CHAOTIC GERMANY

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17189, 5 November 1923, Page 1

CHAOTIC GERMANY

BAVARIA’S WARLIKE PREPARATipNS. SEPARATISTS EXPELLED FROM RHINELAND. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received November 5, 8.50 a.m.) BERLIN, November 4. It is authoritatively learned that the Bavarian Government sent a letter to the Chancellor demanding the creation of a dictatorship of the Reich, based on the Bavarian model. The letter adds that unless a dictatorship is established in Berlin forthwith, the Bavarian Government intends to despatch to Berlin the troops at present concentrated on the Bavarian frontier. The ultimatum report is officially denied. The disarmament and expulsion of Separatists at Aix la Chapelle by the Belgian authorities was followed by similar action throughout the Belgian occupation zone amid universal rejoicings. The display of Separatist banners and flags was forbidden. Messages from Aix la Chappelle state that the Separatists were congratulating themselves on their success, when the Belgians ordered to lay down their arms and evacuate the town in ninety minutes. This was miraculously accomplished though the angry crowd dragged out four from the moving train and beat two to death. Subsequently the British Consul arrived on the scene and received an ovation. The Belgian gendarmes dispersed the crowd with truncheons. Historic treasures at the Town Hall were irreparably damaged. The Minister for the Interior telegraphed to the Bavarian Premier requesting an early explanation of the warlike preparations by irregular bands on the North Bavarian frontier, saying that the Prussian and Hungarian Governments were alarmed, and demanded protection from the Central Government. The decision by the Socialist party to withdraw from the Government was reached by an overwhelming majority, after protracted efforts to arrange a compromise bad failed. T>r Ktresemann presumably will now request Herr Kbert to sanction the dissolution of the Reichstag as it is impossible to carry on there against opposition by the Socialists.