect to coal deliveries bv 5 votes to 1. Sir John Bradbury's was the minority vote. The German representative first spoke, declaring that the German Government did, not consider it indispensable to execute the coal deliveries according to the exact percentage established, in view of the suggestion by the Reparations Commission last March that any deficits in the supplies should be made up bv cash pavraento. The Germans then withdrew. Sir John Bradbury said he did not vote in favour of proclaiming Germany's default for reasons of general policy, and because he was of opinion that in a problem of secondary importance like this a decision involving grave consequences should not be taken.—Renter. BRITISH OPPOSITION SUPPORTED. PARIS, January 9. (Received Jan. 10. at 7.20 p.m.) Mr Royden, the United States observer on the R'enaration Commission, supported Sir John Bradbury in the opinion that, though Germany has not met her obligations, yet her default in coal and wood is not of such gravity as to warrant the heavy sanctions now being undertaken. Mr Royden urges that the reparations problem should be dealt with as a whole. —A. and N.Z. Cable. GERMANY'S DEFENCE. BERLIN, January 9. A communique has been published denying the accusation of voluntary default in respect to coal, timber,. and paving stones deliveries; but it admits that the obligations have not been completely fulfilled. The communique attributes this partly to the fact that the demands from the very cutset were excessive, and partly to uncontrollable circumstances, such as strikes and transport difficultes, which were due largely to the French authorities’ alleged unwarranted conduct. The communique maintains that only preliminary negotiations proceeded as regards deliveries of nitrates, and denies that the Government in this respect violated the Peace Treaty, because the Reparations Commission made no definite demands. —Reuter. GERMAN COAL WANTED. ' LONDON, January 9. The Matin’s Coblenz correspondent says; “Once at Essen France will control the exploitation of coal, and by means of the present organisation she will despatch, it to the Allied countries. France will also collect a coal tax in the Allies’ name.” The correspondent says it is estimated that the consumption of coal in Germany has increased by 101 per cent, since the war. The factories ajre working full pressure, and seven or eight furnaces out of every 10 are alight. Owing to the destruction of the French mines during the war the furnaces in Lorraine have stopped as a result of the absence of German deliveries. —A, and Cable. WORLD CONFERENCE SUGGESTED. TO SETTLE PRESENT PROBLEMS. WASHINGTON, January 9. Senator Capper, of Kansas, in a speech in the Senate urging the Administration to call a world economic conference to solve the industrial and agricultural problems of the world, -pointed out that the United States was the most powerful influence for world disarmament, by which Government expenditures abroad would be decreased and the United States’ debts paid. Senator Hiram Johnston, of California, who opposed Senator Bill for representation on the Reparations Commission, favoured Senator Capper’s suggestion, as precluding the possibilitv of foreign alliances or commitments, or the cancellation of war debts.—A. and N.Z. Cable.