FRENCH OCCUPATION.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16942, 17 January 1923, Page 5

FRENCH OCCUPATION.

LABOUR SYMPATHY: BTNagraph—Preu Association—copyright Australian and NZ. Cable Association. LONDON. January 15. hlr C. Roden Buxton, Labour M.P. for Acerington, 09.8 to Germany on Thursday. m ordgr to convey to the German Socialism, the Independent Labour Party's sympathy in regard to the i‘nench occupation of the Ruhr. Mr Buxhon lived for some time at a Ruhr min Er’s home. EXCITEMENT AT ESSEN. ,- BERLIN, January 15. The Coal Commissioner has pro—hibited the Ruhr coal-owners from supplying France and Belgium, even against payment. Dramatic action by France is expected. Advices from Essen state that a half-hour stoppage of work. as aprotest against the French action. was car” ried out ‘ There was an anti-French demonstration outside the French headquarters. Speeches were delivered, patriotic songs sung. and a noisy demon‘ stration was held near the ofiices of the inter-Allied Mission at the Belle: vue Hotel, but the police prevented 3 the demonstrators from entering the 1 building and doing any damage. and 4 finally dispersed them. No arrests 1 were made. ' The crowd was gratified at the hoisting of the German monarchial colours on buildings opposite the hotel. Advices from Stettin state that the police prevented an attempted demonstration against. the Entente Commissioners. NEW FRENCH LINE. LONDON, January 16. An Essen message says that the French line runs through “'erden. Eon» tingen, Werne, Heinrieherburgli, Reel:— liugliausen and Bottrop. AN AMERICAN PLAN. , .J-‘;._\:V'Av‘:v—_'-,1~-NEW YORK, January 16. The “ New York VVorld’s ” Paris correspondent declares that Mr Boyden. the American representative- on the Reparations Commission, presented on Friday an entirely new plnn for the solu—tion of the reparations question, hint~ ing that the plan has \Vashington’s approval. Mr C. E. Hughes, in the meantime. commenting upon the “ New York Times ” Paris cable, giving the context of the report which Mr Bnyden submitted to the Commission recently. de~ clared that- it did not represent the American ofiioial attitude. The report had exonerated Germany in certain particuiars for not supplying the reparations coal, declaring that there were extenuating circumstances. COMPLETE RUPTURE REPORTED. ‘53:;1

LONDON, January 15. The 44 Daily Express’s ” Essen cor respondent states: “The whole situation has changed suddenly, and has 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. Ylie provisional agreement under which coal was to lie supplied, the French paying the miners’ wages, but tiie Germans announced the receipt of an order from the Coal Controller at Berlin, forbidding the mine owners co make further deliveries on any conditions. The French peremptorily demanded prompt deliveries in compliance with the Reparation Commission’s demands, but the Germans declared that they must obey Berlin. The French left the room, and immediately drove off to consult General Degoutte. Meanwhile the French forces had completely occupied Bochum by noon. The French state that all previous agreements are cancelled, and they retain complete liberty of action. “ A half-hour’s complete strike was observed throughout the Ruhr 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 sang ‘ Deutschland Über AUes’ and other songs, with the refrain. ‘We Shall March Victoriously Against France.’ Mounted police unsuccessfully attempted to disperse the crowd. The populace observed the two minutes’ silence order from Berlin', for meditation l on the terrible consequences of France’s outrage.’ ” The “ Tageblatt s ” Moscow correspondent says that All Russia Executive, after protesting against the Ruhr occupation, declares that if the latter reacts on Poland, it will directly involve Russia and Central Europe in the crisis.

