NEWS FROM OVERSEAS

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVII, 25 November 1927, Page 8

NEWS FROM OVERSEAS

CABLES IN BRIEF. Franco-German Trade Treaty: Despite Nationalist opposition, the Reichstag adopted the Franco-Ger-man trade agreement. Anglo-Russian Relations: Sir Austen Chamberlain stated in the House of Commons that Russia had made.no proposals recently for the resumption of trade relations with Britain. National Expenditure: Mr A. M. Samuel. Financial Secretary to the Treasury, made a statement in the House of Commons that, excluding the Post Office road fund and the sinking fund, the national expenditure from April 1 to November 19 was £424,000.000, compared with £139,000.000 in the same period of 1926.

Anglo-Russian Relations: Sir Austen Chamberlain stated in the House of Commons that Russia had made.no proposals recently for the resumption of trade relations with Britain.

National Expenditure: Mr A. M. Samuel. Financial Secretary to the Treasury, made a statement in the House of Commons that, excluding the Post Office road fund and the sinking fund, the national expenditure from April 1 to November J 9 was £424,000.000, compared with £139,000.000 in the same period of 1926.

U.S.A, Fleet: “The United States fleet will not only be the equal of but will be superior to any other,” declared Captain White. American naval attache, at a Thanksgiving dinner. “I am against 90 per cent, efficiency and favour 100. to attain which great expense must be incurred.”

Unacceptable; Hungary lias informed the League that the Council's proposals for the solution of the dispute with Rumania are not acceptable. Hungary recently made fresh proposals, which Rumania’s verbal intimations suggested would not be successful.

Abolition of the Visa: Sir Austen Chamberlain announced m the House of Commons that he hoped shortly to conclude an agreement with Germany for the abolition of the visa. He wa« also in communication with the Gov ernment of Czeeho-Slovakia with e view to the abolition of the visa, and was awaiting their reply.

Hinkler’s Plans: After the Polish Air Force has repaired their ’plane, Hinkler and Mclntosh will fly to Loudon, accompapied by Mrs Whitehead, wife of the British Vice-Consul in Lemberg. Later they will make another attempt to fly to India

Tension on Iraq Frontier; “The Times’ ” correspondent at Basra reports tension on the frontier in anticipation of nn attack b Feisal, the Wahabi Sheikh. Aeroplanes loaded with bombs are maintaining ceaseless scouting, while officers and men at the aerodromes are sleeping alongside their rifles and ammunition, reisal, if he comes, will undoubtedly Port Jackson Trade i The annual report of the Harbour Trust Comissioners shows that during- the year 8366 vessels, with registered tonnage of 16,526,798. entered Port Jackson, representing the highest tonnage in its history.

Iron Works Closing: Owing to oversea competition and the high cost of production. Lysaght’s galvanised iron works at Newcastle. New South Wales, are closing next month, it is one of Newcastle’s principal secondary industries and. following the drastic curtailment of operations at the steel works, will add considerably the industrial depression in the northern district.

Two-way Telephony; The recent experimental Holland-Dutch East Indian two-way telephony was successful Persons in their own homes at The Hague and Amsterdam normally conversed with others in their own homes at Bandoeng. Improvements at the receiving end are being made enabling a regular service in the near future.

Arrests in the Solomons: Wireless advices from Tulagai state that Bassiana and his right hand man Peter Moses, alleged to be the boy Lillie's assailant, and 33 others, including four females, were captured at Sinerango. Thirty-six have arrived at Tulagai, including Bassiana, and have been lodged in gaol. Nola is still at liberty, but his arrest is expected at any time.

Claims of Irish Ex-Servicemen: In Dail Eireann Mr. Cosgrave informed Captain Redmond that the Government was establishing a committee to ascertain the nature of the claims of Irish ex-servicemen against the British Government, also the nature and extent of the claims against the Free State regarding alleged discrimination in employment on Government works or otherwise.

Revised Prayer Book: The Ecclesiastical Committee of the two House of Parliament, having decided, bv 21 votes to five, that the new Prayer Book for the Church of England does not infringe the constitutional rights of the King’s subjects, has now reported to thy Legislative

Committee of the Church Assembly, and that body will take the appropriate steps to see that a measure approving of the new Prayer Book will be submitted for the Royal assent. The dates for debating this resolution have not yet been fixed, but it will probably be discussed before the Christmas recess. There is no party opposition to the measure and members will be free to exercise their individual discretion.

Co-operation in Industry: A scheme for co-operation in industry and the maintenance of industrial peace, drafted by Imperial Industries, Limited, was explained by the directors to representatives of the employers at a conference in London yesterday. Mr. J. R. Clynes, M.P., stated that it was the intention of his party to co-operate in every possible way in the administration of the new policy.

Reducing Coal Ash: Sir Alfred Mond, speaking at the Fuel Institute, revealed that within the year there had been an extremely interesting development in the coal industry. Though this at present is in an experimental stage, it is likely to have far-reaching effects. It consisted of the treatment of many classes ol British coals for the purpose of reducing ash below two per cent. A great amount was now wasted in carrying thousands of tons of ash throughout the country and in bunker coal. A commercial plant would therefore shortly be opened.

U.S. Merchant Marine: The American merchant marine at June 30, 1927, consisted of 25,778 vessels of 16,887,000 tons gross compared with 26,363 vessels of 17,375,000 tons in 1926. Vessels privately owned of 500 tons or over numbered 1957 of 6,836, 00 tons compared with 1996 of 6,732. 000 tons last year. There are 879 United States owned Shipping Board vessels aggregating 4,539,000 tons, compared with 1056 of 5,162,000 ton a year ago.

Nauru Phosphates: Mr. Harold Briggs, M.P., addressing Unionist agriculturists, called attention to the failure of the Government to take up its quota of phosphates from Nauru and Ocean Islands. No phosphates had been shipped to Britain for six years. New Zealand and Australia not only were taking their own percentages, but Australia was receiving the bulk of Britain’s. There was no reason why phosphates should not be 40s a ton here, instead of 565. The committee was impressed and appointed a sub-committee to examine the position.

New Spirit at the Vatican: One of the picturesque features of Rome ill disappear as a result of the Pope's decision to abolish the Vatican horse carriages and replace them with motor cars. Thus the old-fashioned Vatican coaches, drawn by a pair of black horses, will no longer cross the bridges of the Borgo to excite the wonder of Romans and the curiosity of tourists. The Pope very likely will be seen in the near future, when the Vatican question is settled with tho Fascist Government, driving in State in a limousine from St. Peter’s to the Latteran Basilica as a sign that a new spirit has penertated the eternal city.