MILLIONS OF MARKS

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIX, Issue 83, 13 August 1923, Page 5

MILLIONS OF MARKS

GERMAN FINANCIAL CRISIS. *ISI REMARKABLE SCENES. Press Association— Copyright. Australian .and N.Z. Cable Association. Berlin, August 11The strike of State printers has been settled and the printing of bank notes has been resumed. The Reichsbauk re-opens on Saturday after a most remarkable Friday. The building was. beset in the morning as usual by a crowd of messenger's from Stat© and municipal departments, banks, factories and officers armed with every kind of bag, Sack and portmanteau. These were apparently endless. Firstcomers were told they could have only a proportion of the amounts of their cheques and must take it partly in million mark notes and partly in ten, twenty and fifty marks, which was meaningless when an evening paper cost ten' thousand and a tiny roll of bread twelve thousand marks. After an hour the cashiers announced the end of their resources and dosed the doors, while the crowd burst out in fierce arguments until dispersed by horse and foot police The strangest bight wa 3 at lunch "time, when people were' seen with live and ten million mark notes frantically trying to obtain change in order to pay for a modest meal. The municipality received the Government's permission to utilise old paper money of a hundred, five hundred and a thousand mark notes. Great manufacturing firms are beginning to pay workers in emergency money, which the co-operative stores agreed to accept, the firms undertaking redemption at the earliest moment.

With the absence of wages in many places lightning strikes occurred and some ugly incidents are roported. The groat Thyssen works in the Dussoldorf district arc closed. The 1 Communists demom!, among "other things, that the children in the Ruhr should be evacuated into unoccupied Germany. Other shipping firms at Hamburg are following Blohm Voss's example, and have dismissed their workers. Twelve thousand men are now idle. The President (Herr Ebert) to-day had a conference with Dr. Cuno and other Ministers at Herr Ebert'® residence in the Wilhemstrasso, where the gates wore guarded by soldiers, while outside Communists I clamored for a peasants' and laborers' Government.

The Socialists met and decided to support the Communists in the vote on Monday's motion of no-confidence in the Government, and consequently Dr. Cuno proffered his resignation, which the President refused to accept, Herr Ebert has issued a proclamation declaring it is useless for Germany to expect outside help. Strikes continue everywhere. The Communists have proclaimed a three days' strike, and are issuing posters, which read: "A rotten day's work for a rotten day's pay." They demand the resignation of Dr. Cuno, the confiscation of foodstuffs for the benefit of the workers, higher wages on a good standard, and permission to hold public demonstrations. To-day is the anniversary of the present German constitution, adopted in 1919, but the fact passed unnoticed owing to the internal and ! external crisis. Practically all the I ooal miners in Central Germany are Son strike. A strong force of Comi munists>, after plundering a gun- ! smith's shop in Radbor, fired on the j police, who retaliated, killing four | and wounding forty.

FRENCH PRESIDENT'S SPEECH. (Receiver 9.25 a.m.) Paris, August 12. M. Poincare, speaking at Marville, iri the Ardemiess, said; "No doubt Dr. Ouno would not have used tho wild language in the Reichstag that he did about the resistance if the Allies had been unanimous in showing their will in calling upon Germany not to resist tho perfectly legitimate Franco-Belgian measures. As for us, we are not only sure of our rights, but sure of our methods. As in 1918, on the eve of tile military debacle Germany Is again seeking to ring the changes, and as in 1918 we have only to remain firm in order to have the last word. The Nation desires to win peace, and will do so. Your dead demand it that their will shall be fulfilled." PREMER'S RESIGNATION. (.Received 12.30 p.m.) London, August 12. Dr. Cuno has resigned, and Heir fttrosomann has been asked to form a Cabinet.