BRITISH & FOREIGN ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 12 January 1921, Page 3

BRITISH & FOREIGN ITEMS.

BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSN., COPYRIGHT. ARMY OP OCCUPATION. COST TROUBLING FRANCE. LONDON, January 10. The “Daily News” surmises the measures Great Britain and France are Staking in order to fix definitely the form and amount of the German indemnity and reparations. They include forty one searching questions, which go to the root of the financial situation in Germany. The German answers will probably be available for the Allied Conference on tho 10th. inst. The “Daily News” believes that Germany is answering the questions frankly, including details of the flight of German capital and Germany’s export trade. France is troubled by the cost of upkeep of the Rhine armies. Tim cost of the upkeep of 14,000 American soldiers is 263 million dollars, compared with 2002 million francs which 90,000 French soldiers have cost France since the armistice. SIR WILLIAM PETERSON. V LONDON, January 7. The death has occurred of Sir William Peterson, principal of McGill University, Montreal from 1895 to 1919.

PERSIA AND SOVIET.

BY TELEGRAPH—PRESS ASSN., COPYRIGHT.

“ THE TIMES ” SERVICE

(Received this day at 8 a.m.) LONDON, January 10. The “Times” Teheran correspondent states a majority of Persian Aristocrats Ministers, and ex-Ministers, at a meeting favoured the acceptance ot t.« Soviet terms for a treaty exceptingjhe clauses relating to Socialism in I"sia and unlimited consular representation. They express the view that no pourparlers should be held until Soviet troops retire from the front in the north of Persia.

FIUME AFFAIRS. (Received this day at 8 a.m.) ROME, January 10. D’Annunzio is remaining at I-iume to contest the election for the Presidency of the province. naval affairs. UNITED SERVICE TELEGRAMS. (Received This Day at 8 a.m.) LONDON. January 10. The naval - authorities and Admiralty explain 'the reason why Australasia is not represented on the commit.ee examining future naval construction m that Australasia is not contributing ■> tho boat of the British fleet, but the committeies’ findings and full 'evidence will available fo|r the Dominion Governments as soon as possible. _ \sked whether the Admiralty view with the regard to contribution took into account the cost of Australian and New Zealand navies, the authorities replied that the scheme would le brought before the Imperial Conference in June, providing .for the Dominions to examining future naval construction in June, providing for the Dominions io contribute a larger share of the cost o Empire defence, but this will not entail an alteration of existing policies ol local navies. The Admiralty is not, .at present, disposed to view batt eships as finished and the conference thus may decide on the transference of British squadrons to the Pacific. If so, they will probably he 'based cn the most suitable strategical harbours.

FRENCH ELECTIONS. (Received this day at 8 a.m.) , PARIS, January 10. The Senatorial elections resulted in the Radicals and Radical Socialists securing forty three and the Republicans of the Left thirty seats out of ninety-six vacancies. The farmer lost nine and the latter won eight seats. DUKE OF CONNAUGHT. r (Received this day at 8 a.m.) • DELHI, January 10. The Duke of Connaught paid ins first official visit to Madras where he was loyally welcomed by great crowds ~ of Indians from all parts of Southern India-, despite the efforts of non-co-op-operators to boycott the visit. The Duke declared bis mission was to inaugurate the new councils constituted under the Itefojrm Act, which lie hoped would help to meet the new spirit of India, which Britain recognised. A BIG CLIMB. LONDON, January 10. « The Royal Geographical Society is organising an attempt to climb Mount Everest with the assistance of the r l ibetian Government which has hitherto prevented white men going within 40 miles of the mountains.

The base reconnaissance will be sent out in 1921 with an aeroplane to explore the approaches, map out the ground, and make a photographic analysis of the mountains. The party will probably go to Tibet in 1922. ELECTED SENATOR. PARIS, Jan. 10. The newly-electeil Senators include M. Deschanel, ex-President of the French Republic. WOOL SALES. (Received This Dav at 11.30 a.m.) LONDON, Jan. 11. The wool sales have opened, hut only one-fifth of the offering was sold, owing to the maintenance of the Government reserves. RAISING PRICES. (Received This Day at 11.30 a.m.) LONDON, Jan. 11. London pictorial dailies arc raising prices to three halfpence on January 24th. It is practically certain all other penny dailies will follow suit.