THE BRITISH PARLIAMENT

Hokitika Guardian, 24 February 1921, Page 3

THE BRITISH PARLIAMENT

CABLE NEWS.

BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSN., COPYRIGHT, AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION. GOVERNMENT BUSINESS. LONDON, Feb. 22. The House of Commons granted Government whole time of the House until the end of the financial year, Hon Bonar Law promising adequate time to discuss the Estimates. In addition there will be a committee upon the national expenditure. BRITISH ARMY SCANDAL. LONDON, Feb. 23 Mr Bonar Law, in the House mons, consented to a Committee of Inquiry, under a judge, to investigate the allegations against certain officials of tiic Ministry of Munitions, includ ing a high-placed official, wiio ordered t<hc destruction of the documents relating to contracts in order to prevent (Ae auditors’ inspection. For instance, Gt is alleged, that £IB,OOO were paid to one contractor, but the sole voucher discoverable is for only £6OOO, FIJI LABOUR TROUBLE.

BIG DEMANDS BY INDIANS. (Received This Day at 1.5. p.m.) SUVA, Feb. 23. The Indian strike has extended to Lauoka and Vadino. A demand has been made to the employers, hut a strikers meeting resolved to ask 12s per day of six hours, and five days work weekly; half pay in case of sickness, a two roomed cottage, table, two chairs, bed, mattress, screen, bathroom and lavatory, free medical attendance in their own homes; five acres of land, one horse, one bull four cows free, also several political points. The demands are considered ridiculous and the result of outside influences. There arc no riots. Everything is quiet and the other centres are not affected. HURRICANE AT SUVA. (Received this dnv at 1.30 pin.) SUVA, Fell. 24. A hurricane passed over the Southern Islands of Fiji group on the 12th. A tidal wave four feet high swept the Islands, those most affected being Ono Ogea and Tatuku. Cocoanuts are not seriously damaged. Two cutters were wrecked, but no loss of life is reported.

LONDON CONFERENCE

BY TELEGRAPH—PRESS ASSN., COPYRIGHT. AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION. KEM ALI ST LEADER.

REUTER’S TELEGRAMS. LONDON, Fob. 22. Bekinsami Bey, leader cl t! e Kemalist Delegation to the London Conference, expresses strong antagonism to the Greek claims. He says; “We shall never give way, and it is better to let us fight. We can soon settle it.” He claims that the Constantinople authorities'sent Tew ilk Pasha to the Conference, but the Turkish nation did not send him. | I TURK AND GREEK DELEGATES LONDON, Eel,. 23. Though the Komnlist (Turkish) delegation have not yet been accorded official recognition, their presence in London enables the delegates to listen to a spirited discussion on Greece’s capacity to destroy the Turkish Nationalist movement. | M. Calogeropoulous (Greece) nssur- ! ed the conference that Greece was prepared to shoulder tlu* necessary milita,ry burden and to call up more classes to the army and also to impose more taxation, if an Allied loan were granted.

General Snryannis (Greek Military expert) is optimistic. He declares the Kenialist forces have been greatly exaggerated. and points out the Greek advance achieved results which Allied experts declared impossible. The French expert interviewed de-* dared that Kenialist Generals are highly skilled and experienced. The Greek idea of advancing on Angora is sheer madness.

Tho Italians agree and say such a campaign is a military impossibility. The “Daily Telegraph’- states the British attitude is one of judicial impartiality. British expert information agrees with that of Greece regarding tho Kemalist strength, but it is uncertain if the Greek moral is the. same after the election and the return of Constantine, and also whether they realise the financial burdens involved. Meanwhile Sami Bey roundly maintains his claim that Turkey is entitled to full ethnographic limits. He says he is determined not to yield to Constantinople or tho Greeks. When asked his opinion regarding the Greeks’ optimism, he merely shrugged ,his shoulders. He resents tho delegation being styled tho Kemalists. They do not belong to any person or party. They are Nationalists. He declares the delegation will iprosent itscll at St James to-day.

THE TURKISH DELEGATES

< Received This Day at 9.45 n.m A LONDON, Feb. 23. The Turkish delegates attended the Conference. Tewfik Pasha and Bekr Sami, made a statement regarding the general principle on which peace could be restored in the East. The Conference asked them to formulate in concrete from, their views regarding points in the Treaty of Sevres, wfiicli they ask shall be modified. WAR DAMAGES. THE BRITISH CLAIMS. (Received This Day at 9.45 n.m.) PARIS, Feb. 23. The Reparation Commission has announced Allied bills for war damages for presentation to Germany. The British claim is 2,542 millions, of which the principal items are damages to persons, inducing military pensions 1706 millions, and shipping damages, 736 millions.