GERMANY’S TURN

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18762, 16 January 1923, Page 5

GERMANY’S TURN

MOURNS HER FATE. SUNDAY IN BERLIN. FARCICAL SCENES IN THEATRES. Press Association —By Telegraph—Copyright BERLIN, January 14. (Received Jan. 15, at 7.25 p.m.) A day of mourning was observed against tho French advance. Flags were halfmasted, and church bells tolled. Tho Socialists and Communists, refusing to participate in a demonstration that was stage-managed by the Government, held separate indoor meetings. Meantime many thousands of the bourgeoisie filled the Koenig Platz front of the Reichstag. There was a more impressive scene in the Pariser Platz, which was transformed into an armed camp. Hundreds of military and police, and two sauadrons of cavalry were assembled to defend the E rench Embassy, but no outbreak occurred. Ihe immense crowd contented itself with singing “Deutchland Über Alles.” The theatres opened and attempted to substitute gloomy for gay pictures, while the musical comedy houses ludicrously opened with dolorous selections and then played ordinary pieces.—A. and N.Z Cable. . . A display of the Republican colours at ■Essen was made for the first time at several fashionable hotels. Patriotic songs were repeatedly sung. There were frequent cries of “Down with France. Herr Heslman (president of the Miners Union) declared that the miners would refuse to work overtime, and would use ca’ canny measures. —Reuter. THE OCCUPATION. FOCH BEHIND ACTIVITIES. PARTS, January 14. In accordance with Marshal Foch’s plan, the occupation of the Ruhr is proceeding methodically. Gelsenkerchen was occupied on Friday. The occupation of Bochum will probably be effected to-day, when the regrouping of the troops will be completed. Barmen and Dortmund will he left outside the occupied area. A further advance will enable the Allied Engineers to control the metallnrgic coke furnaces in the Ruhr.—A. and N.Z. Cable. ESSEN MINERS PROTEST. INCIDENTS IN THE OCCUPATION. BERLIN, January 14. (Received Jan. 15, at 9.35 p.m.) A meeting of 1050 officials and members of the German Miners’ Union at Essen passed a resolution condemning the French occupation as a violation of German freedom. A fiery speech by tho president of the union was warmly apulauded. French soldiers arriving in a small town in the Ruhr were greeted with showers of

stones. The French general announced that the local German police superintendent would be punished. At Munich the National-Socialist Workers’ parties attacked the office of the InterAllied Commission. They were driven off. Later they took an oath to be revenged on France.—Reuter. A FRENCH DECREE. STRIKES FORBIDDEN. BERLIN, January IS. (Received Jan. 16, at 1.15 a.m.) A decree has been issued at Essen, relieving the French troops of the obligation to pay the luxury tax, ordering the notification of all proposed meetings three days ahead, with the probable attendance, forbidding strikes and procession of uniformed persons, compelling the posting of price lists in German currency in all shops, and prohibiting German soldiers crossing from unoccupied into occupied territory.— Reuter. > THE BRITISH VIEW. A CANDID STATEMENT. EXPEDIENCY NOT MORALITY. LONDON, January 14t Speaking at Canterbury, Mr Roland M’Neill (Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs) said it was a serious disappointment

that so early in the new Government’s life it was compelled to dissent from France’s proposals regarding the host way of making Germany fulfil her obligations. It was the old story of the .goose and the golden eggs in a new form. The British Government believed that the French policy would starve the bird, if not cut its throat. “We wanted,” said the Minister, “to give it just enough food to enable it to lay, not because we loved the bird, but because wo wanted the eggs. Some people seemed to think that Mr Bonar Law desired to let the Germans off easily, or had a squeamish objection to

taking military action in order to make them pay. Others appeared to think that Mr Bonar Law was even deluded enough to trust the German promises. There was no truth whatever in these suggestions. Mr Bonar Law was no more disposed than M. Poincare to trust German promises. The whole disagreement between prance and Britain was simply regarding the best method of attaining the common end. All the German talk about the violence and brutality of the French methods was moonshine. The Germans were the last people who ought to talk of brutality. If it were possible for the Trench to recover a tenth part of what Germany owed by the same methods as Germany employed in 1871, there would not be a particle of injustice in doing so. There is nothing intrinsically wrong with the French policy, but we objected, believing that it would defeat its own purpose. Nobodv must suppose that it will afford ns gratification if we are proved to be right.”—A. and N. Cable. GERMAN DIATRIBE. CONVENIENTLY IGNORES HISTORY. BERLIN, January "A. The House remained standing to hear a speech by Herr Cimo, vehcmentlv denouncing the French military action, which was ostensibly undertaken for email arrears in the deliveries of coal and telegraph poles. He expressed the opinion, however, that it was not a question of reparations, but a 400-vear-old policy of destroying the German Empire. Thie policy of brutal expansion was clothed, as formerly. in the garb of Right, except that the old watchword of “Reunion” had become “Reparation.” Herr Cuno added; Dare we expect that the compelling force of economic development will sooner or later load to a. chancre, before a conflagration starts which would he a menace not only to Germany but to Europe. He urged the necessity for the vigilant prudence, self-restraint, and co-operation of the people with the State in order to avoid disastrous conscmiences to the community. Herr Cuno concluded ; Injustice, misery, deprivation, is our fate to-day; freedom of life onr aim ; unity our path.— A. and N.Z. Cable. CONFIDENCE IN CABINET. BERLIN, January 14. The Reichstag parsed a vote of confidence in Herr Cnno, onlv the Communists opposing it. Sixteen Socialists did not vote. —A. and N.Z. Cable. MARSHALL’S GUARANTEE THEIR MALT VINEGAR, If you are not satisfied that our Vinegar is not as good as the best imported wo will refund you the cost. Wo aro sure there is no better Vinegar made, and want you to be. —Advt.