BRITISH & FOREIGN ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 22 March 1921, Page 2

BRITISH & FOREIGN ITEMS.

jjy TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSN., COPYRIGHT.

ITALIAN TRADE WITH RUSSIA

ROME, March 21

Signor Sforza announces Italy will shortly sign a trade agreement with Russia’s commercial envoy.

SOVIET ENVOY,

ROME, March 21. Regarding the visit of the Soviet Trade Envoy to Italy to conclude a trade treaty, an extraordinary situation has arisen as regards the Russian Missions baggage which includes 27 suspiciously heavy boxes. The mission refused to permit the Customs to make examinations. The Minister of th 0 Interior replied restricting the examination to four selected packages. When these were chosen, the members of the Mission excitedly opposed their opening, and insulted the porters, who with the assistance of other officials, refused to allow anything to leave the Customs until everything was inspected. FIRE AT SUVA. SUVA, March 21. Govennn’eiit House at Suva was struck by lightning this afternoon, . and was burnt to the ground within an hour. 'Hie quarters were saved. Otherwise there is a total loss. There were no casualties. FIJI INDIANS STRIKE. SUVA, March 21. The Indian workers are on strike ? They have presented their demands to the” Colonial, Sugar Company, being similar to those already cabled. The Governor has appointed Judge Stronge of Tonga, Mr Harricks and Mr Pillay, as Commissioners, to enquire and report regarding tlie strike, and to make recommendations designed to prevent any future trouble. BONAR, LAW’S JOKE. PARIS, March 21. “Lo Petit Parisien,” apropos of Mr Bonar Law’s retirement relates that during one of his busy days in restraining Mr Hughes’ energy at the Peace Conference, Mr Bonar Law re--1 marked: “Britain rather resembles the hen that hatched a duckling.” 1 CONSTANTINE AND WAR FEVER.

ATHENS, March 21. Enthusiastic crowds paraded the Streets of Athens singing warlike songs. King Constantine, in a proclamation, exhorted tlie people to resist the attempt to overthrow the Sevres Treaty. FLYING HOME. PARIS, March 21. William Leeds, the 18-year-old son of Princes Anastasia, who is seriously ill at Athens, landed at Cherbourg from America, and then chartered an aeroplane and reached his mother promptly.