TROUBLED GERMANY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17183, 29 October 1923, Page 11

TROUBLED GERMANY.

RHINELAND GOVERNMENT j PROCLAMATION. Hr Telegraph—Pree« Association—CopVriahl ; Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. BRUSSELS. October 26. The Rhineland Separatists have issued a proclamation stating that a provisional Government has been constituted and has entered into relations with the occupation authorities for a settlement of questions concerning public order. CONFLICTING REPORTS. BERLIN. October 27. Cologne reports state that the Separatist movement is fizzling out in numerous places in the Rhineland. It still holds its ground at Aix-la Chapelle, Bonn, Duern and Crefeld. Belgians at Aix-la-Chapelle arrested thirty-nine men, including nineteen students. The> French have proclaimed martial law at Bonn. It is stated that the French. High Commissioner has been ordered from Paris to acknowledge the loyalty of the Separatist movement. A Paris correspondent- states that a Rhineland Government was formed at Coblenz on October 2(3, with Herr Matthis as Premier, Herr von Wetzen as Foreign Minister. Already the Government has dis cussed the question of a. new currency, with the franc as the unit. FACING MISERY IN RHINE VALLEY. LONDON, October 2-8. Sir W. Beach Thornes, writing to the “ Daily Express” from’ Cologne, says that food, money and coal are all so short in the Ruhr and Rhine valley, that, unless a miracle happens, some millions of people will he facing utter misery and starvation in a few days’ time. Factories are shut and the last of the mines will close on Monday. The dole, where procurable, does not- exceed 8s weekly, which scarcely buys a day’s food. Tiber© are 20.000 unemployed in Cologne, where all food is of the dearest and milk and meat are scarce. ATTEMPTED COUP AT ESSEN PARIS, October 26. Advices from Essen state that Krupp workers 'attempted to turn out the management. The police attacked the men, who entrenched themselves in the works and buildings. Three workmen were killed and twenty injured. CLOSING OF RUHR MINES. BERLIN. October 27. Herr Stinnes and other industrialists, after conferring with Dr Stresemann. reopened negotiations with General De goutte. The closing of the mines will depend upon the result of the negotiations. .