BRITISH VIEW.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 January 1923, Page 5

BRITISH VIEW.

“I TOLD YOU SO.’ f

THE FRENCH TASK. AN IMPOSSIBILITY. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Received Jan. 16, 11.5 p.m. London, Jan. 16. The Press practically unanimously adopts the atritude towards France of “I to’d you so.” The Daily Chronicle says: “Perhaps some Frenchmen will rejoice at the, possibility that their troops may yet enter Berlin.” The Daily Telegraph says: “The course which events have taken conforms with the melancholy anticipation of -trouble formed in this country when France decided for the occupation of the Ruhr.’’ The Westminster Gazette remarks: ‘Trance has placed herself in a position wherein what she does, or refrains from doing, is dictated by the German Government and people. We believe France will find she has undertaken a task impossible of accomplishment. By that time reparations will have probably disappeared as a possible poFcy in this generation.”—Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn. SEEKING A SOLUTION. GERMANY READY TO NEGOTIATE. Received Jan. 16, 9.45 p.m. Berlin, Jan. 16. An apparently official comunique has been published in the evening papers, stating that Germany is ready to negotiate w’ith the whole Entente for a reasonable solution of the reparations problem. The French authorities are adopting special measures to prevent privations among the people in the newly-occupied area. They are establishing soup kitchens and other relief measures. Cabinet is considering how to prevent the area being flooded with deprecated marks, one proposal being to establish a new thaler to take the place of the mark. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. TWO FACTORS BATTLING. MILITARY VERSUS ECONOMIC. Received Jan. 16, 10.30 p.m. London, Jan. 16. The Daily Telegraph’s Berlin correspondent says Germany considers herself in a state of war, in which military force is used on one side and economic manoeuvring on the other. The Reichsbank is refusing to send money into the occupied area, treating it as in enemy’s hands, and the question of paying the miners is thus acute. French troops have reached Dortmund. The Morning Post’s Paris correspondent says the French Government has decided, in order to obtain money to pay the coalowners for future deliveries, to levy a tax of 40 per cent, on the value of the coal leaving the Ruhr, whether on reparations or other account. COAL DELIVERIES. NEW GERMAN DEFAULT. Received Jan. 16, 10.30 p.m. Paris, Jan. 16.

France, in view of the Reich’s decision forbidding coal deliveries, will ask the Reparations Commission to declare a new German default. The refusal of deliveries is not expected to last long, owing to industrial pressure. France does not intend to exploit the mines herself; she will negotiate with Berlin or fix the prices and delivery terms without consulting England. THE FRENCH LINE. Received Jan. 16, 8.50 p.m. London, Jan. 16. An Essen message says the French line runs through Werden, Hottingen, Werne, Heinricherburgh, Recklinghausen and Bottrop. Paris, Jan. 15. It has been agreed to suspend for 24 hours the requisition on spot of the quantity of coal due from Germany on account of reparations.