REPARATIONS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18947, 22 August 1923, Page 7

REPARATIONS.

THE OCCUPATION POLICY. DIFFICULTIES OF ACQUIESCENCE. Free* Association—By Telegraph—Copyright BERLIN, August 20. Dr Stresemann complains that, actions such as that of closing the frontier have made it very difficult for the nation to follow the Government in a policy of pacification. He expressed the hope that the Allies, especially France, would consider whether it would be profitable again to act contrary to the laws of justice and of sense.—A. and N.Z. able. FORCE TN~THE RUHR. Commenting on the situation in the Ruhr, the Statis recently observed; “Unquestionably the cessation of acts of sabotage and those which overstep the limits of purely passive resistance can be demanded, and the demand can be enforced, but it is equally true that the greatest force of the Ruhr resistance is a spontaneous expression of exasperation on the part of the Ruhr population, and has not arisen purely at the behest of the German Government. Who can say, therefore, that' while present conditions continue, the German Government has it in its power to compel the Ruhr population to acquiesce in the presence of foreign troops, and co-operate in the exploitation of their resources? The truth is that France, though, perhaps, she ony ginally intended merely to put pressure oil the Government through the Ruhr, is in reality faced with the problem of dragooning a people, and history can show many instances where coercion of a people failed disastrously, very few where it succeeded. It cannot be too strongly emphasised that the whole efficacy of the Ruhr occupation lies, not in the enforcement of tne economic blockade, but in the threat of enforcement. The actual occupation by our Allies has proved very costly, yet it has not brought reparations any nearer, though every effort has been strained to make the occupation an effective weapon. Occupation of the Ruhr is an instrument, which, indeed, can be used to make Germany pay, but the instrument becomes destroyed as soon as it is used. Germany has suffered severely under the occupation, and, if a reasonable programme of reparation payments can now be agreed upon among the Allies, and France’s blockade in the Ruhr is lifted, the threat of a return to existing conditions of the Rhineland would form the most effective weapon at the disposal of the Allies.” FRENCH REPLY TO BRITAIN NOTE APPROVED BY BELGIUM. PARIS, August 20. (Received August 21, at 8.40 p.m.) M. Poincare’s reply to the British Note will be handed to Lord Crewe on Tuesday. The French Government will publish a Yellow Book on Wednesday containing both Lord Curzon’s Note and M. Poincare’s reply. It is understood that Belgium approves the substance and the form of the reply.—A. and N.Z. Cable. THE GERMAN ATTITUDE. i ' FULL STATEMENT EXPECTED. IMPORTANT CABINET MEETINGS. LONDON, August 21. (Received August 21, at 11.20 p.m.) The Daily Chronicle’s Berlin correspondent understands that a series of most important Cabinet meetings will be held during the week at which Herr Ebert will preside. German policy will be completely reviewed. It is anticipated that Dr Stresemann’s next speech to the Main Committee of the Reichstag as soon as possible after the French reply will deal outspokenly with the whole of the reparations problem on the lines determined by Cabinet. Dr Stresemann intends to tolerate no conversations between French and German industrials and others, but to retain full control himself.—A. and A.Z. Cable.