BRITISH & FOREIGN ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 23 April 1921, Page 2

BRITISH & FOREIGN ITEMS.

AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATI^ BRITISH IN MESOPOTAMIA. DELHI, April 20. The High Commissioner for Mesopotamia lias removed Sayed. Talib Pasha from office as Minister of the Interior and ordered his departure from Bagdad. This action is the outcome of Talib’s speech at a dinner to disting-,'sh-ed people, including the Umir Rabith and the Sheikh Salem Ali Kayan. > *. After first refuting the High < k ruin issioner’s promise that the intention of the British Government was to ensure the people entire freedom to rt rjgtf, their own form of Government CiM their ruler, Talib declared that he and his countrymen were detennm-d to see that Britain’s policy was faithfully carried out by her. Addressing tee ■ ‘ Umir and Salem, he suggested that if any signs became apparent to the contrary they, with their armed tribal following, would have to be reckoned with, and also His Highness the Naquib. In the order for the removal of Talib, the High Commissioner says he did not doubt the friendly attitude and sincerity of the chiefs referred to, Vut says that if he tolerated such an unseemly threat as a recourse to armed force, he would be failing in his duty to the people and to the British Government. Talib lias left Bagdad. ■ WAR STAFF ORGANISED. WASHINGTON, April 21. The War Secretary, Mr Weeks, lias announced the organisation of a war staff headed by General Pershing, to take charge of field operations of United States armies in war time. -Mr Weeks gives as a reason that it is necessary to prepare in peace time for active military operations. AUSTRIAN POLITICS. (Received this day at 8 a.m.) LONDON, April 22. It is reported from Lucerne that a dissolution of the Hungarian Parliament is proliable, and the elections will be fought on the dynastic question as was the case at the late Greek elections. Karl’s suite predict his triumphal entry into Budapest within three months. QUEEN AND MELBA. .Received This Day at 9.45 a.in.) LONDON, April 22 £ Queen Mary received Dame Melba at Buckingham Palace. DISARMAMENT PROPOSALS. WASHINGTON! April 21 With President Hardings approval ; the House Foreign Affairs Committee ■ will start hearing evidence on Disar- . lHament. Secretaries of the Navy -rill first be invited to give their view’s GREEKS ATTACK TURKS. LONDON, April 21. The Greek Army resumed the offensive on the Broussa front on April lS;-j|k . but heavy Turkish forces have been tacking the Greeks on the Ushak front since April 14. Hitherto the Greeks have been maintaining their positions on this front. I.W.W. LEADER. NEW YORK, April 21 The Justice Department at Chicago *■ ordered a sweeping search for W. T). Haywood, the leader of the Industrial Workers of the World, who failed to return to the Federal prison to com mete a 20 years’ sentence. When the Supreme Court rejected his appeal, the Justice Department si as informed that Haywood had arrived at Riga, Russia, having left the United; States, while on 15,000 dollars’ bail. Haywood was convicted of violating the Espionage Act. ST GEORGE’S DAY. (Received This Day at 8.30 a.m.) LONDON, April 22 The Prince of Wales, as Grand Mas* ter, attended the annual St George’s Day service of Knights of St Michaels at St Pauls. Sir J. Findlay and Sir J. Mills attended. GLASGOW DOCKERS. (Received This Day at 8.30 a.m.) . LONDON, April 22 •Glasgow dockers refuse to handle coal front Home and foreign ports. Five vessels with coal for the Scottish railways were held up. JAPANESE STATEMENT. (Received This Dav at 8.40 a.m.) TOKIO, April 22. In an interview Takeshi Ilukai, Minister of Education and leader of the third party in the Diet said—“l firmly believe there is no danger whatsoever from the outside world, should United States grant the Phillipines independence, for I can state definitely that Japan has no territorial ambitions in that direction. It has been frequently charged against Japan that she is a military nation, but Japan’s armaments resulted from war with China, Russia and Germany. The moral of the world war is not lost on the Japanese nation. Those acquainted with Japanese politics readily see that Japanese militarists no longer dictate the policies, either internal or external. Japan is ruled to-day not by Army men but by civilians. Japan is ready to find the means of reducing armaments, if the rt initiative comes from other powers particularly America.