BRITISH & FOREIGN ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 12 April 1921, Page 2

BRITISH & FOREIGN ITEMS.

[by TELEGRAPH —PER PRESS ASSOCIATION! BRITAIN’S SPEAKER, LONDON, April 9. Mr Lowther’s resignation of the Speakership has been indefinitely postponed owing to the labour crisis. INDIAN BANK. LONDON, April 10. The Peninsular and Oriental Banking Corporation lias acquired control over the Allahabad Bank in India. I NEW PRUSSIAN PREMIER. BERLIN, April 10 In accordance with the new constitutional practice, the Prussian Chamber elected the new Prime Minister of Prussia by a vote, Herr Stegerwald, the Minister of Public Affairs, was the candidate of the Centre Party. He was unanimously chosen. The now Premier began life as a workman. He has been a prominent man in the Christian Trade Union Movement in South Germany. THE WOOL POOL. A FAILURE IN EUROPE. LONDON, April 11 The “Bawra” wool sale fixed for Antwerp on April 22, has been cancelled.

The “Daily Telegraph,” commenting on the failure of this, action, says: ‘ L was evident from the very first what would happen. The Association is now in a worse position than ever, and it is high time Sir J. Goldfinch and those co-operating with him realise it to be useless to dictate to the trade, and that a combination representing almost exclusively the growers’ interests, can never be successful. It is regrettable that wool interests have suffered so severely, but that is a natural result of the operation of the law of supply and demand. The fact that bankers insist on the sale of free wool, on which they have made liberal advances, indicates that the trade will continue to be adequately supplied with raw material.

HOARDING FOOD. LONDON, April 10. In the north a food hoarding order has been issued prohibiting th - acquirement of more than a week’s supply. GERMANY AND REPARATIONS. IbiRIS, April 10. Sir John Simon in an interview by tho “Matin” states Germany is prepared to restore the devastated regions, but had not the money which France wanted. France was the dominant power directing the Allies. She could overwhelm Germany if she wanted to do so. He believed Germany would shortly show in an irrefutable manner her good will in regard to reparations. ITALIAN CLASHES. ROME, April 10. Troops occupied all the mines in Istria, which the workmen seized and proclaimed a Republic. Four were killed and many injured in a conflict with the troops. .FOILED. BELGRADE, April 10. Brashkoitch, Minister for the Interior, speaking in the Chamber revealed a plot prepared at the end of 1920 for a Bolshevik upheaval in Jugo-Slavia, engineered with money from Russian and Hungarian Bolsheviks. Agents were chosen to asassinate. Ministers and high officials. The plot was frustrated hv energetic Government action.

EMPIRE CONSTITUTION. LONDON, April 11 The London “Times” in a leading ' article refers to Mr Massey’s advocacy ■ of an Imperial Constitution, “lhe 5 Times” says—“Mr Massey’s advocacy - of an Empire Constitution and an Im- ' perial Executive is not shared by the - other Dominions. Mr Hughes (Austrar liaj; Premier) and Mr Meighan (Cana--3 dian Premier) both have firmly and ' decisively contradicted the allegations that Australia and Canada intend ask- ' ing for any change in the Imperial svsr tern. General Smuts (the South African Premier) is equally opposed to any tendency towards Imperial Federation. Mr Churchill (Secretary of State for the Colonies) is extremely unlikely to give Mr Massey’s views any approval.” “The Times” goes on to urge Mr 1 Churchill to take an early opportunity i to announce his own intentions as [ Colonial Secretary, so as to correct any • misapprehensions regarding the work of - the June Imperial Conference. 1 “The Times” adds—“ The Dominions’ . confidence in the Colonial Office has been widely shaken bv the frequent i changes, and particularly so by Mr I Churchill’s appointment. In the Dominions, public opinion seems to regard i Mr Churchill as autocratic, as restless, and as immensely ambitious, and also • as planning schemes for Imperial reorganisation, and intending to spring ; these schemes on the Dominion statesmen. Although such misgivings are l without substantial justification, Mr Churchill should make an authoritative . statement. Even the date of the Imperial Conference is not yet known.” A HOPEFUL CHANGE. CHINA’S NEW PRESIDENT. PEKIN, April 9. Doctor Sun Yat Sen has been elected President of China. The Doctor has played a prominent part in the Chinese reform movement and is an enlightened statesman.