REPORT OF ACTIVITIES. WASHINGTON, Januarv 15. ;\I. Poincare has cabled M. Jusgeraml the French Ambassador, for the infor: mation of the American Government, a complete account. of the French activities in the Ruhr. He emphatimllv denies the use of any but white French troops. Fox'ty—five_ thousand men were sent to the Bochun region to—da)’. in order to embrace the area within the “'erden-Witien-Dutelin-Gladbach line. II; was found that this further advance was necessary, because the German Government. had issued orders to cease all coal deliveries, and because the urea previously occupied was not sufljcieng to provide the necessary Allied ('oal deliveries without. crippling local in» dustries. - - . AMERICAN _SILENCE. WASHINGTON, January 15. A heavy silence has fallen upon the Administration at “him House. The State Department ha» refused to say anything com-erniny~ The repnralfiuns situation. It declines even to permit speculation, and has hinted to UOX‘I‘E‘S« pnndents the desirability of saying nothing. Everything now must come from Europe. This appears.m be the last word. GERMAN COAL KING. _——. ‘ BERLIN. January 15. The organisation known as the RhéhishJVestl3halian Syndicate, which nrdinarily sells, the whole of the coal output of the Ruhr, in the. work of Herr Kirdorf. who is now taking a. lead—ing part in thsz attempts to thwart the l’ronrh. Herr Kirdorf. beginning life pennilcws. is now one of. Germany‘s rich(‘HL mm: Ho has :1 strong. masterful porwnuhty He Iwrsistently warned (ivriuuny against the pE‘rils of the ex]{ziiwr‘x policy. after the overthrow «if Il;~m:n’vl<. H 4. i'vl'usml ulI tllv (Ax— KuiNer'x pi'uffm'o-ll ll‘rllulll~ and invita—m

REQUISITION TEMPORARILY l SUSPENDED. PARIS, January 16. It hm been agreed to suspend for twen¢3'—follr hours the requisition on the spot of the quantity of coal due from Germany on account of the reparations. GERMANY READY TO NEGOTIATE. BERLIN, J anuary 16. An apparently official communique _has been published in the evening papers, stating that Germany is ready to negotiate with the whole Eutente for a reasonable solution of the repara—tions problem. The French authorities are adopting: special measures to prevent priva—tions 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 depreciated marks. one proposal being to establish a new thaler to take the place of the mark. A STATE or WAR. l ‘ The “Daily Telegraph’s" Berlin ioorrespondent says: “Germany con—‘siders herself in a state of war. in lu'hirh military form is used on one 1 side and economiv manoeuvring rm the lather. The Reit'lishnnk is refusing to [send money into the occupied urea. treating it as in the enemy‘s hands. The question of paying the miners is thus acutei The French troops have reached Dortmund.” PAYMENT FOR COAL. LONDON, January lli. The “Morning Post's” Paris ourrespmirlent says that the French' Government has decided in order to obtain money to pay the coal owners for future deliveries. to levy a tax of ~10 per cent on the whole value of the coal leaving the Ruhr. whether on r.» parations or other accounts NEW GERMAN DEFAULT. PARIS. January 16. France, in view of the Reichstag‘s derision, 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 the industrial pres.‘ sure. France does not intend to ex—ploit the mines herself. She will negotiate with Berlin. or fix the prices and delivery terms Without consulting; Englflnd. i SHOOTING AT BOCHUM. Renter's Taber-ans. ’ BERLIN. January 16. A large political demonstration no 'Bochum culminated in a collisxon with ithe French troops. who’ fired. killing lone man and wounding several. At the outset, a crowd of several [thousand collected outside, the Town Hall. Where the French’General was istaying. They sang; patriotic songs, 3 and cheered the German Republic, an! then marched in a procession througn the streets. A number of young Communists made a. counter-«demonstration, and cheered the Third Internationale, and the French Communist-it: League of Youth. ‘ The police were unable to cope with the demonstrators. who came into collision with the French troops at the railway station, with the above result. BRITISH PRESS OPINION. LONDON. January 16. The Press practically unanimously adopts the attitude towards France of, “I 'told you so.” The “ Daily Chronicle” says:— “Perhaps some Frenchmen will reioxce at the pnz-‘sihilit-y that their troops may yet enter Berlin." The “Daily Telegraph" 535'5: “ The course which events have taken confirms. with melancholy. the anticipation of trouble formed in this munI try when France decided upon the occupation of the Ruhr.” | The “\Vestminster Gazette” remarks: “France, has placed herself in a position in which what she does. or refrains from doing. is dictated hr the German Government and people. I “'0 believe that France will find that she has undertaken a task impossible of ac—complishment. By that time the rep—ayahons will have probablr rlisaupmireil as a possible policy of this generation."