THE GERMAN CRISIS

Waikato Times, Volume 93, Issue 15311, 11 August 1923, Page 5

THE GERMAN CRISIS

OFFENSIVE IN RUHR. GREAT FRENCH PREPARATION. FOREIGNERS TO LEAVE. ' Britain’s reply to the French and Belgian Governments deals rankly and fully with the situation. There are indications that the French contemplate further drastic action in the occupied territories, which foreigners are advised to leave. The food problem is assuming grave dimensions, and the workers are showing increasing evidences of discontent. The printers have gone out, and ail train communication with Berlin has ceased. The latest indications are that the strike is spreading rapidly. It is reported that the Communists are actively exploiting the situation for their own purposes. Australian and N.Z. Cable Assn. (Received August 11, 10.30 a.m.) BERLIN, August 9. The Lokal Anzeiger declares that France is preparing for a great offensive in Ruhr with a view to breaking down passive resistance. All foreigners are being advised to leave. BREAKDOWN OF GERMANY. WHAT IT WOULD ENTAIL. BRITAIN’S ATTITUDE CRITICISED. (Received August 11, 10.30 a.m.) BERLIN, August 10. The Reichstag debated Herr Cuno’s statement, Herr Stressman -said he was convinced that England would take a different attitude regarding passive resistance in Ruhr, and would officially demand that it should bo ended. Germany would gain nothing ■by a rupture of -the Entente, and did not wish to see it. Germany’s breakdown would lead to more unemployment in England, followed by an outbreak of Bolshevism in both countries. He warned France that Germany was not so far spent as to -take the filching of the Rhine and Ruhr lying down. I-lerr H-erg-t, a former Minister for Finance, said if England was so weak as to allow M. Poincare to flout her ancl decline to reply to her questionnaire, it was not Germany’s business, but Germany had -the right to ask England to carry out the promises made at the signing of the treaty. PROPOSED LOAN. LIABLE TO SEIZURE. BREACH OF VERSAILLES TREATY. (Received August 11, 8.45 a.m.) PARIS, August 9. The Government takes the view that Herr Guno’s proposed new international loan on a gold basis would violate the Treaty of Versailles, and points out that the Reparations Commission has power to seize contributions. . < (Reoevied August 11, 10.30 a.m.) PARIS, August 9. The Temps says that Herr Cuno’s speech was not intended’to discourage, but on the contrary stimulate, Britain to do more- than hitherto on behalf of Germany. If England yields, to Germany, France will always lie there to defend the dearlv-hought fruits of victory and to safeguard the Allies’ patrimony. CHAOS IN BERLIN. ACTIVITY OF THE COMMUNISTS. WAGES AND FOOD PRICES. Australian and N.Z. Cable Assn. Received August 11, 12.30 p.m. BERLIN, August 10. The shops present a curious spectacle with absolutely empty windows. The shopkeepers refuse 'to display, goods owing to the regulation's com® pelling them to price the articles displayed. They point out that it is impossible to keep in step with climbing DTMf’PS - LONDON, August 10. The Morning Post’s Berlin correspondent says that food in the large towns is scarce. Meat is obtainable only by the richest, and potatoes and eggs have practically disappeared. Crowds stand for hours outside the butter shops.

The farmers and agriculturists, owing to the depreciated mark preventing purchases abroad, have become masters of the situation, and the prices of everything have risen to hundreds of thousands' of marks. Notes for 5,000,000 marks arc plentiful, but are unchangeable. The supply of notes of less value than I,ooo*ooo marks is unaccountably failing, and in consequence the workers are not being l’ully paid. This, coupled with the fact that the rate of wages does not keep pace with the cos'! of food, is 1 tie cause of Hie disturbances. Communists everywhere are exploiting the situation. The authorities announce that the printing presses cannot cope with the demand lor notes required for daily necessities, hut the workers suspect oilier reasons.

The Danzig dockers refuse to work unless paid a dollar a day. Blohm and Voss, shipbuilders, at Hamburg, have closed their yards in consequence of the altitude of the workers, who arc under Communist influence.

The Siemens’ workers demonstrated 1 before the directors’ offices, eomplain--1 ing that advances in wages were not > arranged quickly enough to keep pace with prices. The Berlin electricity workers are adopting passive resistance. The supply of electricity is already scanty. -•--.Tlic shops, except the food stores, were closed on Thursday as a protest I against, wholesalers demanding payment in dollars, whereas retailers are | compelled to accept marks. . ! THE CASE FOR BRITAIN. ’ ; STATED FRANKLY AND TRULY. I REPLY" TO FRENCH QUESTIONS. j Australian and N.Z. Cable Assn. I Received August It, 12.30 p.m. LONDON, August 10. The Daily Telegraph's diplomatic j correspondent understands that the replies reject the suggestion that Britain ean demand the unconditional abandonment of passive resistance, questions ihe efficacy of tlic so-called ; productive pledges as a means of making Germany pay. and suni- ! marises Hie entice British case in an I eloquent and "compelling manner,

which is sure to make a world-wide appeal to public opinion. The Daily Express says that France’s questions are answered frankly and fully. The Government points out that there can be no remission of France's debt until Germany’s capacity to pay is ascertained. Britain is only able to arrange a general debt settlement when she knows what to expect from Germany. The Morning Post says the replies stress Britain’s unemployment,' the enormous burden of taxation, and the heavy debt repayment to America. It indicates that some method other than or supplementary to, Pranco-Belgian occupation of the Ruhr must be devised for enabling Germany to pay 'the reparations. STRIKES IN BERLIN. , PRINTERS GO OUT. ALL BERLIN TRAINS STOPPED* Australian and N.Z. Gable Assn. ’ Received August 11, 12.25 p.m. BERLIN, August 10. A strike of printers has begun, resulting in the stoppage of publication of all Berlin newspapers, except those controlled by Socialists and Communists. The bank note printers have also ceased work. The strike is the' -outcome of the men’s refusal to accept the Labour Ministry’s award of a wage of 6,750,000 marks a week. It is feared the strike will spread to all municipal services, and factories. The underground, workmen 'have struck work, -owing l-o the -dismissal of -three workmen. Traffic is at a complete standstill. A later message says the strike is spreading rapidly, and the Government is gravely concerned. There are no -trains from Berlin -today.

SABOTAGE IN RUHR. A SAX'ON PROHIBITION. Received August 11, 11.30 a.m. - \ PARIS, August 10. The Sax-on Government has issued an order prohibiting its subjects 'palliating in -any way violent acts in the occupied territory. RUHR MINES. THEIR SEIZURE -ORDERED. Received August 11, 2.30 pm, BERLIN, August 10. . A telegram from Coblenz say's that the Inter-Allied Commission has ordered the seizure -of 'the Ruhr mines for -defaulting 'deliveries.