MORE PRESSURE.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 January 1923, Page 5

MORE PRESSURE.

FRENCH POLICY STIFFENED,

GERMANS DISMAYED.

THE PEOPLE DEPRESSED,

By Telegraph.— Press Assn.— Copyright.

Paris, Jan. 16.

The French attitude has considerably stiffened as the result of German obstructionism. There lire signs that the occupation of the Ruhr is likely to become less invisible, less purely economic, and that German resistance will meet with very visible military pressure. Already there is talk in the press of taking hostages among business men and high officials in the occupied territory. Le Matin foreshadows the making of the Ruhr Rhineland a buffer State in the event of continued German recalcitrance.

Advices from Berlin show that the boxing league decided that, owing to the occupation of the Ruhr, French and' Belgian boxers will not be allowed to appear in Germany.—Reuter.

Berlin, Jan. 16. The further occupation of the Ruhr produced something like absolute dismay, (o which an abrupt fall in the mark contributed. There is a new profession of German readiness to enter into negotiations with the Entente a whole. There is a clamorous demand for Herr Cuno to declare his full policy. Meanwhile, the public are floundering aimelcssly about. talking vaguely of prohibiting French plays and boycotting French and Belgian articles of luxury. They are growing more and more Francophobe, and more and more depressed.

At Munich serious street fighting followed a demonstration in connection with the day of mourning. The demonstrators attacked a procession of Socialists with cries of “Down with the traitors’ flag,” “Down with the Jews’ Republic.” It is noteworthy that at an official demonstration the old Imperial German flag was flying, but there were no signs of a Republican flag.—Times. REQUISITION GF COAL. Paris,, Jan. 18. Advices from Essen state that firm arrangements have been made under the auspices of the military authorities for the requisition of coal uncier martial law, including the' repression of agitation and stoppage of wor.c. Measures have been taken to frustrate alleged attempts to remove rolling stock from the Ruhr. Laden trucks consigned elsewhere are being diverted to France and Belgium. Tlie Control Committee announces the discovery that the coal-tax has not been collected for the past three months, resulting in manufacturers getting coal 40 per eent below normal rates.

The Ruhr industrial leaders, confronted with French requisitioning notices, undertake to resume deliveries upoj. ■withdrawal of the requisitions. Le Petit Parisien’s Berlin correspondent states that the Socialist Party has considered the new situation. A number of Deputies condemned Herr Cuno’s policy, and demanded the immediate resumption of Franco-German negotiations.

OCCUPATION OF MEMEL. Berlin. Jan. 16. The Lithuanians proclaimed that they occupied Memel after the garrison had surrendered. They took prisoner seven French and fifteen soldiers. They repeat they were not fighting the Entente. DEFAULT IN CATTLE. Paris, Jan. Iff The Reparations Commission declared that Germany was guilty of voluntary default as regards the deliveries of cattle. The British representative did not vote. ADVICE FROM ITALY. Rome, Jan. 16. In 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 favourably the Italian plan for reparations presented in London.