BRITISH & FOREIGN ITEMS

Hokitika Guardian, 29 April 1921, Page 2

BRITISH & FOREIGN ITEMS

AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CARLE ASSOCIATION. A MANILLA REQUEST. NEW YORK, April 27. A Manilla message states the Nationalist Party’s committee adopted resolutions favouring immediate independence for Philippines, and instructing the executive to memorialise United States mission, requesting same. A CYCLONE. NEW YORK, April 27 A telegram from Hattiesburg, Mississippi, states a cyclone razed Braxton, .Mississippi, killing 15 and injuring 50. A COLLIER’S DEATH. LONDON, April 27. A young striker, working a seam of coal opened in his father’s garden, was buried alive at Wrexham. A rescue party after a nightlong attempt, failed, though the man was kept alive with brandy. Thousands listened to the man’s cries for help and were powerless to aid. Finally another fall killed the collier.

THE DISARMAMENT QUESTION

LIVELY DERATE IN CONGRESS

WASHINGTON April 27

There was a lively “row’’ over the disarmament question in tlie House ot Representatives during the Naval Appropriations debate, when the Democrats endeavoured to obtain amendments which would hold up funds for the 1916 building programme, and force President Harding’s hand n inviting a disarmament conference.

Mr Moore (Democrat, Virginia) offered an amendment authorising President Harding to suspend the expenditure of 90,000,000 dollars on the 1916 programme until an arrangement regarding disarmament had been reached \viw. Great Britain and Japan.

This effort was abortive His critics wanted an investigation into the value of the battleship. In heated replies by Republicans, the Democrats were charged with trying to insult and embarrass the President, and with inviting other nations to talk peace and then go to the United States to witness preparations tor war. BA ITLEFIELD MKMORIALS. LONDON, April 27. Tin? Wat* Office has approved of 93 applications to erect battlefield memorials in France and Belgium, on Gallipoli in Palestine and elsewhere emiimemorat ing the deeds of Imperial and Dominion md Indian units. Thirty si ven applications are under consideration CANADA AND EMPIRE. O'ITAWA, April 28.

Mr Mackenzie King, leader of tue Opposition in the Canadian House of Commons, has moved a resolution as follows: "That this House while recognising the propriety, of Canada being represented at any nperiul (. ft*!once or Conference of prime Ministers, desires to record its opinion that at the comig Confercnc no step should be taken in any way involving any change in the relations of Canada to the other parts of the Empire, and that, in view of the present financial position in Canada, no action should o taken implying any obligation on the part of Canada to undertake new expenditures for naval or military purposes.” 4 ne resolution was not acted upon.

UNEMPLOYED. LONDON, April 28 The number of unemployed now registered at the British Labour Exchange shows an increase of 81,000 for the past week; and also an increase of 107,000 workers placed on short time. PLAGUE IN EGYPT. CAIRO, April 27. No further cases of plague are re-, ported at Alexandra. The outbreak, is well under control. There are only a few cases altogether. IMPORTANT DECISION. SAN FRANCISCO, April 27. An interesting issue has been settled in the Australian Commonwealth suit against the Pacific Motor Ship, and and Pacific Freights Company, in which the Commonwealth prayed for foreclosure on mortgages amounting approximately to £4OO,(XX) for eight motor ships, which Australia sold the company, and for the appointment of areceiver. The defendants asked Judge Van Fleet, of tin" Federal District Court, who was trying the ease to declare that he had no jurisdiction, on the grounds that only foreign Governments could, under the United States constitution, and the Federal Code sue an American co-operation or persons in the American Federal Courts, and that Australia was not a foreign State. The defendants said that only the British Crown was competent to sue on behalf of the Commonwealth. Judge Van Fleet heard special argument by Mr Sheldon, who claimed that j Australia’s self governing powers gave the Commonwealth the standing of a, foreign State unde# the American constitution and the Federal code. Judge Van Fleet gave his decision in favour of the Commonwealth, thus creating a precedent.

A similar matter has never before been decided in an American Federal Court.