BRITISH & FOREIGN ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 9 February 1921, Page 2

BRITISH & FOREIGN ITEMS.

UY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSN., COPYRIGHT. AMERICA AND JAPAN. SETTLEMENT BY CONFERENCE i PROPOSED. WASHINGTON, February 7. It is stated that America will suggest that the Japanese question be settled by a conference. It is claimed this plan holds more promise of a permanent solution than negotiations

TRADE WITH RUSSIA. LONDON, February 7. The ‘Daily Herald” says apart from minor details Russia is prepared to sign a trade agreement on condition that Britain agrees to respect the independence of Persia, Afghanistan, and Asia Minor, and abstain from hostilities in countries, bordering on Soviet Russia. CARDINAL FERRARI’S BURIAL. i _ 1 ROME, February 7 Cardinal Ferrari was buried in the cboir of the Cathedral at Milan. Three hundred thousand took part in ’he funeral procession. Many priests narticipated in the ceremony in the Cathedral. Five thousand troops rendered Royal Honours to the dead prelate. COMMERCIAL. | LONDON, *Feb 7. { Copper 725, £72 8s 9d; electrolytic, ■ £77 7s; lead 22 2, 234; spelter 24f, 251;

tin 16(52, 172 j ; silver 36.

I. THE PACIFIC FLEET. I LONDON, Feb. 7. The “Morning* Post’s” naval corI respondent, commenting on the report I of Admiral Grant going to Singapore I to -hold a conference with senior officers |of other Pacific squadrons, says the conference is preliminary to an Imperial j Conference in June. Lord Jellicoe lias ! already pointed out that the naval requirements of Australasia necessitate taking into account the requirements of the Pacific, and the Indian Ocean. Singapore will doubtless be the future headquarters of any British fleet in Eastern waters. While direct Admiralty control is essential under modern ! conditions over fleets operating neai home, the direction of fleets at a distance must be delegated to officers on the spot, who act on the Admiralty’s general instructions. It is not the intention of the commander-in-chief of the Far East to exercise control over Dominion navies in times of peace, but to have a Dominion representative of standing on his staff in order to secure co-ordination which the exploits of the Emden and Admiral von Spec showed to be essential.

EX-ENEMY SHIPS

LONDON, Feb. 7

All the enemy steamers allotted to Britain by the Reparations Committee have been advertised for sale, except fifty that are interned in South American ports. The total number advertised is 301, of which 151 have been sold, aggregating 924,028 tons, of which 108,497 tons is passenger tonnage, and 755,351 is cargo tonnage. The unsold passenger tonnage amounts to 332,(554 and the cargo tonnage to 715,132.

SECRET SERVICE AGENT

SPYING IN ENGLAND

LONDON, February. 7. Tho King’s Bench awarded Herbert Booth £.500 damages against the -‘Daily Herald" for libel. The “Herald” accused him of being a spy and an agent provocateur. Both joined the Secret Service during the war. He took •x----,,option to being characterised as an agent provocateur. The plaintiff n his evidence, stated that he went about the country disguised as a conscientious objector with Bolshevik tendencies. He thus secured admittance to revolutionary clubs and watched aliens believed to be in enemy pay. He discovered a plot to attack Mr Lloyd George with poisoned darts. Ho was the 1 iincipal witness in the Whieldom case. He was also connected with the discovery of a plot to obtain the secret of the Pomeroy bullet which brought down Zepplins. While attending a revolutionary meeting Jje saw' another person ejected as “Booth the Spy.” He denied he ever acted as agent provocateur.

JAPAN AND AMERICA. (Received This Day at B.JO a.m.) WASHINGTON, February 7. The Tokio “Advertiser’s” correspondent learns definitely that it been decided the Morris-Shideliara Treaty will not be presented to the United Senate this session Any proposal ••outing from President Wilson’s administration will meet with strong opposition from the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. All memoranda of a dozen conferences between Morris and fehideliara, together with the final agreement will lie turned over to the new -administration. If Mr Harding is favorable die Senate Committee will endorse die Treaty, notwithstanding the opposition from Senator Johnson and others. It is generally believed Air Harding per sonally favors a speedy agreement. STRANDED RUSSIANS. BUENOS AIRES. (Received This Day at 8.30 a.m.) BUENOS AIR.ES, February 7. It is announced that the Brazilian State of Sao Paulo has promised an asylum to one hundred thousand Russian refugees from the Crimea, following General Wrangel’s collapse. Sao Paulo authorities will pay for transportation, and organise the refugees into colonies. Sao Paulo recently constructed . for twenty thousand Japanese, and it is assumed that the Russians like those, will be employed on the coffee plantations.