RUHR ADVENTURE

Southland Times, Issue 19773, 22 February 1923, Page 5

RUHR ADVENTURE

GERMANY BACKING DOWN NEGOTIATION SUGGESTED (By Telegraph—Press Assn. —Copyright.) [Australian and N.Z. Cable Association). LONDON, February 20. (Received February 21, 7.15 p.m.) The Morning Post’s Parts correspondent ■tales that the news from the Ruhr is regarded as distinctly satisfactory. Vorwaerts hinted at the necessity for the Reichbank to open negotiations with France, while Herr Wirth, speaking in Stuttgart, stated that Germany was quite disposed to eome to an agreement. A few days ago Germans in the Ruhr and the rest of GerBoany unanimously were protesting against • so-railed unjustifiable action of Prance and insisting that they would not dream of negotiating, at the point of the bayonet. Now they are talking about finding grounds f>r honourable agreement. ‘ THE BLACK SPOT.” WORKERS IN EXTREME POVERTY. LONDON, February 21. (Received February 21, 9.15 p.m.) Hie black spot on the whole situation h the Ruhr is the rapidly increasing cost of living. The working classes are in the direst poverty and speculation in foodstuffs is rampant. The recent rises in wages are not proportionate to the rise in prices. Workmen in Krupps now earn 10,000 marks daily, which has a purchasing power of less than half a crown. The itorm centre still remains at Gelsenkirchen, where a state of siege is rigidly enforced. All resorts are closed from seven p.m. daily.

Seventeen million marks which were removed from the railway station have been returned to the railway authorities. FRENCH OFFICER BRAINED. A TOWN’S DEFIANCE. BERLIN, February 20. (Received February 20, 7.15 pan) A French officer thrashed a German blacksmith, named Buer, for refusing to work, whereupon the blacksmith brained tim and escaped on horseback. The townspeople at Gelsenkirchen again refused to pay the fine imposed by the French. The shops, when ordered to pay their share, put up the shutters and are sow closed. RUNNING THE BLOCKADE. OBSOLETE CURRENCY. PARIS, February 21. (Received February 21, 5.5 pm.) Liberte’s Dusseldorf correspondent says that a fresh outbreak of hostility coincided with the visit of the transport Minister, Herr Greener to Essen. All telephone wires communicating with Paris were cut. Herr Siering, the German Minister for Commerce, also ran the French blockade and spent a day in the Ruhr holding a conference with the leaders of industry and addressing meetings urging the people to hold out for months yet. It transpired that 50,000,000 of the sum collected by the French in Gelsenkirkhcn is composed of local obsolete emergency currency. EXPULSIONS AND STRIKES. CIVILIAN’ CONSTABULARY ESTABLISHED. LONDON, February 20. (Received February 21, 7.15 pun.) The Daily Express’s Dusseldorf correspondent says that while the railway strikers sought to enrol themselves for work, the municipal workers struck as a protest against the expulsion of the chief Burgomaster who refused to obey French military orders.

Bank clerks in Essen struck as a protest against the arrest of the manager of the Reichsbank.

A general one-day strike has been followed by the arrest of the mayor. All shops in Essen struck as a protest against the arrest of the second Burgomaster and the president of the Chamber of Commerce. The Germans are now refusing to sell stamps to the French and even refusing to deliver letters with a French looking name on the envelope. As the result of the discovery of a wellfilled armoury in Essen, General Degoutte issued a proclamation suppressing the whole organisation of the green police throughout the Ruhr and substituting a special constabulary, which is wholly civilian. THE BRITISH ZONE LONDON, February 20. (Received February 21, 7.25 p.m.) Mr Beach Thomas, in the Daily Express, says that the British position at Cologne is fantastic enough to give the historian a headache. Nine thousand British troops hold the barrier across the communications of the Allied army, comprising two army corps. The region is in a stale of war which is daily growing hotter. The enemy is making this barrier region a sanctuary for possessions, including money, which bankers fear may be seized. The Germans are therefore begging the British to stay, explaining that

“We do not like you, but should hate the French more.” Freedom of the press has been abolished in the French occupied zone. Crowds rush to see the British detachments marching. On the contrary, French soldiers are avoided, especially since the order was made that anyone seen close to a telegraph or telephone may be shot on sight. The French have now taken over the ceded sections of railroad in the British area. The army regrets the loss of this fragment of territory, because it contains the best partridge shoot in the district. GERMANY LOOKING TO BRITAIN. LONDON, February 20. (Received February 21, 7.15 p.m.) According to the Daily Express’s Berlin correspondent the German Government intends to attempt international negotiations in London, regarding the Ruhr. Germany’s eyes are fixed exclusively on Britain’s policy.

BRITAIN AND AMERICA. NO CONVERSATIONS. WASHINGTON, February 20. (Received February 21, 8.55 p.m.) White House informed a correspondent that the United States would abstain from any action at this time, which might be construed as intervention in the Ruhr situation. This was emphasised in view of yesterday’s discussion of American policy in the British Parliament. There were not only no conversations concerning Anglo-American concerted action, but none were contemplated. The United States considers the time in opportune. MR LLOYD GEORGE AND FRANCE. PARIS, February 20. The Dusseldorf Chamber of Commerce refused to boycott French and Belgian buyers. Le Journal says: “If Mr Lloyd George is still our friend, as he unceasingly declares, he is a friend who is more dangerous than the bear in the fable.” FATAL TRAIN COLLISION. BERLIN, February 20. Two trains controlled by the French in the Ruhr collided. Three soldiers were killed and sixteen seriously injured.