BRITISH & FOREIGN ITEMS

Hokitika Guardian, 21 January 1921, Page 3

BRITISH & FOREIGN ITEMS

BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSN., COPYRIGHT.

\x- FLOWERS FOR D’ANNUNZIO

(Received This Day at 10.35 a.m.) ROME, JJanuary 19. D’Annunzio’s departure from Finnic led to scenes of extraordinary emotion. The people kneeled in homage along a flower strewn route, similar scenes occurred at all the railway stations to Bologne.

REVOLT AGAINST COAL FRICK. (Received This Day at 8.30 a.m.) LONDON, January 19. The “Morning Post” says the buyers revolt against the high price of Ertglish coal has been completely successful. Thanks to the Spa agreement, supplies of American coal have been purchased on long term credits, with payments spread over a number of years, for which the" French are paying interest at six per cent. French buyers say if the English want their custom, they must imitate the Americans.

SHORTENING HANDS. (Received This Day at 8.40 a.m.) LONDON, January 19. Owing to the acute depression, Palmers firm at Jarrow will probably close the whole or part of their iron and steel works. All employees are notified that they will only be engaged from day to day after the end of the month A HALL REFUSED. (Received This Day at 8.30 a.m.) LONDON, January 19. Edinburgh Town Council refused the use of Usher Hall for a Catholic welcome to Dr. Mannix. , STEEL PRICES FALL. (Received This Day at 10.40 a.m.) LONDON, Jan. 2Q. Scottish steel makers have made a drastic cut in prices, with a view of saving heavy foreign orders,'which aie going to Germany, Belgium and America. The reductions vary from twenty one to seventy shillings per ton, and carry a sharp drop in wages under the sliding scale. . GERMAN REPARATIONS. (Received This Day at 10.40 a.m.) PARIS, Jan. 20. A German official memorandum to the Reparation Committee points out tha/t the first instalment of twenty milliards of marks will have been paid by May Ist.

NEW CABINET’S POLICY

(Received This Day at 10.40 a.m.)

PARIS, Jan. 20,

M. Briand, the new Premier, outlined his policy in the Chamber. He will carry out his predecessor’s military scheme. His attitude to Germany will not be violent, on condition that the latter fulfils her obligations. It is intended to (maintain all the alliances. M. Briand opposes 'political recognition of Russia, but will permit freedom of trade with that country.

MR WILSON AND ARMENIA. ' WASHINGTON, Jan. 18.

It is understood 'Mr Wilson is somewhat surprised at the apparent lessened interest of the 'Allies in Armenia, following on mediation with the -Bolshevists 'which is here regarded as not having been in the best interests of either Armenians or the Allies. The fafture of the Allies to respond to Mr Wilson’s requests for advice and assurances, also occasioned disappointment and a feeling has grown here that the Allies have become indifferent concerning the efforts the President might make to save Armenia. It has been intimated that the Allies would he willing to sacrifice Armenia in order to arrive at ah acceptable arrangement with the Turkish Nationalists.

THE WHITLEY COUNCILS. (Received This Day at 11.30 a.m.) LONDON, Jan. 19

A conference of workers representatives on .industrial councils for Government departments, rejected the Government’s short time proposal and declared the Government’s action in putting the proposals into operation without consulting the councils, was a) violation of thd principles w,herein the councils were founded. The coherence 'recommended all unions to withdraw representatives from industrial councils for Government departments.

A CHINESE LOAN. (Received This Day at 11.30 a.m.) PEKING, Jan. 19

The Minister of Finance and representatives of Hong Kong Shanghai Bank, International Banking Gorporn*tion, Bank of Indo-China and Yokohama Specie Bank, have signed a tour million dollars famine loan, with security of ten per cent on customs surtax which operates from March ,Ist.

appointment CRITICISED. » (Received This Day at 11.110 a. 111.) LONDON, Jan 30. The “Manchester Guardian ’ says

Ministerialists aro making a nervous ofiort to excuse Hon W. Churcbdl’s appointment as Colonial Secretary, even ■—'“before it was announced. Hon Churc iill showed showed a considerable measure of constructive imagination and administrative energy, as m rescue of tanks from the waste paper basket ot officialism ,but administration of a more , patient sort is required at the Colonial Office. Churchill had always a humming with passible master strokes of original audacious actions. He was always dangerously in a hurry and will bring to imperial affairs a “get-ru-h----quick” temperament which in business makes few millionaires, but many bankrupts. The Colonies do not need to be the scenes of gigantic flutters. What is wanted is the administration the elder Chamberlain gave to the Colonies. A POLL TAX. (Received This Dav at 11.30 a.in.) PARIS, Jan 20. The Municipal Council proposes a poll tax of four pounds sterling on all foreigners entering Paris, renewable Inpayment of one pound quarterly.