BRITISH & FOREIGN ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 21 February 1921, Page 2

BRITISH & FOREIGN ITEMS.

CABLE NEWS.

BY TELEGRAPH—PRESS ASSN., COPYRIGHT. AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION^ TO FIX EASTER. LONDON, Feb. 18. In the House of Lords, Lord Des borough introduced a Bill to fix the second Sunday in April as Easter Day, and make all the other moveable Feasts dependent thereon accordingly, except Advent, which would remain un- K changed. r

CHIEF JUSTICE. LONDON, Feb. 19. It is understood that Rt Hon Hewart accepts the Chief Justiceship of England. (Sir G. Hewart was formerly a professed Radical, but joined the George Government when a Cabinet post was offered him. He became Attorney-General and dropped his democratic attitude at once. He succeeds Lord Reading, formerly Sir Rufus Isaacs, as Chief Justice of England. His change of ground politically of late has been lately scarified by English Democratic publicists). PERSIAN CABINET. (Received this day at 8 a.m.) DELHI, February 19. A new Persian Cabinet has been formed. Sipahdar is Prime Minister; Muhtasham U 1 Sultaneh, Minister of Foreign Affairs; Nasr. ul Multk, Minister of, Public Works; Mushar ul Mulk without portfolio; Amin ul Mulk, Minister of Public Instructions; Amir Nizam, Minister of Warffi Salar Lash- y kar, Minister of Justice; Isa Khan,. Minister of. Finance.

AN AMERICAN FEAR

DANGER ,OF IMMIGRATION. i (Received This Day at 8.30 a.m.) WASHINGTON, February 19th. The discovery of four desultory cases of typhus in various parts o"f the country and a liirge number of cases of sleeping sickness, including 308 in Neiv York City alone, has caused considerable agitation that Congress deal adequately with the immigration problem. A- measure has been passed providing ~~ a large sum for the purpose of supplementing inspection in New York harbour, through which more than ninety per cent of the immigrants enter the country. A Cabinet meeting recentlyowing to the possible menace to health as a result of unlimited immigration from Central European countries into United States, ordered American consults in these countries rigorously to reduce and cull immigrants to America. The Senate passed a measure limiting immigration annually to three per c ent of the various nationalities already present in United States, or approximately to 355,000 in 1922. Local and Federal Health authorities, notably, in New York and Boston, are in conflict X ' over the application-of sanitary laws to immigrants.

AN AMERICAN RESOLUTION. WASHINGTON, Feb. 19. Senator Reid introduced a resolution requesting the President to ascertain whether Britain is to consider the cession to the United States of all or any part of its possessions in the West Indies, especially Trinidad and Bermuda. The proposal has been discussed hut was allowed to stand over for further discussion. NEW AMERICAN CABINET. NEW YORK, Feb. 19. . A message from St Augustine, Florida, states that the President-elect, Mr Harding, lias announced the appointment of Mr Charles Hughes as Secretary of State. v BRITAIN AND THE SOVIET. BERLIN, Feb. 19. M. Ivrassin has arrived from Riga, on route to London. He asserts he will sign the commercial treaty with Britain. AUSTRIAN EXPENDITURE. VIENNA, Feb. 18. The deficit has increased 30,000,000,000 crowns since September. Tbi s is attributable to Government printing billions of notes to jneet expenses in importation of foodstuffs.

ARGENTINE’S REFUSAL. BUENOS AYRES, Feb. 18. Argentina has refused a request by the Allies that she should prevent German exportation of war materials to Argentina in violation of the • Versailles Treaty. The Government takes the ground that Argentina is. not concerned in the stipulations of the treaty to which she is not a party. COAL FOR NEW ZEALAND. LONDON, Feb. 18. An Anglo-New Zealand firm has purchased 150,000 tons of English coal on behalf of the New Zealand Railways. 4D»» Sir James Allen previously ' purchased 30,000 tons. It is explained that Welsh coal is now cheaper than American. REBELS IN RUSSIA. LONDON, Feb. 19. The “Morning Post’s” Helsingfors correspondent states that the official report of the Soviet Secret Police for the last six months of 1920 shows that they have discovered 289 counterrevolutionary conspiracies and suppressed 114 attempted risings ; also that 1205 of the counter-revolutionaries were executed and 28,940 imprisoned. PICTURES FOR AUCKLAND. LONDON, Feb. 19. Mr Leys, a New Zealand journalist, is returning by the Orontes, taking a valuable collection of pictures for the Auckland Corporation Gallery, includCollier’s “Fallen Idol”; also a Tissot picture presented by Lord Leverhulme.