RUHR ADVENTURE

Southland Times, Issue 19772, 21 February 1923, Page 5

RUHR ADVENTURE

FURTHER PENETRATION FRENCH WANT CHEMICAL PLANT (By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (The Timesi. LONDON, February 19. It is reliably stated that the French will thortiy make a military move in order to obtain possession of Germany’s great sulphuric acid producing plant. The town of Wetliar is mentioned as the objective. The surprising recovery in the value of the mark is having an appreciable effect on the prices of foodstuffs in the Ruhr. It is believed German tactics in buying up the mark are aimed at countering the new currency contemplated by the French, and preventing it from having a higher purchasing power. BERLIN, February 19. Negotiations are being opened to-day by the Ministry of Finance in regard to the flotation of an internal gold loan. The proposed amount is two hundred million gold marks. Leading bankers have been invited to attend. A COSTLY ENTERPRISE. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) PARIS, February 19. (Received February 20, 10.15 p.m.) Cabinet is asking the Chamber for 115,000,000 francs to cover expenditure in the Ruhr for January-February. Apart from the stoppage of reparation payments and the loss to industry due to the closing down of blast furnaces yesterday, three trains of coal and one of coke left Ruhr for France whereas there should have been fifty trains. CUSTOMS CORDON. BERLIN, February 19. Dusseldorf reports state that the French have discovered an ingenious method used by the Germans of evading the Customs cordon, despatching coal ostensibly consigner! to Holland, unloading it over the frontier and sending it back to Germany.

GERMAN ALLEGATIONS. LONDON, February 20. (Received February 20, 9.5 p.m.) The Daily Chronicle’s Cologne correspondent alleges that the French collected the 90.000 marks’ fine imposed on Gelsenkirchen by raiding the charitable organisations and holding up pedestrians in the streets and taking their money. THE RISING MARK. NOT AN UNMIXED BLESSING. BERLIN. February 20. (Received February 20, 9.15 p.m.) It is estimated that it will cost the Reichsbank £12,500,000 to establish the mark at 100,000 marks to the pound. Many importers, who bought foreign currencies with the mark at its lowest, have been ruined by the subsequent rise, especially dealers in foodstuffs. BOLSHEVIKS ARRIVE. LONDON, February 19. The Bolshevik, Radek, with a score of French speaking agitators, has arrived at Dusseldorf. STATEMENT BY M. POINCARE. FRANCE’S INTENTION. PARIS, October 20. (Received October 20, 9.45 p.m.) M. Poincare, addressing the Foreign Affairs Commission in the Chamber of Deputies, said that the Ruhr basin produced 90.000,000 tons of coal yearly, of which the Allies controlled a nine-tenth. France and Belgium did not intend to take over the exploitation of the Ruhr. France had received to date 1026 trucks of coak THE FRENCH DEMANDS. LONDON, February 19. (Received February 20, 9.15 p.m.) Mr Bonar Law, in f he House of Commons replying to a question whether the Government assented to the transport of goods under French supervision across any part of the British area, or what were the proposals submitted by the French, said that he would prefer not to make any statement until a later stage. Replying to a further question, the Premier said the Government made certain proposals to the French Government, b-rt be would not disease the matter until the French reply was Received.