BRITISH & FOREIGN ITEMS

Hokitika Guardian, 7 February 1921, Page 3

BRITISH & FOREIGN ITEMS

CABLE NEWS,

BY TELEGRAPH—PRESS ASSN., COPYRIGHT

GERMAN PROTESTS

(Received This Day at 10.40 a.m.) LONDON, Feb 6

“The Morning Post’s” Berlin correspondent says Von Simons has reserved his reply to the French Ambassador’s verbal invitation to London Conference. Tn other words Germany refuses to negotiate on the basis of the Paris decisions. A conference of Imperial State Ministers had an all-day discussion respecting the Allies demands. Bavaria is inevitably seeking an en bloc refusal of the reparations and disarmament demands. Democrats and Majority Socialists are willing to disband irregular troops. Criticisms in the democratic press are against the Bavarians tubborn retention of arms and to give no consideration to effects in Ruhr and other States. This provides the first sign of a breach and a unanimous opposition to the Paris demands.

IDLE SHIPPING. reuter’s telegrams. (Received this day at 12.25 t».in> LONDON, Feb 6. It is estimated that over 400 steamers of total tonnage of 615,000 are idle in the United Kingdom, owing to the fall in freights. WHAT SELF-DETERMINATION MEANS. Otnreived This Dnv at 12.25 p.m.) LONDON, Feb. 6. In a Lenten pastoral letter, Cardinal Bourne declared the*foolish catchword “self-determination” ill defined, and wrongly interpreted, had wrought untold harm in Europe. Self-determina-tion ,if carried to a logical conclusion, may in the ease of "India and other non-christian lands ultimately mean the destruction of Christianity. NEW GREEK PREMIER. (Received this day at 12.25 p.m) ATHENS, Feb 6. Callogeropoulos asserted he is friendly to the Entente and declared the presence of M. Venizelos at the London Conference in any capacity was not admissable AMERICA’S ARMY WASHINGTON, Feb 6. A resolution stopping enlistments until the regular army is reduced to 175,0(H) was passed by the House of Representatives over the President’s veto and is expected to pass the Senate. WONDERFUL AIRPLANE. (Received This Day at 12.20 p.m.'* WASHINGTON, Fob. 6. General Mitchell told the Naval Air Committee that Germany during the war designed an airship capable of flying round the world. I’e also claimed that Germans passed New 1 ork with it flying at an altitude of thirty thousand feet, well beyond airplane attack. The engines were electrically heated and the crew were supplied with oxygen. Mitchell added that I nitod States were designing airships to fly at an enormous altitude.

O PEST lON OF NAVIES. 'Re.eived This Day at 12.2(1 p.m.) LONDON, Feh (i. The “Times” Washington correspondent reviewing the armaments question, says there is a strong public desire for a reduction of armament expenditure hut the general expectation that whatever arrangement is reached will leave United States on parity with Britain, and she must be superior to Japan. The only doubtful point in transacting this into an actuality, is the ultimate relative strengths of tinBritish and American navies failing at present is that question of equality should at least he considered, jt 1 nited States foregoes the opportunity to have as powerful a, navy as Britain it would lie because she was assured of the impossibility of Britain giving Japan support, moral and physical, against her.

A SERIOUS AFFRAY. (Received This Day at 11.30 a.m.) DELHI, February G

A serious riot occurred in Maihiti mill district over a trivial incident, the. upsetting of tray of sweetmeats. A jute worker attacked the guard ot Ghurkas with knives. Two G.nirkas are dead and many injured. A SERIOUS EARTHQUAKE. (Received this dav at 11.30 a.m.) MEXICO CITY, February 6, Many lives were lost and much damage done by an earthquake in Tehuantepec Isthmus district. PLAGUE OUTBREAK. (Received this day at 11.30 a.m.) PEKIN, February 6. There is a serious outbreak of pneumonia plague in North China. There are 308 deaths reported in four centres.