THE RUHR PROBLEM.

Taranaki Daily News, 7 September 1923, Page 2

THE RUHR PROBLEM.

EXPECTED GERMAN OFFER. NATIONAL GUARANTEES. By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright. London, Sept. 4. The Berlin correspondent of the Daily Chronicle says it is believed in Berlin that within a week Herr Stresemann will make a definite offer to the Allies on the lines of his speech at Stuttgart on Sunday. Hep* Stresemann, who is taking one careful step after another, has hitherto won the support of everyone except the wild extremists. As the Tageblatt says: “Germany at long last has a leader again.” To-night the newspapers emphasise that Herr Stresemann’s offer of productive guarantees is not only from the Ruhr, but from the whole country and that, as soon as a settlement on these lines appears certain, work will be resumed in the Ruhr. Political circles believe that France will not have to go far to find a way leading to a settlement. It is pointed out that Herr Stresemann’s offer of national guarantees originated in France. BRITISH ISOLATION CONDEMNED. Herr Stresemann, in a special interview with the Berlin correspondent of the Daily Express, said: “Reparations can only be served by a common agreement between Germany and the Allies. Therefore I believe Englands withdrawal from Europe, recommended by the Daily Express, would not lead to a settlement. The economic life of European nations is so interwoven that one nation cannot separate its interests from another’s. Britain’s doles to the unemployed are the price Britain is paying for Germany’s economic sufferings, for before the war Germany was England’s best customer in Europe, and the greatest buyer of the Dominions’ products outside Britain.” BETTER FEELING IN FRANCE. The Paris correspondent of the Daily Express says the conc,iliatory tone of Herr Stresemann’s speech is generally welcomed. The Quai d’Orsay in an official statement says: ‘Tor the first time a German Chancellor is facing the facts and understands the necessity of freeing Germany from her present financial difficulties. If Berlin withdraws the passive resistance orders in the Ruhr the population will be only too glad to work under the French. Already passive resistance is weakening and its total collapse is expected daily. When that comes we shall resume friendly discussions with Britain for a general settlement. The military occupation will then be replaced by an invisible one. The French must stay in the Ruhr till reparations are paid. Withdrawal is impossible. No French Government could, resist the nation’s unanimous demand."