COMPLETE RUPTURE.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 January 1923, Page 5

COMPLETE RUPTURE.

THE FRENCH AND GERMANS POSITION MOST CRITICAL. THE GERMANS DEFIANT. SIGNIFICANT EVENTS. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Received Jan. 16, 8.30 p.m. Berlin, Jan. 15. . The Esaen correspondent of the Daily Express states that the whole situation has changed suddenly and become most critical. There is now a complete rupture between the French authorities and the German industrial leaders. The joint Franco-German Commission met to-day and discussed a provisional agreement under which coal was to be supplied, the French paying the miners’ wages, but the Germans announced the receipt of an order from the coal controller at Berlin, forirdding the mine-owners to make further deliveries on any cond'tions. The French then peremptorily demanded prompt deliveries in compliance with the Reparations Comm ssion’s demands, but the Germans declared they must obey Berlin. The French then left the room and immediately drove off to consult General Degoutto. Meanwhile, the French forces completely occupied Bochum by noon. The French grate that all previous agreements are cancelled, and that they retain complete liberty of action. Half-an-hour’s complete strike was observed throughout the Rhur during the forenoon. The shops were closed, and a large demonstration was held at Essen. Students, business men and workers assembled in front of the Town Hall and sar.g ‘'Deutschland über Alles” and other ?ongs, with the refrain: “We shall march victoriously against France.” Mounted police unsuccessfully attempted to disperse the crowd. , The populace observed a two minutes silence, pursuant to an order from Berlin for meditation “on the terrible consequences of France’s outrage.” The Tageblatt’s Moscow correspondent says that the All-Russia Executive, after protesting against the Ruhr occupation, declares that, if the latter reacts or Poland :t will directly involve Russia a; Central Europe in a crisis. A large political demonstration at Bochum culminated in a collision w. : th the French troops, who fired, killing one man and wounding several. At the outset a crowd of several thousand collected outside the Town Hall, where the French general is stay ng. They sang patriotic songs and cheered the German Republic, and then marched in procession through the streets. A number of young Communists fcade a counter-demonstration and cheered the Third Internationale and the French League of Souths. The police were unable to cope with the demonstrators, who came into collision with French troops at the railway station, with the above result. INFORMATION FOR AMERICA. OF FRENCH ACTIVITIES. BOCHUM OPERATIONS EXPLAINED.

Received Jan. IG, 7.25 p.m. Wa&ngton, Jan. 15. M. Poincare (French Premier) cabled to M. Jusserand, for the informal on of the American Government, a complete account of French activities in rhe Ruhr, emphatically denying the use of any but white French troops. Forty-five thousand men were sent to the Bochum region to-day, in order to embrace the area within the Werden-Witten-Dutelin-Gladbach Vue. It was found this further advance was necessary because the German Government had issued orders to cease all coal deliveries, and because the area previously occupied was not sufficient to provide the necessary Allied coal deliveries without crippling local industries. NEW SOLUTION OFFERED. AMERICAN OFFICIAL’S PLAN. Received Jan. 16, 8.50 p.m. New York, Jan. 16. The New York World’s Pars correspondent declared that Mr. Boyden, the American representatives on the Reparations Commission, presented on Friday an entirely new plan for the solution of the reparations question, hinting that the plan has Washington’s approval. Mr. Hughes, commenting upon a Paris cablegram to the New York Times, giving the contents of a report which Mr. Boyden submitted to the commission recently, ' declared it did not represent the American official attitude. The report had exonerated Germany in certain particulars for not supplying reparations and coal, declaring there were extenuating circumstances.— Aus-N.Z. Cable Assn. GERMANY’S COAL KING. A MASTERFUL PERSONALITY, Reieived Jan. 16, 8.50 p.m. Berlin, Jan. 15. The organisation known as the Rher« : shWestphalian Syndicate, which ordinarily sells the Ruhr’s whole coal, is the work of Herr Kirdorf, who is now taking a leading part in attempts to thwart the French. Herr Kirdorf, beginning life penniless, ’a now one of Germany’s richest men, and he has a strong and masterful personality. He persistently warned Germany against the perils of the ex-Kaiseris policy, and after the overthrow of Bismarck he refused all the ex-Kaiser’s proffered honors and invitations. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. AMERICA’S SILENCE. THE LAST WORD. Received Jan. 16, 7.15 p.m. Washington, Jan. 15. A heavy silence has fallen upon the administration at White House. The State Department officials refuse to say anything concern.’,ng the reparations situation. They decline even to permit speculation, and have hinted to correspondents the desirability of saying nothing. Everything now must come from Europe. This appears to be the last word. Aus.- | N.Z. Cable Assn. LABOR PARTY’S SYMPATHY, Received Jan. 16, 5.5 p.m. London, Jan. 15. Mr. Roden Buxton, M.P., goes to Germany on Thursday in order to convey to German Socialists the Independent Labor Party’s sympathy in regard to the French . ccupation of the Ruhr. Mr. Buxton lived for some time at a Ruhr miner’s home.