MAYENCE OCCUPIED.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18761, 15 January 1923, Page 5

MAYENCE OCCUPIED.

CONTROLLING RUHR INDUSTRY. BERLIN, January 12. The French General Simon, who commands the bridgehead at Dusseldorf, instructed the German authorities to summon heads of the Krupp, Thyssen, and Kierdorf firms, and other leading industrialists, to a conference, at either Dusseldorf or Essen, in order to discuss methods for carrying on industry in tho Ruhr. The authorities replied that they would communicate with the coal syndicate, whr.?e headquarters had been removed. The firms readily responded, but refused to send their chiefs, and appointed representatives. The Mavors cf Essen and Dusseldorf and the Allied engineers were also present. General Simon intimated that Mayence was no longer under Beriin’.s sovereignty, but under occupational authority. The Germans protest against this as a breach of the treaty.—A. and N.Z. Cable. THREATENED WITH SANCTIONS. GERMANS WANT ENGLISH COAL. LONDON, January 13. (Received Jan. 14, at 5.5 p;m.) The Morning Post’s Berlin correspondent states; When the German industrialists and coal owners did not attend the meeting at Essen, General Denvignes addressed the Germans present. He said that unless the mines proceeded forthwith with deliveries of coal for all parts of Germany, including unoccupied territory, the sanctions would be imposed. The j Morning Post continues: This means that in a few days the mines will be unable to pay wages, unless the French Commission decides to pay them itself. Herr Stinnes, Herr Thyssen, and other German industrialists are trying to checkmate the French Commission by applying to the English coal owners for coal on credit to enable Germany to be independent of the Ruhr coal.—A. and N.Z. Cable. GERMANY'S PROTESTS. NO REPLY FROM AMERICA. BERLIN, January 13. (Received Jau. 14, at 5.5 p.m.) The German Government has handed the Belgian and French Ambassadors a Note denying that there is any real excuse for violating the Treaty of Versailles. Germany cannot fight, but she will not bow to or assist E ranee' The mark is falling and prices are rising. The result will bo that Germany will be unable to pay any Power its reparations.—A. and N.Z. Cable. ROME, January 12. The German Ambassador has lodged with Signor Mussolini a nrotest against the French invasion of tho Ruhr. The Ambassador declared that Gormanv would fulfil obligation as far as she was able.—A. and N.Z. Cable. WASHINGTON, January 12. (Received Jau. 14, at 6.5 p.m.) A White House spokesman stated that the American Government will make no reply to the German protests against the French movement into the Ruhr. The Administration sees no road by which its desire to' be helpful in the reparations crisis can be advanced; therefore, it is not moving in any way. Following a statement that Jugo-Slavia had sought to purchase rifles from the United States Government, the White House spokesman declared that she will not sell arms to any European Power, or any other Government or person. This refusal is described as a protest against military action, in so far as supplying arms is concerned, but it was made clear that the Government would not interfere with the purchase of rifles and munitions from private concerns.—A. and N.Z. Cable. ' BRITISH MINERS’ SUPPORT. LEAGUE’S ARBITRATION SUGGESTED. LONDON, January 15. (Received Jan. 14, at 5.5 p.m.) The Miners’ Federation has protested against the French occupation of the Ruhr, believing that the world’s peace is threatened by this display of military force. It calls on the Allied; ■Governments to get reparations settled by arbitration under the League of Nations. Meanwhile, the British Miners’ Federation will keep in touch with the German miners, in order that the facts of the Ruhr occupation may be mnde known to the world.—A. and N.Z. Cable. CONDITIONS IN GERMANY, CITIES’ FOOD SUPPLY THREATENED. BERLIN, January 13. (Received Jan. 14, at 5.5 p.m.) Owing to the occupation of the Ruhr, tho agricultural districts of Hanover are crowded \vith agents who are buying up cattle, butter, and milk for the newlyoccupied area on such a scale that the supply of the German towns is endangered. Within a week the whole of the stocks of coal in Germany will be exhausted if the Ruhr supplies arc stopped, and hundreds of thousands will be thrown out of work. The workers in the Ruhr are spending lavishly, owing to the rapid fall of the mark. At Krupps 40,000 workers are continuing at their posts. —A. and N.Z. Cable. FRANCE RECONSIDERING. ANOTHER CONFERENCE CONTEMPLATED. NEW YORK, January 14. (Received Jau. 15, at 0.20 a.m.) The New York World’s Paris correspondent reports that M. Poincare contemplates calling another conference concerning reparations, to which the United States will he invited. It is elicited that the United States will not accept, if the conference’s purpose is only the issue of another ultimatum to Germany, but. if the Premier desired to submit the reparations problem to an international commission, such as Mr Hughes suggested, America’s attitude would be entirely sympathetic. The Administration, moreover, would welcome any French step towards the modification of the drastic policy on which M. Poincare has embarked.—A. and N.Z. Cable. LATE MESSAGES. PARIS, January 15. (Received Jan. 15, at 0.45 a.m.) The Reparations Commission lias postponed the date of the next German reparations payment to January 31, as a provisional measure. A vote was not taken. Kir John Bradbury dissented from the decision, as it was contrary to the British policy of a. long moratorium. Ho also dissented from the decision to supply information to the new Franco-Bol-gian-Itnlinn Control Commission in the Ruhr, of which the Reparations Commission has no official cognisance. Router’s Cologne correspondent says that the Inter-Allied Rhineland Commission has decided not to prohibit the half-hour strike in the occupied territory on January 15, because it will be purely a mourning observance. This is the first lime that the commission has waived the antistrike ordinance.—Reuter. BERLIN, January 13. (Received Jan. 15, at 0.45 a.m.) Vorwaeits slates that the French flag which was hoisted by the occupying troops on a steeple was torn down by a crowd. The burgomaster apologised to the French commander. —Reuter.