BRITISH & FOREIGN ITEMS

Hokitika Guardian, 30 March 1921, Page 2

BRITISH & FOREIGN ITEMS

BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSN., COPYRICIIT. AUSTRALIAN & N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION] INDIAN AFFAIRS. DELHI, March 26. Sir Frank Carter, on behalf of the European non-official members of the Indian Legislature, cabled, to Lord Amptliill, president of the Indian Emergency Committee in London, deprecating the formation of such a body. .Lord Amptliill replied: “Mind your own business 1 It cannot hurt you that England should know the truth. Englishmen will not stand anything else.” The European community is furious at Lord Ampthill’s studied discourtesy and foolish cable message. Sir Frank Carter is a leading man, who rema : ned in India to take part in public affairs after retiring from business. He was recently sheriff of Calcutta, The Press unanimously condemns laird Ampthill, because Sir Frank Caiter is the mouthpiece of responsible European opinion.. The papers consider that Lord Ampthill is stirring up racial hatred.

A SENSATIONAL REPORT. LONDON, March 26. In connexion with the robbery from the Pension 'Ministry’s lorry in Regent’s Park, the “Sunday Express” says that behind this thrilling crime, lies the most sensational story in modern records. The authorities possess evidence Iliac a great crimnal organisation is planning thefts on a vast scale in London and tli*. provincial cities. There is reason to believe that men engaged in Sinn Fein and other crim x are being used as auxiliaries by t i >*■ master criminals at the head of . r organisation. The Bank of England has instituted extraordinary precautions during r.'m past few days. FUTURE OF CIVILISATION. LONDON, Marcr 20. Mr 11. •G. Wells in a series of articles in the “Sunday Times”, tackles the problem of salvaging civilisation, j which, ho contends, is fast tumbling to ' pieces. No efforts are being made, he says to stave off t tlie disaster. I Mr Wells declares that America and Europe must inevitably approach the 'task from different angles, and in a different spirit. The idea that Ann rk i can take a place alongside the European | Governments in organising world jeaco : is a mistaken and unworkable one. The noble, splendid project of world-wide peace is too much for American pariitiI paition, and too little for Europe’s urgent needs. If Europe wishes to 1 avo\d sinking into anarchy she must no longer think in terms of France, Euglaud. and so forth. All other intenmj tional problems, Mr Wells declares, atih- | ordinate themselves to transport ami i communications. Therein lies the weakness of the heterogeneous British Empire, scattered and entangled among a t multitude of possible antagonists, as j contrasted with the homogeneous United States. The Empire’s political and eco- ! nomie cohesion rests upon one thing - l th 0 steamship remaining a secure means ■ of world transport, dominant in peaee- [ time and invulnerable in war.

Sea power is, however, not the simpl» thing it used to be. We are now confronted with submarines and aircraft Britislfers must recognise that an AllRed air route is impossible, except via Canada. The Empire must rest, not upon its strength in warfare, but upon keeping peace within and'without its boundaries.

A WORLD’S RECORD. NEW YORK, March 26. At Berkeley, California, Charles Paddock, a member of the University of Southern California and probably America’s premier short distance runner, broke the world’s record for 220 yards, covering the dance in 20 4-5 sec. LEAD MINERS STRIKE. LONDON, March 28. The first strike for three hundred years occurred in Upper Lanarkshire lead mines, the miners refusing a reduction of wages, without which the owners declare they must close. Strikers prospecting in the neighbourhood found small quantities of gold.

J A GREEK SUCCESS. ! (Received this day at 8 a.m.) j LONDON, March 29. The fall of Afiuin Kara Hissar is officially confirmed. HAPPENINGS IN BAKU. “THE times” skrvice. (Received this day at 8 a.m.) j LONDON, March 29. | According to business men who reI eently escaped from Baku, the latest Communist novelty witnessed there is j that discontent amongst workmen ih- | creased to such’an extent that one robi bery week was arranged for their special benefit. Everything possible, even underclothing, was taken from the civil population. Workmen are now selling back to the inhabitants their j own possessions. ■* • | CONSUMERS’ STRIKE. ! RESPONSIBLE FOR SLUMP. ; LONDON, March 26. 1 According to a detailed statement of the present situation, issued by the l National Employers’ Federation, a conI sumefs’ strike—which is defined as a curious werld-wide psychological move- | nient which suddenly induced millions 1 of people in all countries largely and unconsciously to refrain from buying until they could buy cheaper—is held 1 to be largely responsible for the present slump, although the European inflation of the currency and inability to export on account of the low production are not overlooked. The report expresses v the opinion thnfthe cost of living will be reduced to 66 per cent, above the pre-war level by the end of the year. LITHUANIA RECOGNISED. WASHINGTON, March 28. It is announced that Argentina has recognised Lithuania. The Lithuania representation in Washington points out that Argentina is the first American republic to accord recognition, and exthe hope that it will to take similMf astiea,'