BRITISH & FOREIGN ITEMS

Hokitika Guardian, 25 May 1921, Page 2

BRITISH & FOREIGN ITEMS

4USTRAI.IAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION. THE- MENNONITES. TO LEAVE CANADA. OTTAWA, May 20. According to a message from Swift Current, Saskatchewan, the Mennonite colony, numbering 80,000 has completed arrangements to move from Canada to land in x Mexrco. The Mennonites, who came to Canada in. 18?3 'under an agreement with the Dominion Government, have had a clash with the Canadian authorities, who refused to allow the sect to establish separate German language schools. Also under tho original agremenf Canada agreed to exempt the sect from military service.. During the war a considerable agitation arose when the Government insisted that the younger generation did not come under the exemption clause, but were liable to compulsory service. The Mennonites have sold their entire holdings in Canada, totalling 105,000 acres, -and will transport their farm stock to Mexico.

(The Mennonites are a small denomination, so called from Menno Simons, of Friesland, their founder. They believe the New Testament is the only rule of faith, that there is no original sin, that infants should not be baptised, and that Christians ought not to take oath, hold office, or render military service.)

TRIAL OF WAR CRIMINALS. \ (Received this day at 8 s.m.) LONDON, May 23. The trials of war criminals has opened in Leipzig. Cinema operators waited outside the Hotel Astoria for the departure of tlq, British Commissioners and witnesses, but little public interest is shown. There were a sprinkling of spectators outside and inside the Court. The Solictor-General, Pollock, the head of the' Commission and three colleagues wore accommodated at a table facing the seven judges. The first case was that of Sergt Heymen charged with . ill-treating prisoners at Theriue camp.' SYMPATHY FOR IRELAND'. CAPETOWN, May 23. Mr Patrick Little, the accredited envoy of Mr Eamonn de Valera, Sinn Fein President, is holding-meetings in South . Africa in the interests of the Irish Republicans. His propaganda is being protestc 1 against in newspapers as an intrusion of Irish politics into South African affairs. The critics are quoting as deplorable the results of Irish propaganda in Australia.

BIG GUNS USED. (Received this day at 8 a.m.) WARSAW, May 23. A communique issued by the insurrection leaders declares German Reichwher utilised a number of big guns across the Strelitz. KAISER WELL. m (Received this day at 8 a.m.) AMSTERDAM, May 23. The ex-Kaiser was seen walking today. REVOLUTIONARY CONGRESS. FRENCH LABOR MOVE. (Received This Day at 9.45 a.m.) PARIS, May 24 The General Federation of Labour fas received a serious setback through the decisions of the building trades and State; railway employees congresses which give indications of a dangerous move towards Bolshevism. The moderate leaders of both Congresses were overthrown by the rank and file, who decided to detach themselves from Amsterdam International, and to join the Moscow International, and so prepare the French proletariat for revolution. The railwaymen by a'ma jority of a thousand passed a resolution favouring a class war, on lines of the Russian revolution. ALEXANDRIA RIOTS. (Received This Day at 10.40 a.m.) CAIRO, May 23. Many dead are lying in the streets of Alexandria. The natives drenched two Europeans with petrol and fired them. * • ’ Riot ere conflicted with the Greeks and several of the latter were killed. It is reported that fifteen hundred Bedouins are advancing' from Ramleh to participate in a general revolution, which only the presence of British troops prevents. ESMQNDE TRIED. (Received This Day at 10.35 a.m.). VANCOUVER, May 23. Esmonde was tried at the Assizes for seditious language. The jury disagreed.