REPARATIONS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18990, 11 October 1923, Page 7

REPARATIONS.

POLITICS IN GERMANY. CONFIDENCE IN GOVERNMENT. HOSTILE RESOLUTIONS DEFEATED. Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyrig it BERLIN, October 3. The Reichstag carried a vote of confidence in the Government against the hostile votes of the Nationalists, Bavarian People’s Party, and Communists. A resolution in favour of the abolition of the State emergency measures in Bavaria was rejected. A Socialist motion was carried indorsing the Government’s constitutional standpoint as regards the exceptional measures in Bavaria.—A. and N.Z. Cable. REICHSBANK’S DISCOUNT RATE. BERLIN, October 9. (Received Oct. 10, at 7.50 p.m.) The Reichsbank has raised the discount rate for paper marks to 108 per cent. The rate for paper marks repayable in gold remains at 10 per cent.—A. and N.Z. Cable. THE RUHR POLICY. SPEEDING-UP DELIVERIES. DEMANDS BY INDUSTRIALISTS. BERLIN, October 9. The group of Ruhr industrialists, headed by Herr Stinnes, who recently interviewed General Degouette, has submitted to the Government of the Reich the following demands: Compensation for the coal confiscated since the Ruhr occupation and the forciblylevied coal tax. The abolition of the coal tax in the Ruhr and a guarantee that all future deliveries of reparations coal should oe placed in their hands. Preferential treatment to the Ruhr m the supply of raw materials and foodstuffs. Authority for an Industrialists’ Commission to continue to negotiate with the occupation authorities, and an extension of the working day to eight hours and a-half underground and 10 hours above ground. They also ask for an explanation of tne Government’s attitude towards the creation of a railway company in the occupied territory, in which Rhineland and Drench industry would participate.— Reuter. BRUSSELS, October 9. The German Charge d’Affairs told the Foreign Minister (M. Jaspar) that the German Government wished to collaborate in the resumption of work in the Ruhr in order to resume the deliveries of reparations coal. M. Jaspar promised to communicate with the French Government, but ho said that in any case the Gorman Government must promise the industrialists who are ready to supply coal that they will pay for it; also the German railwayman must return to work.— Reuter. PARIS, October 8. Advices from Dusseldorf state that an agreement has been reached between the Inter-Allied Mines Commission and the Phcenix and Rheinische Stalthwerke Companies, who produce nearly 10 per cent, of the Ruhr output. Deliveries of coal will be resumed immediately under the Reparations Commissions on condition that taxes shall bo paid on coal which has not been delivered since the occupation,-—A. and N.Z. Cable. THE HUGHES PLAN. AMERICA DECLINES INITIATIVE. WASHINGTON, October 9. (Received Oct. 10, at (.30 p.m.) Despite Mr Lloyd George’s approval af Mr Hughes’s suggestion regarding an international reparations commission, it js authoritatively ascertained that the United States Government will refuse to take any further initiative, its attitude being that the present European situation renders the value of such a proposal questionable. Nevertheless, the suggestions remain open, and the United States will eagerly support aiiy similar proposal if it is made abroad. This policy likewise applies to the recent proposals for a world economic conference. The American Government having presented the nations of Europe with the proposal will rest on that proposition, and no further steps to bring it to the attention of the E-tiropean nations will be taken. —A. and N.Z. Cable. In a speech last November Mr C. E. Hughes, United States Secretary .of State, advocated the appointment of an international commission of financial and economic experts to examine the reparation problem and determine Germany’s capacity to pay. Mr Hughes said the United States was prepared to be represented on such a commission. MR LLOYD GEORGE IN CANADA. HUGHES PLAN SUPPORTED ITS EARLY HISTORY RECALLED. OTTAWA, October 9. (Received Oct. 10, at 9.30 p.m.) Mr Lloyd George informed newspaper men that ho considers that President Coolidge made a new proposal to solve the reparations problem when he renewed Mr Hughes’s suggestion of last year for an international commission to ascertain Germany’s ability to pay. “It is not too late,” he said. “Action should be taken on the proposal at once. It should have been acted upon when it was first made. They must do something like that or chaos will follow. Mr Hughes's proposal was made on the eve of a former Prime Ministers’ Conference —obviously with reference to the conference. I was in Spain, and when I saw a brief despatch enumerating the points of Mr Hughes’s proposal I immediately cabled to London that the proposal should be considered. When I returned to the House of Commons they denied ever seeing the proposal, and even denied that the proposal was ever made. It is one of the blunders of history that this was completely overlooked —one of the blunders that may lead to catastrophe.” Asked concerning his letter on the Allied debts written in 1920, and published for the first time this week in London, Mr Lloyd George said he know too little of its publication to discuss it.—A. and N.Z. Cable.