REPARATIONS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18991, 12 October 1923, Page 7

REPARATIONS.

THE RUHR SITUATION. FRANCO-CERMAN RELATIONS. CONFERENCE PROPOSAL DECLINED. Press Association —By Telefiaplv—Copyright PARTS, October 10. The German Charge d’Affaires has been instructed to inform M. Poincare that the German Government desires to discuss with Franco the questions of a return to work in the Ruhr aud a resumption of reparations deliveries in kind. A semi-official French statement in this connection intimates that it is improbable that the French and Belgian Governments will agree to negotiate with other than the Ruhr authorities, employers, and workers but when work has been fu?*y resumed it will ho permissible for Dr Strosemann to request to be heard by the Reparations Commission regarding the settlement of future reparations. The German Charge d’Affaires called on M. Poincare. It is understood that the latter refused the request of the Gorman Government to participate in the negotiations for a resumption of work in the Ruhr by the appointment of a mixed Franco-Belgian-German Commission. The French claim that definite results in the. negotiations with the local authorities in the Ruhr have already been obtained by the conclusion of an agreement with the Otto Wolff group, and they consider that participation by delegates from Berlin in the negotiations would only delay a settlement. —Router. PRIVATE NEGOTIATION. VALIDITY OP AGREEMENTS QUESTIONED. LONDON, October 11. (Received Oct. 11, at 8.40 p.m.) The Daily Telegraph’s diplomatic correspondent says: “Our Allies may well ask themselves whether in any deal with Herr Stinnes they are likely to get the better of the bargain. M. Poincare may eventually discover that in refusing now to negotiate with the German Government—although the latter has withdrawn its ordnances —and preferring to negotiate with the private and local interests he is not altogether happily inspired. The validity of agreements under such conditions without the signature of one of the Governments concerned may conceivably bo challenged at a later date. It will be interesting to learn the view taken by the Reparations Commission. It -would be difficult to say whether the French attitude was dictated by fear that the Franco-German negotiations could not be conducted without British participation. On the other hand, it is a fact that Belgian opinion is not enamoured of separate negotiations with the private interests. “It would not surprise me to learn that a Belgian demarche is imminent. Possibly it will take the form of a request that the Reparations Commission should deal without delay with the recent proposals of the Belgian technical experts which the British and French Governments have hitherto ignored.”—A. and N. Cable. NEW GERMAN NOTE. AN EXHAUSTIVE DOCUMENT. LONDON, October 11. (Received Oct. 11, at 8.40 p.m.) The Daily Chronicle’s Berlin correspondent learns that the German Government is busy preparing an exhaustive Note on reparations. It will be addressed to all the Allies and forwarded through the Reparations Commission. — A. and N.Z. Cable. ' GERMAN FOOD FRIGES. DOUBLED WITHIN FOUR DAYS. BERLIN, October 1??. The prices of food have doubled within the last four days. The present costs (all in million marks) are; Loaf of bread, 76; 11b of butter, 400; a quart of milk, 25; lib of potatoes, 5; coal briquettes, 520 per cwt. A telegram to London costs 49 per word. Prices are still soaring.—A. and N.Z. Cable.