GERMANY IN A FERMENT.

Waikato Times, Volume 98, Issue 15312, 13 August 1923, Page 5

GERMANY IN A FERMENT.

CABINET TOTTERING

RESIGNATION REFUSED

Australian and N.Z. Cable Assn. BERLIN, August 12.

Germany is in a ferment, political and economic. The Chancellor, Herr Guno, tendered his resignation on Saturday, but the President, Herr Ebert, refused to accept it. The currency chaos and the scarcity and high cost of food in the larger towns has resulted in crippling strikes, accompanied with grave disorder in a number of centres.

The President on Saturday held a conference with the Chancellor and other Ministers at Herr Ebert's residence in the Wilhelmstrasse, where the gates were guarded by soldiers, while outside Communists clamoured for a peasants and labourers' Government. The Socialists had met and decided to support the Communists' motion of no-coufldence in the Government to be voted on in the Reichstag on Monday. Consequently Herr Cuno proffered his resignation in pursuance of his previous threat to do so should the Socialists decide to join forces with the Communists. The resignation was refused, and Herr Ebert issued a proclamation declaring that it was useless for Germany to expect outside help. Strikes everywhere are continuing. The Communists have proclaimed a three days' general strike, and are issuing posters bearing the "A rotten day's work for a rotten day's pay." They demand the resignation of Herr Cuno, the confiscation of foodstuffs for the benefit of workers, higher wages on a gold standard, and permission to hold public demonstrations. - Saturday was the anniversary of the present German Constitution, but the fact passed unnoticed owing to the internal and external crisis.

LEGAL OBJECTIONS.

TO RUHR OCCUPATION

LONDON, August 10. The Daily Telegraph's diplomatic, correspondent says that the critics, who found fault with Cabinet on the ground that it failed up to the present to take a strong stand in defence of: British rights and interests, will have little cause for similar complaint in regard to the latest Note to France and. Belgium. Mr Baldwin and Lord Gurzon adopted an extremely firm tone despite the uniform courtesy of the language employed. For the first time Britain's legal objections to the Ruhr occupation will bo officially and openly stated. The Government had hitherto refrained from pressing the point, but M. Poinearc's hardly-concealed challenge in the recent French Note made It imperative that the British legal case should not go by default. The point that no single one or two: among Germany's creditors are en-; titled to depreciate common credits by Independent action can hardly bo separated from the question of Allied debts, and it is believed will be fully dealt with in the Note.

SALE OF MARKS.

A GERMAN PROHIBITION. j BERLIN, August 10. A Government decree prohibits Germans from selling marks abroad on the ground that such sales 'have a detrimental effect on exchange. - =r j