NEWS BY CABLE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3613, 12 June 1923, Page 25

NEWS BY CABLE.

REPARATIONS

A CRISIS IMMINENT. PARIS, June 3. Advices from Berlin assert that the political situation is becoming serious. A crisis is imminent within the inner Cabinet Council, and there are hints that new proposals may be presented by someone other than Dr C'uno. AMERICA FRANCE’S FRIEND. PARIS, June 3. Speaking at the unveiling of a monument to fallen American soldiers at Cliaumont, M. Poincare said that, while American co-operation had not continued so completely as was hoped for, America, without withdrawing her ancient friendship, had adopted a policy of voluntary isolation. America, however, was not indifferent to the efforts of France and her Allies. Her natural sympathies remained uninfluenced by German propaganda since the war. She did not believe, in spite of German misrepresentation, that E ranee and Belgium had entered the Ruhr in a spirit of conquest. America relied on France to carry out the Versailles Treaty. FRANCE’S ACTIVITIES. PARIS, June 3. In 14 days the French in the Ruhr seized 28,000 barrels of dyes, valued at £3,000,000, and transported them to Strasburg AN ENERGETIC PROTEST. PARIS, June 3. The French Government is making energetic representations to Berlin in regard to the airmen wdio were detained and the machine which was seized at Nuremberg, and has demanded their release. The airmen in passing over unoccupied Germany made a forced landing. The machine was confiscated and the aviators imprisoned. GERMAN DEPUTY ARRESTED. PARIS, June 3. A German Communist deputy was arrested in Paris when attending a French Communist conference. He will be kept in prison as a reprisal for the arbitrary arrest of Frenchmen in Germany. HASTENING A NEW WAR. PARIS, June 3. The conference of Socialists and Communists participated in the unveiling of a statue of M. Jean Jaures, who was assassinated in Paris on July 31, 1914. Anatole France sent a message, in the course of which he said: “We used to be told that this war was to be the last to take place. Now they tell us to prepare for a new war, saying that we shall have it in 20 years or 10 years, possibly sooner or immediately if we leave the Ruhr, which would supply Germany with munitions. Has not our policy done everything possible to hasten a new war? We have not desired peace. Firm, pacific action would be much worth while. A resumption of commerce with our neighbour would have enriched France more than her claims enforced "by armed strength, which has proved so costly.” ANGLO-FRENCH POLICICS. PARIS, June 4. Mr Stanley Baldwin, in a special interview by a representative of the Petit Parisien, said: I am confident that no matter how difficult may be the reparations and Ruhr claims, it is possible to discover ground on which Great Britain and France can adjust them to their mutual satisfaction. Secondly, I want the French public to realise that Great Britain also feels the importance of the security of E ranee and Belgium, and that she has an earnest desire to help towards a settlement which will guarantee the mainteanee of European peace. You can depend upon me, for I am determined to help. We shall meet difficulties at the start, but I am certain that success will crown our efforts. The Petit Parisien comments that the present is the most opportune time to bring together the British and French policies. OUTLINE OF LATEST OFFER. BERLIN, June 5. Official quarters state that the new reparations Note will be sent to London, Paris, Brussels, and Rome on Wednesday or Thursday. The Note will be in three parts. The first relates to guarantees; the second offers annuities, npt naming any fixed total ; and the third suggests the establishment of an international court of arbitration to determine Germany s capacity to pay. The conditions under which the industrial magnates offered guarantees have been amended. The agriculturists undertake to co-operate in the scheme if Germany’s freedom is guaranteed. PARIS, June 5. The Petit Parisien’s Berlin correspondent states that the guarantees will include the Customs and railway revenues and a toll on manufactures. MINIMUM OF £70,000,000 ANNUALLY. LONDON, June 6. The Daily Chronicle’s Berlin correspondent states that, recognising a continuance of the controversy is producing political chaos, the German Government has summoned the Reichstag leaders and submitted the text of the reparations proposals, which have also been sent to London, Paris, Rome, and Brussels. The reply is inspired mainly by suggestions

