RUHR POSITION.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17169, 12 October 1923, Page 11

RUHR POSITION.

BRITISH OBSERVER'S VIEW. By Telegraph—Press Association —Copy right Australian and N.2. Cable Association LONDON, October 11. The diplomatic correspondent of the “Daily Telegraph’’ says: “Our Allies may well ask themselves whether, in any deal with Herr Stinnes, they are likely to get the better of the bargain. M. Poincare may eventually discover, in refusing now to negotiate with the German Government—although the latter has withdrawn all ordnances—and preferring to negotiate with private and local interest , that he was not altogether happily inspired. The validity of any agreements under such one of the Governments concerned, may conceivable be challenged at a later date. It will be interesting to learn the view taken by the Reparations Commission. Tt would be difficult. to say whether the French attitude had been dictated by the fear that Franco-German negotiations could not be conducted without British participation. On the other hand it is a fact that Belgian opinion is not enamoured of separate negotiations with private interests. It would not surprise me to learn that a Belgian demarche is im- t minent. possibly in the form of a re- j quest that the Reparations Commis- i sion should deal, without delay, with j the recent proposals of Belgian tech- 1 nical experts, which the British and French Governments, hitherto, have j ignored.