RUHR OCCUPATION.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 16042, 1 February 1923, Page 3

RUHR OCCUPATION.

STRINGENT SIEGE IMPOSED,

FRENCH PATIENCE NOT WITHOUT LIMIT.

Elec. Tel Copyright-United Press Assn.) (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.; BERLIN, January 30.

A Essen telegram says the French commander Summoned employers, Labor leaders, and postal and police officials and announced that a stringent state of siege would be proclaimed. The trade union leaders expressed their determination to hold meetings. It remains to be seen whether the French dare provoke the workers. The French commander also summoned German journalists and accused them of circulating lies. Tho German spokesman replied that they were watching German not French interests.

The railwnymen in (lie Rhineland and Palatinate have declared a general strike. J.ON DON, January 31. According ,to a Cologne telegram, General Degor.elte has issued a statement to foreign journalists that, when lie arrives in the Ruhr, it is not intended to carry out any military or political purpose. The French wanted to disturb the people’s normal life as little as possible, but the German Government had tried every means to provoke a general rebellion, which only the wisdom of the German workers had prevented. The French army was not like the Prussian.

“We are,” , lie said, “not murderers, anxious to put everyone to the sword or treat the people as Bismarck did. Moderation, however, is not weakness. They are mistaken who think our patience is without limit. We, however, tried to carry out our mission peaceably. The German political leaders are entirely responsible for the •present misfortunes of the Ruhr. Tho Allied Governments will contiiilie in the way they have taken. They mean to impose their will and break their adversaries. We do not want to enslave the German workers. We only want- to coerce the German magnates who received indemnities .from the Government but have not paid taxes. We intend to stay bore as long as necessary and will impose further sanctions until we achieve our task, from which nothing will divert us. Germany’s future lies in our hands.” -

There is an extraordinary demand for coal at Glasgow for’’shipment to Germany, believed to have been created by Stinnes and Thyssen. The price has r:s,en from 23s to 26s f.o. b. Scotch ports. It is believed th<> price will go to 30s 3d. Ten thousand tons were" shipped fiorn the Clyde on Saturday, and several more cargoes of equal dimensions are loading. Thirty thousand tons are hooked lor Monday. It is stated that •Stinnes and Thyssen have millions sterling at (heir disposal in London.

SLACKNESS DOMINATES RUHR. RAILWAYMEN SEEKING WORK. DECISIVE STAGE OF CRISIS REACHED. Australian and N.Z Cable Association.) (Received Feb. 1, 9.10 a.m.) PARIS, Jan. 31. Tho Petit Parisien states that general slackness dominated the Ruhr on Tuesday. llaihvaymen in Recklinghausen who struck and' issued an ultimatum to General Dcgoutte, ordering him to withdraw troops from the railway territory, manifested a desire to return to work. They sought audience with General Degoutte, who refused, saying they must first apologise for tho insolent terms of their ultimatum.

Le Journal states that France and Belgium have agreed to completely cease deliveries of Ruhr coal to Germany. Whatever reserves may have been accumulated, whatever purchases may be made in Britain, German industry cannot continue long unaffected by the stoppage of Ruhr coal. A decisive stage of the crisis is thus reached.

IS GERMANY BANKRUPT? RErOHSRAT’S ELEVEN MILLIONS VOTE. (Australian and N.Z. cabin Association.! (Received Feb. 1, 9.10 a.m.) LONDON, Jan. 31. The Daily Mail’s Berlin correspondent states: The Reiehsrat voted the equivalent of nearly eleven millions sterling to safeguard 1 tho country’s food supply and help tho population of Ruhr.

GERMANS WOULD ACCEPT INTERVENTION. BUT WANT WITHDRAWAL FROM RUHR,. (Austra’ian ami N.Z. Cable Association.! (Received Feb. 1, 9.50 a.in.) BERLIN, Jan. 31. Official circles admit they would accept British, American, or Italian intervention if it implied' the Franco-Belgian withdrawal from Ruhr. This must precede any attempt to settle reparations by arbitration.

Lord Balfour had a, .long private interview with M. Poincare with reference to Ruhr.

DEMAND FOR. BRITISH COAL

(Australian and N.Z cable Association / (Received Feb. 1, 10.40 a.m.) LONDON. Jan. 31. Germany lias bought and paid for 750,000 tons of coal at Newcastle, delivery to he within five months. France and' Scandinavia are also buying abnormally. Many German inquiries have been received in Cardiff and Monmouthshire.

EXPULSION OF GERMAN OFFICIALS. 'Australian and NZ. cable Association.! (Received Feb. 1. 12.40 p.m.) PARIS, Jan. 31. A Dusseldorf message states that the expulsion of German officials is increasing daily. Tho Mavor of Dusseldorf. president of the Railways Board, and l president of' t’lill police in Essem have boom, arrested and taken in an umkiionvn place, and their families given four days to leave (lie occupied zone.