AMERICAN ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 7 February 1921, Page 3

AMERICAN ITEMS.

AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION. AMERICAN POLITICS. WASHINGTON, February 5. Admiral Sims, giving evidence before the House Navy Committee, said that since the menace of the German military was gone, the necessity for maintaining huge navies really no longer existed. The navies of the world could well be cut in one half. There was, he said, no longer necessity for a British fleet of the present size, because that nation had entered into a competitive building programme with Germany Admiral Sims said he hoped and u rged, however, the continuance of the United States Naval 1916 building nogramme. The Committee has reported now unfavourably on Senator Borah’s resolu tion providing for a six months’ suspension of naval building. The Chairman, Mr Butler, informed the House, that the President-Elect, Mr Harding, will call a disarmament conference.

BRITAIN’S DEBT TO U.S

WASHINGTON, February 5

Mr Houston, Secretary to the Treasury, writing to Senator Lodge, said that the Treasury has suspended negotiations with foreign Governments regarding American loans to the Allies. This was in order not to tie the hands of the incoming administration.

Mr Lester has disclosed that arrangements were made with Britain in August, 1920, whereby Britain would pay to the United States, 17,633,000,000, as principal and accrued interest on part of Britain’s loan obligations, totalling 102,017,633,000,000 dollars. Both the United States State . Department,' and the British Embassy practically admit that such a proposal as Mr Austen Chamberlain intimated was made, but they did not state retails.

JAPANESE POLITICS

QUESTION OF ALLIANCES

(Received this clay at 8 a.m.) NEW YORK, February 5

The New York ’‘Evening Post’s” Tokio correspondent states the Japanese Foreign Office denies that Japan is seeking to lighten her obligations towards Britain in the proposed revision of the Anglo-Japanese Alliance. The correspondent states that well-informed circles express the view that but lor United States being against any a’iances, Japan would, from the begun l ' have sought to make the Anglo-Jap;”-ese Alliance available for the inclusion of the United States. It is stated the Anglo-Japanese Alliance, and United Staites-Japanese reappochment con-

stitutes the guiding principle of Japan •' foreign policy.

RED CROSS MEDAL. (Received This Dav at 11.30 a.m.) LONDON, Eel). 6. The British Red Cross is issuing a medal to voluntary war workers who previously have not received a decoration or medals. SOVIET TRAITORS. (Received this day at. 11.30 a.m.) LONDON, Feb. 6. A Moscow message states that according to the Soviet newspaper “I.svestia,” a special Soviet tribunal at Tomsk found the entire revolutions;y committee in Siberia guilt.v of treacherous negotiations with Japan. Six were shot and others sentenced to life imprisonment. The Soviet is arranging an agreement with China against Japan. BOWLING TOUR. (Received this day at 11.25 a.m.) LONDON, Feb. 6. It has been decided that v isiting Nov Zealand bowlers shall play filtoen matches against County Associations.

ONE BIG UNION AIM. (Receved this day at 11.30 a.m.) LONDON, Feb. f>

Ernest Bevin, the “Dockers’ Kind's Counsel” discussing at Hull the proposed amalgamation, said nineteen transport unions had already joined. He admitted one hig union was the ultimate coal goal, but they must proceed one step at a time.

GERMAN FEELING. (Received This Day at 9.45 a.m.) COPENHAGEN, February G

. 'Hie “Politiken’s” Berlin correspondents says German workers understood the reparation demands meant misery, the recognition of which is spreading to neutrals, and even the Allies. The German people are behind \ on gimons resistance, who is unlikely to sign his own death sentence.

PARIS, February G

The “Matin”'says protests are increasing throughout Germany. Von Simons is urged to resist the Allies proposals.

frknch approval. PARIS, February 0

French newspapers praise Hon. Lloyd George’s speech and say it will give great satisfaction to France, and prove a, bitter disappointment >tcr Germany. It has reaffirmed the Fra neo-Brit sh solidarity. - GREEK CABINET. . (Received This Day at 10.35 a.m A I ATHENS, Feb 6. Calogereopoulos, whose 1919 Cabinet the allies refused to recognise has formed a Ministry, retaining Gournrises, who will accompany Calogereopoulos to the London Conference. APPROVAL OF VON SIMONS. (Received This Day at 10.40 a.m.) BERLIN, Feh 0. Official. —Two hundred representatives of the Workers’ Union waited as a deputation on Von Simons and assured him of their unanimous approval of his reparations policy.