BRITISH & FOREIGN ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 19 January 1921, Page 3

BRITISH & FOREIGN ITEMS.

CABLE NEWS,

BY TELEGRAPH PRESS ASSN., COPYRIGHT. CHEESE FREIGHTS. (Received This Day at 8.30 a.m.) LONDON, Jan 18. The action of the Government I in raising the freight on New Zealand clieeso to three half-pence pter pound is condemned as unjustifiable in view of falling rates in other directions. REPUDIATED. (Received This Day at 10.40 a.m.) LONDON, Jan 18. Swiss and Norwegian Labour parties have repudiated the Moscow International. TRAIN EXPLOSION. 68 PASSENGERS KILLED. (Received This Day at 10.40 a.m.) HELSINGFORS, ‘Jan 18. A train carrying a quantity of benzine between Lua and Novgorod, caught fire and exploded. The wreckage burned fiercely. Sixty-eight passengers werq killed. ' MR HARDING’S INTENTIONS.

(Received This Day at 10.40 a.m.) NEW YORK, Jan 17. The Washington correspondent of the “Times” learns authoritatively, despite London denials that Sir A. Geddes was summoned home to inform the Govei nent of Mr Harding’s intentions regarding disarmament. Tho correspondent was further informed that Mr Harding immediately after'his inauguration will call an International Conference, probably, at Washington, to consider disarmament and an International Tribunal for tho settlement of disputes. The House of Representatives Naval Committee is paving the way for Mr Harding’s project by obtaining \ious of leaders in military and naval circles.

MONARCHIST GERMANS, (Received This Day at 10.35 a.m.) LONDON, Jan 18. The ‘“Daily Telegraph’s” Berlin correspondent states monarchists are ostentiouslv celebrating the fiftieth anniversary of the proclamation of the German Empire. The Conservative press publishes extravagant eulogies of the good old days of the Hohenzollerns. A Colonel addressing an officers’ meeting declared that Germany’s greatest epoch was only beginning. The time had arrived to form a national state embracing all tho German speaking peoples of Europe, to ho ruled by a Hohenzollern. THU HAIG FUND. (Received This Day at 10.35 a ' LONDON, -January 18. Thfe Prince, of Wales addressed a meeting at Drury Lane Theatre which enthusiastically launched the “Warrior Day” scheme, under which every entertainment house in the Kingdom will give a matinee in aid of General Haig s fund for unemployed ex-servicemen on March 31st. THE TIN MARKET. LONDON, January 18. The weakness in the tin market, due to dullness in the East where there are no bids, and the continuance of realisation here.

MR MILLEN’S MISSION. (Received This Day at 10 40 a.m.) IjONDON, January 18. An interchange of telegrams between Mr Millen and Air Hughes in reference to the acting Premiership may result in the abandonment of Mr Milieu’s trip to America and his early departure via Suez to enable hhn to confer wnh Mr Hughes, before the Tatter’s depjrtu;re. It is understood Mr Millen’s financial negotiations are progressing satisfactorily. The Commonwealth loan is practically assured. The Commonwealth’s floating debt to the Imperial Government, amounting to forty millions, will probably be funded, subject to combined annual interest and sinking fund being arranged for. EMIGRATION - CONFERENCE. (Received This Day at 10.40 a.m.) LONDON, January 18 The Colonial Office contemplates a donferejnee of representatives of the whole of the Dominions regarding emigration, for the purpose of formulating a policy ensuring co-operation. It is officially suggested that the coni' ence will be held early in l*ebruaty.

‘ JAPANESE VIEW. (Received This Day at 11.30 a.m.) ; NEW YORK, January 18

The New York “World’s” Tokio correspondent interviewed Count Ucliida, who says no other nation can speak for the great cause of disarmament, with such effect as United States, tor no other nation occupies so unique position. It is the tragic destiny of a comparatively small, but self-reliant nation, such as Japan, to be obliged to watch anxiously the dispositions and measures of a nation more fortunately circumstanced with resources. Theih' initiative will therefore he heartily welcomed by Japan, for it will not only relieve her of the strain of an unequal struggle, but will make possible the realisation of a modest desire for a career of peaceful development , GERMAN ADMIRAL’S VIEW'S, j (Received This Dnv at 11.30 a.m.) j NEW YORK, January 18. - A correspondent of the Chicago “ 1 ribune” interviewed the German Admiral von Scheer, who said the proposals ‘throughout the world to abandon building capital ships was unwise. It was true submarines must he developed to the utmost, since the destruction of enemy trade affords an hitherto undreamed of defence, but a great fleet of dreadnoughts is also needed to safeguard the coast lines and submarine bases. Each weapon had its uses, each nation its own Coast problems, and each must adopt an individual programme, but the' great lesson learned from the war' was this, that nations owning submarines were practically secure against invasion % soa. Submarines, however, had not killed capital ships.