THE RUHR

Southland Times, Issue 18927, 28 April 1923, Page 5

THE RUHR

SECRET PREPARATIONS LOOKING FOR WAR ON FRANCE (By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) BERLIN, April 26. The intensity of feeling aroused by the growth of irregular armed forces in Germany, both Nationalist and Socialist, is illustrated by simultaneous debates in the Reichstag and Bavarian Diet. In the latter case the Socialists accuse the Government of conniving at the formation of bodies which is leading to civil war or war with France. The Bavarian Minister for the Interior, Schweyer, praised the Nationalist movement as healthy and most welcome, but he would not allow its interference with politics to disturb internal peace. The Socialists’ demands for the dissolution of irregulars was rejected. There was a similar debate in the Reichstag concerning the growth of “meeting protection guards” which were being formed by both sides against interference by extremists. Reports from Munich show that the Nationalists, heartened by the vote in the Bavarian Diet, are more than ever determined to prevent the arrest of their leaders, though it is understood some Bavarian Ministers dissent from Schweyer’s eulogy of the Nationalists’ fire-eating activities.

“FINANCING GERMANY’S RESISTANCE.”

PARIS PAPER’S STORY DISCREDITED (Received April 27, 8.5 p.m.). LONDON, April 27. The money market ridicules the Paris Tomps’s charges that it is financing German resistance in the Ruhr, stating that British coal-owners legitimately trading there certainly have no ill will with France. Germany does not receive any . special favour. She largely secured the wherewithal to pay for coal through the shutting down of many imports, in other words, found ordinary working balances in England were sufficient to pay the cost of exceptionally large coal purchases. Thus operations were done more or less on a cash basis, by the utilisation of German balances abroad. Moreover the cessation of reparation payment, following the Ruhr crisis itself, tended to increase Germany’s free balance. Cardiff exporters say that they refused to give Germany credit, whereas credit was given France and Italy.