contained in the British and Italian Notes. The preamble states that the total payment given in previous Notes was arrived at after an exhaustive examination of the j country's capacities, which precluded j naming a higher sum, but the German 1 Government is willing to refer the quesi tion of the total amount to be paid to ; an international commission of experts, I and to place all material, statistics, and documents at its disposal. The Government pledges itself further to accept the tribunal’s decision. Since a great international loan is not a fesaible proposition, Germany proposes that the yearly payments be * raised Irom her own resources, the guarantees to include State j and private guarantees, the first including ! the income from Customs taxes on tobacco, ; sugar, and alcohol, which will bring in | £20,000,000, the State railways preduc- ; ing another £25,000,000. Among the pri- ! rate guarantees the Government proposes ! a mortgage upon the proportion of all | fixed property such as land, factories, maI chinery, and houses, which will be comi pulsory on all owners, and which will bring in £25,000,000. ’ Altogether the scheme amounts to a minimum of £70,000,000 annually, in addition to the property tax. If accepted, an international conference should be called to work out the details. SOCIALISTS AND COMMUNISTS. BERLIN, June 5. While the food riots have died down in Germany, there has been a recurrence of local strikes in Berlin. The most 'mportant of these, which was at the municipal gasworks, was settled promptly, the council agreeing to an immediate increase in wages. The Social Democrats are organising a series of mass demonstrations against high prices. The Commun ists’ hunger demonstration, which was arranged for the workers in the suburbs, passed off quietly, but the police arrested the leaders of the so-called Proletarian Company. There are numbers of such companies in Berlin. FRENCH AIRMEN ARRESTED. BERLIN, June 5. A French aeroplane was forced to land at Unna (Westphalia). The aviators burnt the machine. They were arrested. EXPLOSION ON FRENCH TRAIN. BERLIN, June 5. A locomotive attached to a E rench train exploded at Troisdorf. One Frenchman was killed and two fatally injured. The French believe that the explosion was j maliciously caused by Germans, and have placed Troisdorf under martial law. IMPORTANT RAILWAY STATIONS BERLIN, June 6. French troops occupied the railway stations at Herne, Wanne, Gelsenkirchen, Karlenberg, and Altenessen, which are closed, thus putting out of action the last important railway line in the Ruhr. The German rail way men refused an offer to continue to work Some of the leaders ! have been expelled and the remainder are looked up in the waiting rooms. FRANCE AND BELGIUM. BRUSSELS, June 6. M. Poincare and M. Theunis are conferring It is understood that the discussions resulted in the Belgian and Frepch Governments deciding to increase the pressure on the Ruhr, and not to consider the German proposals while passive i resistance in the Ruhr continues. A communique states that the two Governments have settled their programme for new measures to accentuate the pressure in the Ruhr, and to compel Germany to fulfil her obligations. FEELING IN BRITAIN. LONDON, June 8. It is understood that official circles re- ; gard the German Note as an improvement i on the previous efforts. Cabinet will probably deal with the question on Monday. Meanwhile there will be an exchange of views between the Allies. MR ASQUITH’S IMPRESSIONS. NEED FOR ALLIED UNITY. LONDON, June 8. Mr Asquith, speaking at Paisley, asked that the German Government’s new proposals should not be summarily dismissed, and urged the setting up of a genuine international tribunal on which all parties j should be re-presented. He said that the j Government’s policy regarding the Ruhr ! was one of benevolent indolence. It was I essential that the Allies should act and ! work together to prevent unemployment, i They must get rid of all artificial restrictions on trade, cut down wasteful expen- | dit-ure, such as the £10,000,000 which it j was proposed to spend on the Singapore base ; and for the dole they must snbstij tut-e works of public utility. ATTITUDE OF FRANCE. PROPOSED LINE OE ACTION. PARIS, June 8. After considering the German Note, the Quai D’Orsay states that the greatest objection to the Note is that it does not mention a cessation of passive resistance in the Ruhr. The French Government, therefore, proposes that Belgium and France shall send a joint Note asking for the withdrawal of all ordinances forbidding Germans to obey the orders of the French and Belgians, for the suppression of indemnities paid to strikers, and for the cessation of sabotage. If Germany refuses these conditions the new I Note will not be considered. If Germany agrees Britain and Italy will be informed, and a joint Note in reply to Germany

