BRITISH & FOREIGN ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 24 February 1921, Page 2

BRITISH & FOREIGN ITEMS.

CABLE NEWS,

AY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSN., COPYRIGHT. AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. GABLE ASSOCIATION. GERMANY AND THE INDEMNITY. BERLIN, Feb. 23. The Government Experts’ Committee has presented its report on the fulfilment of the Allied reparations demands, which, they say, are absolutely impossible. They will submit counter proposals on Friday.

GEORGIA GOES BOLSHEVIK. HELSINGFORS, Feb. 23. Following upon a, successful Russian invasion of Georgia and the depaituie of th c Anglo-French Missions, a Soviet Republic has been declared. THE MANDATE DISPUTE. PARIS, Feb. 22. A surprise was sprung on the Council of the League of Nations, who were about to discuss the mandates when they found the American Ambassador’s letter,, stating, President Wilson desired to submit his views, and requesting “that no final decision he taken on any point whatever on the question of the mandate,” until his views were received. A note embodying his view has reached Paris and is being deciphered. The Council agreed to wait.

ADVENTURES OF A JEWEL. PARIS, Feb. 22. The adventures of a unique blue sapphire, weighing 291 carats, are occupying the attention of the French police It is an heirloom in a Polish family, that of Count Xavier Branicki. The Count carried it on his person. When Warsaw was occupied in July of 1918, a pickpocket stole the gem which then seemed wholly lost. The French police traced it to a dealer named Feursehwanger, who bought it for 185,000 francs from a Lithunaian dealer. Recognising it as a stone which had been exhibited at an international exhibition, Feursehwanger 'decided to cut it into nine stones hoping to evade recognition. Its weight was thus reduced to 135 carats. The police have now arrested Feursehwanger and six others including the Lithuanian and two stone cutters. PRUSSIAN ELECTION RESULTS. BERLIN, Feb. 22. The'final results of the Prussian elections are approximately known, and though they show an expected swing to the right, it is not considerable as the reactionaries anticipated. The three Government parties (the Majority Socialists, the Catholic Centre, and the Democrats) secured 299 out of a total of 421 seats, compared with 310 in the previous assembly. The Reactionary People’s and National Parties have secured 130 seats, compared with 50 before. BOYCOTT OF ENGLISH GOODS. LONDON, February 23. The Trade Department of the Dail Eireann has issued o circular to many British firms announcing that a gen•rnl boycott of English goods will he instituted, and that it will be advisable for them to procure American and Continental agencies. WELSH MINERS’ DEMAND. LONDON, February 22. The Miners’ Delegates Conference rejected the South Wales proposals for a fortnight’s ultimatum.