FRANCES THREAT.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 January 1923, Page 5

FRANCES THREAT.

ORDERS MUST BE OBEYED,

SANCTIONS FOR DEFAULT.

PASSIVE RESISTANCE.

GERMANS GIVE TROUBLE.

Bv Telegraph.—-Press Assn.—Copyright Received Jan. 17, 8.45 p.m. London, Jan. 16. The Paris correspondent of the Morning Post states information from the Ruhr does not indicate that passive resistance is abating. Bills are posted at the entrance to every mine and factory, stating that owing to the irruption of the French and Belgian troops into the Ruhr all deliveries of coke and coal, even when payment is offered in advance, are prohibited. The Germans evidently count on causing trouble by creating a food shortage. All stocks of flour were removed before the arrival of the French, and also rolling stock and railway material. A report that the coal-owners are prepared to resume coal deliveries in order to avo : d having supplies requisitioned has proved unfounded. The system of requisitions operated today, and several train loads of coal were despatched by the French to France. The German coal-owners have cabled their customers abroad stating that, owing to force majeure, they are compelled to cancel their contracts for the export of coal.

. A conference at the Allied headquarters at Dusseldorf between Generals Degoutte, Simon, Danvignes and the German industrialists and officials of the miners’ unions ended with the absolute refusal of the Germans to deliver the coal demanded by the French. General Simon presented a final order that work must begin to-morrow. He said the first sanction was the occupation of Dortmund, and if the prder was not obeyed other sanctions would follow immed ately. The German spokesman attempted to speak, but the meeting peremptorily closed.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. FRENCH POST ATTACKED. ACTION BY COMMUNISTS. TWO DEMONSTRATORS KILLED. Received Jan. 17, 8.5 p.m. Paris, Jan. 16. French advices from Essen claim the prohibition against the execution of the coal requisitions has not been generally observed, as some mine-owners began to fulfil them to-day. It is officially confimed that a mob of young Communists attacked a French post at '-he Bochum railway station, and some shots were fired, upon which the French replied, and two demonstrators were killed.

PROGRESS OF THE FRENCH. DORTMUND ENTERED. Received Jan. 17, 8.5 p.m. Berlin, Jan. 16. The French entered Dortmund at noon. AMERICA’S ATTITUDE. NO PLAN SUGGESTED. Washington, Jan. 16. benator K : ng introduced a resolution in the Senate asking what instructions the State Department gave Mr. Boyden, the American observer on the Reparations Commission, prior to his speech opposing the French policy regarding Germany. The resolution, which was referred to the Foreign Relations Committe, is construed as virtually demanding the State Department's attitude regarding reparations. Received Jan. 17, 5.5 p.m.

Washington, Jan. 16. t was emphatically stated by White -U use that Mi. Boyden has received no reparations settlement plan which has the sanction of the Government.

ITALY’S ADVICE TO FRANCE. NO PEACE WITHOUT BRITAIN’S HELP. Received Jan. 17, 5.5 p.m. Rome, Jan. 16. tn a speech to Cabinet, Signor Mussolini declared that he advised France to limit as far as possible the military character of her action in the Ruhr, also not to shut the door upon the possibility of agreement, which Italy believed to be possible and for which she was working. He declared that no entente formed for the purpose of securing peace in Europe could succeed without the participation of Great Britain, and expressed the opinion that France would probably yet view favorably the Italian plan for reparations presented in London. FORCING COAL-OWNERS. Received Jan. 17, 7.25 pin. Berlin, Jan. 17. Referring to the French general's threat to arrest recalcitrant owners,. the Coal Director declares this will not'induce owners to comply with the French demands. The Morning Post says the German view 5s that the French action in the Rhur is designed to create a vast all-Europe trust for a fusion of the French and German steel industries, including coal and iron ore supplies, with power to manipulate the international labor market.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

'AVE CAN SEE SUCCESS.”

FRANCE'S HOPEFUL VIEW.

London, Jan. 14. Notwithstanding the difficulties France takes a most optimistic view of events. • A high official to-day toid the Daily Mail’s Paris representative that “we can see success coming. The Government feels sure success spells the begatning of a new policy in Europe, with closer friendship with England. By Monday night the Government will have all the information wanted regarding the working of the occupied area. If the German Government refused to credit mine owners with the value of reparation coal France would take the necessary money by seizing the whole coal tax on fuel sent into Germany. This can be used to pay miners.” He added that a private agreement between Herr Stinnes and the French iron owners was bound to gome sooner or later. STILL ON THE MARCH. Paris, Jan. 15. Offcial messages state that the French troops are advancing on Bochum.