will be possible. PRESS OPINIONS. LONDON, June 8. The Times says editorially: “The German memorandum represents the last word of the Government, in the sense that mere rejection will lead to the abandonment of any further similar attempt and to political and social chaos in Germany, which will finally place beyond the bounds of possibility a nope of obtaining any substantial sum! From the economic viewpoint we are bound to regard the German memorandum seriously. It bears the marks of genuineness, and studiously avoids reference to controversial questions. As a contribution to the settlement of reparations itself, the Note is in accord with the views of the economists and financial experts of all the leading countries, and for that reason it cannot fail to impress the world more favourably than any other German document on the same subject.” PARIS, June 8. The newspapers are practically unanimous that the German proposals are unacceptable. ROME, .June 8. The Messagero and II Gicrnale Di Roma consider the German offer insufficient. BELGIUM NOT SATISFIED. BRUSSELS, June 8. Official circles oonsider the new Note as unacceptable as the first one. The abandonment of passive resistance in the Ruhr is a sine qua non for consideration of any of the new German proposals. MILITARY CONTROL. PARIS, June 8. Following the unanimous decision of the Ambassadors’ Council, M. Poincare handed to the German Charge d’Affaires a Note informing the German Government that the Interallied Military Control Commission, which the German Government has refused to recognise since the occupation of the Ruhr, will now resume operations. BERLIN, June 8. The Note calls upon the Government to afford facilities to the Commission to carry out its task. COMMUNISTS ATTACK GAOL. BERLIN, June 8. A large force of Communists stormed the gaol at Coblenz and endeavoured to release a number of their comrades. After a severe struggle the police dispersed the attackers, of whom 20 were badly wounded. A number of police were also injured. E RENCH GOVERNMENT’S ATTITUDE LONDON, June 9. The Daily Chronicle’s Paris correspondent says the Cabinet has carefully examined the German Note, and has found it unacceptable because there are no promises to cease passive resistance in the Ruhr. M. Poincare’s Government, t'neicfore, will not- discuss the Note at all, and a reply to this effect will be speedily sent to Berlin. M. Poincare also disapproves of the suggested international commission on reparations, which would entail the abolition of the Reparations Commission, and would, therefore, be an infringement of the Vervailles Treaty. EARLY MEETING OF BRITISH CABINET. LONDON, June 9. _ The Daily Express says that the British Cabinet will at an early meeting consider the German offer. Lord Robert Cecil is in Paris to advance a proposal for an Allied Conference, and Mr Baldwin is prepared to invite the represamtatives of the Allied Governments to London. Whether M. Poincare will wait for this conference before replying to Germany is unknown in London, but lie could not refuse to entertain a suggestion by the British Premier for a conference without putting France in an awkward position. British official circles are disappointed with the Note, but it is regarded as enabling the Allies -to come together in conference. RESISTANCE IN THE RUHR. COMPLETE CESSATION DEMANDED. PARIS, June 9. Lord Robert Cecil saw M. Mi Hera nd (President of France), who afterwards had a conference with M. Poincare. it is understood that the E rench and Belgian Governments will both send a Note to London and Rome explaining why the German offer is unacceptable. In the meantime Germany will be asked to state her views on passive resistance :n the Ruhr. M. Poincare, speaking at a meeting of the Senate Commission, said the E’rench and Belgian Governments had agreed that no proposals by Germany would be examined unless they were preceded by a complete and definite cessation of resistance. BELGIUM AND BRITAIN CONE’ERRING. BRUSSELS, June 9. The Belgian Government is in tele graphic communication with the British Government. It has asked for an expression of the British viewpoint on the decisions of the Brussels Conference, and has indicated the portions of the German Note whion Belgium considers unacceptable. It is not unlikely that Belgium will send a preliminary Note to Berlin demanding a cessation of'the resistance in the Ruhr. If the reply is satisfactory an Allied Conference will follow. M. Poincare told the Paris correspondent of the Brussels Soir that the French Government was not hastening its repiy

to the German offer. The only answer they would eventually make would be to ask the German Government whether it conformed with the decisions published officially after the Francoßelgian Conference regarding resistance in the Ruhr. M. Poincare adds: “If Germany refuses the undertakings asked for the now memorandum will not be examined by France or Belgium.” ITALY’S ATTITUDE DEFINED. ROME, June 9. (Received .June 10, at 5.5 p.m.) Signor Mussolini, speaking in the Senate, said it was agreed that Italy should insist that Germany must pay, tut Italy would resist any attempt at domination by the other Powers. NEW ISSUE OF MARKS. BERLIN, June 9. (Received June 10, at 5.5 p.m.) Owing to the inability of the Reiehsbank to meet the currency demands it has ordered the printing of new notes of half a million marks. It is expected that one-million-mark notes will soon be issued. SOLUTION OF THE PROBLEM. LONDON, June 9. The Observer's diplomatic correspondent states that the first critical Cabinet meeting of the Baldwin Administration will be held to-day, when the Government’s policy towards France and the German offer will be considered. Mr Baldwin has made a special point of personally investigating the French view. The correspondent concludes: “Ihere is no solution until the French Government makes up its mind whether it wants money, which can be paid by a thriving Germany, or the ruin of Germany. If M. Poincare’s policy is not changed it is certain that the British policy will be to seek an entirely new orientation.” M. POINCARE NEGOTIATING. PARIS, June 10. (Received June 10, at 11.5 p.m.) It is stated that M. Poincare is in communication with I/on d<m through diplomatic channels regarding the offer. M. Poincare has held a conference with the Belgian Ambassador for the second time in two davs.