REPLY TO GERMANY.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 16121, 9 May 1923, Page 3

REPLY TO GERMANY.

STINNES' PAPER VIOLENTLY

ATTACKS POINOARE

'PEACE-BREAKER OF EUROPE

WAITING FOR BRITISH AND

ITALIAN ANSWER

iE)ec Tel Copyright—United Press Assn.l

(Tho Times.) (Received Mav 9, 8.45 a.m.) BERLIN, May 8.

While most of the influential newspapers reserve judgment in regard to the French reply, a violent attack has been made on M. Poincara by Stinnes' organ, Deutsche Allgemeine Zeilung, which says: "In Paris sits the peace-breaker, the criminal of Europe's future. The sarcastic politics of the impudent advocate run like a scarlet thread' through tho note. It is a document of insufferable insults audi insolent stupidity." The general feeling in Berlin is one of increased bitterness against France, but Germany is waiting to hear the answer of Britain and Italy. It is hoped: that Britain will exercise a moderate influence in the joint reply.

WHY JOINT REPLY WAS NOT SENT.

FRENCH HOPE THAT BRITISH WILL NOT BE OFFENDED.

(Tho Times.) (Received Mav 9, 8.45 a.m.) PARIS, Mav 8,

It is learned authoritatively that the French Government would 1 have preferred a joint reply, but this was impracticable, .seeing that Britain was not involved ill the occupation of Ruhr, to which the essential passages of the German Note referred.

A hope is expressed that British public opinion will not be offended l by France's action. Some apprehension is felt lest the action result in a joint British and Italian reply which would weaken the Entente, especially in view of tha King's visit to Rome.

KRUPP DIRECTORS SENTENCED.

'Australian and N.Z cahlp Association

(Received May 9. 10.45 a.m.) London, May 8. Krupp and his fellow directors. Destertle and Hartwig, were each sentenced to fifteen years imprisonment, Bruhn to ten years, and three absent accused to 20 years. All were fined one hundred millions marks each. Gross was sentenced to ten years and fined 50 million marks.

PRECIPITATE FRANCO-BELGIAN ACTION.

REGRETTED BY BRITAIN

STATEMENT IN COMMONS

(Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.)

(Received May 9, 11.20 a.m.) LONDON, May 8.

Mr, Stanley Baldwin, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in the House of Commons, said the Government regretted the unnecessary precipitancy of the FrancoBelgian reply toi the German Note, also tho loss of opportunity of again testifying to the l solidarity of the Allies by a joint communication. Britain proposed to state itg own views in a separate reply with tha least possible delay. He believed/ Italy would do the same. It was tho Government's view that the best and most natural procedure would bo to return a concerted reply, more so as the German Note was in response to a suggestion made publicly and officially by the British Foreign Minister as to reparations, wherein the Allied 1 Poiwers and not France and Belgium alone were deeply concerned. Nor, in the opinion of tho Government, need any insuperable difficulty have been experienced' in drafting a. collective reply, reserving for separate treatment by the' French and! Belgian Governments, if they desired!, questions arising directly out of the recent occupation of German territory. The Government) had reason t.o believe these views were shared by some of the Allies.

Mr. Baldwin added that they were quite prepared to make proposals to this effect, having already communicated their views to the Allied Governments, when they were) officially informed that France and Belgium had! drafted 1 a reply for themselves alone, the text, of which was communicated by them on Saturday afternoon with the: intimation that it bo presented' within 24 hours to the German Ambassador.

VOTE OF CONFIDENCE IN FRENCH GOVERNMENT.

'Australian and N.Z. cahlp Association.)

(Received May 9, 11.10 p.m.) PARIS, May 8

Tho Chamber of Deputies resumed deliberations after the recess. . M. Poineare emphatically refused to permit a debate on the Ruhr situation or Lausanne Conference, as the time waa inopportune. The Chamber passed a vote of confidence in tho Government by 498 to 76, adjourning tho Ruhr interpellations.