THE RUHR

Southland Times, Issue 18968, 15 June 1923, Page 5

THE RUHR

HOPE FOR AGREEMENT BRITISH AND FRENCH VIEWPOINTS (By Telegraph—Press Assn—Copyright). (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) LONDON, June 13. (Received June 14, 7.15 p.m.). Lord Curzon, as the result of conferences with the French Ambassador, drafted a memorandum covering the points on which the British Government desires specific information. This was presented to Count de Saint Aulaire, who transmitted it to Paris last night. The general impression is that the British Government is anxious to secure precise definition of what France understands by the demand for cessation of passive resistance in the Ruhr, and manner in which the French and Belgian Governments would propose, in certain contingencies, to vary the present form of Ruhr occupation military, as well as economic. It is considered probable that Mr Baldwin will get M. Poincare soon to view the situation more considerately. It is apparent that every effort is being made to keep the matter open in the hope of securing a settlement. BRITISH CABINET MEETS. A DELICATE SITUATION. LONDON, June 13. The Cabinet held a long meeting to consider the Anglo-French position relative to the German Note. The Standard understands that the position is delicate in the extreme. Affairs appear to have reached something like an impasse in regard to joint action. A definite decision is not expected for a day or two. FRENCH PRESS MORE CORDIAL. PARIS, June 13. The newspapers, following yesterday’s criticism and the Quai D’Orsay denial that the British Cabinet has made a decision on the German Note, has now adopted a more cordial tone. MR LLOYD GEORGE AND FRENCH CLAIMS. “RESISTED EXTRAVAGANT DEMANDS.” LONDON, June 13. Mr Lloyd George, in a letter to The Times, denies the prevalent impression that he concurred during the early postwar conferences in demanding incalculable sums from Germany. He says he always resisted with all his power the extravagant French demands. The first amount demanded from Germany, £2,500,000, was a compromise. Mr Lloyd George defends the addition of pensions to reparations. The British Empire delegation thought the claim was just. It was considered the only way by which the Empire could secure anything for its gigantic burdens, which were the heaviest of all the Allies. If the claim had been abandoned Britain’s share of the reparations would have been reduced below the shares of countries whose sacrifices could not be compared with those of the British Empire. Mr Lloyd George asks: “What will the dominions say to this proposal? What will the British taxpayers say if told they must pay America’s claim of £1,000,000,000 but forego three-fourths of their share of reparations plus sums lent to other countries which are more lightly taxed and more prosperous.”

MR LLOYD GEORGE’S NEXT ARTICLE. LONDON, June 14. (Received June 14, 8.55 p.m.) Mr Lloyd George's twentieth article discusses the second German note and the necessity for a conference of the Allies on the subject. FRENCH REPRESSIVE MEASURES. 100 PERSONS ARRESTED. ECONOMIC SITUATION GROWING WORSE. LONDON, June 14. (Received June 14, 10.15 p.m.) The Daily Express’s Berlin correspondent states that the French have taken rigorous measures in Recklinghausen, where a French sentry was shot dead. Two Germans were shot for disobeying the curfew Over 100 persons were arrested. It is alleged that a French patrol fired on lighted windows. The economic situation in the Ruhr is growing daily worse. The Gelsenkerchen furnaces will soon be compelled to close owing to the lack of fuel.