MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 10 December 1920, Page 2

MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS.

• United Service Telegrams). AUSTRO-GERMAN move. - BERLIN, December 8. Count Czemin ex-Austrian Foreign Minister, is at present discussing with leading politicians the possibility of uniting Germany and Austria, following the latter’s admission to the League of Nations. BRITISH FINANCE. . LONDON, December 8. The Bight, Hon. George Lambert has tabled a motion in the House of Commons for the better rationing of the National Purse to 808 millions during the year 1921-22. The motion will he debated to-morrow.

Messrs- Lloyd: George, Bonax Law, and Chamberlain are expected to' make important announcements. • Mr Asquith proposes that the Government’s expenditure should be limited to 950 millions for the year. This means forcing the Government to cut down superfluous Ministers, also unnecessary officials, and also wild schemes involving heavy cost.

The “Daily Mail” and “Daily Mirror” have been conducting a Campaign against the Government on its expenditure. This has now taken, the form of publicity lists of all members of the House of Commons who supported such estimates as those of the Ministry of Munitions and the Ministry of Shiping. The papers are describing them as “wasters and wastrels”. They are suggesting* “their constituents should keep an eye upon them.” The “Daily “Mirror” is publishing a special “Squander Mania 11 number, with a portrait gallery of the Ministers and the other members concerned together with an article by Lord Rothermere on the Governments so-called “grandiose waste schemes.” Major Archer Shee, in the House of Commons, obtained, leave to move the adjournment to-day in order to discuss the campaign. His motion referred to the “scandalous nature” of the articles in tho “Daily Mail” relating to the members of the House. ■ Captain Ormsby Gore suggested that Lord Xorthcliffe, and Lord Rothermere be summoned to the bar of the House and made to apologise. AUSTRIANS BANKRUPTCY. LONDON, December 9. The “Daily Express” Vienna ’correspondent states: —Austrias economic situation has become hopeless. The funds'are exhausted, and the Government is unable * purchase any food abroad. The country cannot oarry on more than two months.”

FRENCH EASTERN AIMS. (Received This Day at 10.40 a.m.) LONDON, Dec. 9. M. Leygues states that Smyrna which was coded to Greece under tlia Treaty, must be returned to Turkey, with safeguards for the protection of the minority. A complete agreement with Britain will be concluded on tho basis of the modification of the Treaty of Sevres, the lines of which will not clash with Mussulman susceptibilities. If France is confined in the westeiu Mediterranean her status will be considerably reduced, lienee she is demanding a Syrian zone,with Alexandretta, which will be one of the largest ports in the Mediterranean in thirty years. France will not remain in Cilicia.