BRITISH & FOREIGN ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 28 June 1921, Page 2

BRITISH & FOREIGN ITEMS.

CABLE NEWS.

AOSTHALIAN ANU N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION. PERSIAN AFFAIRS. DELHI, June 26. * Advices from Persia state the South Persian Rifles will shortly be disbanded The Persian Government is unable, and the British and Indian Government willing to finance this force. Tt is expected the disbandment will react unfavourably in the security of Southern Persia. MEDIATION REJECTED. JC ATHENS, June 20 The Greek reply to the Allied Note offering to mediate in the GreekoTurko dispute virtually rejects media* tion at present. yellows in America. WASHINGTON, June 20. ' The census bureau announces there are 111,025 Japanese and 61,680 Chhlese in United States. Jitpatiese exfceetl by far the rate of growth during the last decade shown by ahv other i‘ac6 increase particularly on the Pacific Cbast of 5.3 per cent. California absorbed 30,596 out of the total this period. There are /1952 Japaflesfl now in California. THE TRAIN DISASTER. PARIS, Juhe 26. Heat caused the rails to expand and an axle broke as th train Was passing Beaumont Hamel. A luggage vait left the rail, dragging the Ist thl‘ee carriages and van, and rolled into the River Acra, Three carriages fell down the embankment and were smashed to splinters. Horrible scenes were witnessed, arms waving frantically amongst the wreckage, but tt was impossible to render niß. Some women begged to be killed if their agony eoukl not be relieved. The place ivas the scene of heavy fighting in 1916.

GREEKS PREFER WAR. i * ATHENS, June 26 In its answer to the Allied offer of mediation, the Greek Government says it thanks the Allies for their offer to mediate, but declares the situation is such that only military action can lead to its decision.

The Government’s reply, declining the Allies mediation, contends that Greece is warring against Turkey’s at tempt to escape from the Peace Treaty obligations, and any delay to the military operations will be detrimental to the Grek military situation.

EVACUATION OF SILESIA. BERLIN, June 26 It is semi-officially announced that tlx Inter-Allied Commission has approved of the proposed conditions for the ewiruation of Upper Silesia by the Polish insurgents and the German "Self-Defence” organisations. The * evacuation is to he completed by July sth. ANGLO-JAP ALLIANCE. (Received This Day at 8.30 a.m.) LONDON, June 27 The Australian Press Association learns that the Foreign Office cabled a fortnight ago to Japan asking that the date of the Anglo-Japanese Alliance decision to be postponed for three months. It is not known whether a reply was received, but it is creditably reported that Japanese political circles are greatly disturbecl'and alarmed at the signs of growing opposition in London to a renewal. HANDED TO GREECE. (Received This Day at 8.30 a.m.) ATHENS, June 27. A British detachment lias left Tenedos. which will be handed over to Orecce. . PR OHIBITION MOV EM ENTt (Received This Day at 8.30 aim.) NEW YORK, June 27. A 1). Van Buren has announced his resignation as chief counsel-for the Federation of Prohibition Commission. Interviewed, be said the country was drifting towards prohibition :ult * anarchy. Unless a calm, sane judgment was displayed popular excitement, hysteria and all respect would be lost for the V (listed enforcement law, which carries things to extremes. GERMANS BUYING GOLD. (Received This Day at 9.40 a.m.) BERLIN, June 27. The Reichsbank, till 3rd July, is exchanging German and foieign. > offering three hundred paper marks for a,- twenty mark gold piece and 420 bun- { drod paper marks for a kilogram of line gold. IMPORTS OF COAL. (Received This Day at 9.40 a.m.) LONDON, June 27. Mr Bridgeman in the Commons, stated the coal imported into Britain since April Ist was as follows—from America 335,000 tons; from France 130.000, from Belgium 395,000 tons. JAPAN OPINION. (Received This Day at 12.25 p.m.) TOKIO, June 27. The National Chamber of Commeice, passed a resolution urging Japan to conclude disarmament agreement with , neighbouring powers. Viscount Slnbusawa declared that Japan’s relations , with America and China were regrettably unsatisfactory, and urged Government to withdraw troops from Hankow . -Shantung railway and exert greater disarmament efforts and transfer part of the militry expenditure for the development of industry.