BRITISH & FOREIGN ITEMS

Hokitika Guardian, 6 July 1921, Page 2

BRITISH & FOREIGN ITEMS

AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION.

BRITAIN’S BERT TO AMERICA

(Received This Day at 8 a.m.) LONDON, July 4

In the Commons, Mr Hilton Young stated the British debt to America is aproximately 856 millions sterling. The accrued interest unpaid thereon totalled approximately 408 million dollars. The only definite arrangement for a reduction of the debt at present was for the repayment of 122 million dollars borrowed for the purchase of silver dollars, .under which a further 30} million dollars will lie repaid in April and May next.

ITALIAN CABINET. (Received This Day at 8 a.in.) ROME, July 4. •Signor Bononu has formed ft Cabinetin which he temporarily assumes the Foreign Ministry. SOVIET TRADE DECLARATION. LONDON, # JuIy 4. iA correspondent of the “Morning Post” states that the chief of the Soviet trade delegation in Constantinople (the members of which were arrested there recently by the British Mission) is now in London, endeavouring to secure funds from M; Krassin on behalf of Soviet propaganda work in Constantinople.

LEIPZIG TRIALS. LEIPZIG, July 3. - Giving evidence at the Supreme Court, Doctor Wenger said that after the battle of Saarburg in 1914, he took over medical charge of two wounded French prisoners and a corporal informed him later that they had been Shot by order of C'rusius. The authorities are attempting to show" that Crusius was mentally deficient with a view to rebutting his statement that Major Stengel ordered the execution of prisoners. LIGHT MILLION PROFIT. LONDON, July 4., The annual meetipg of the Shell Transport Trading Company was held. , The profits for the year wpre reported to be £8,870,000. A dividend was declared of 36 per (rent. A proposal to increase the company’s capital to £30,000,000' was subsequently adopted. THE BELGIAN SOVEREIGNS'. LONDON, July 4 The Belgian Royalties were enthusiastically welcomed. King George and Queen Mary met them at Victoria Station. The visitors f subsequently placed a wreath of red roses and palm leaves on the Cenotaph in Whitehall, and also visited the “Unknown Warror’s Grave” in the Abbey.' The King appointed King Albert a British Field Marshal. POLES EVACUATE SILESIA. PARIS, July 4. v"*

The Havas Agency’s Oppelin correspondent reports that the Poles have retired, in conformity with the deeisioa

of the Inter-Allied Commission, and have evacuated Rybnik before the appointed time. The German troops are now bound to retreat.