BRITISH A FOREIGN ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 18 July 1921, Page 3

BRITISH A FOREIGN ITEMS.

AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION,

VISIT TO INDIA

DELHI, July 15 \ Geoffrey de Montmorency, who has appointed Chief Secretary t« the Prince of Wales’s Indian tour staff, leaves for England immediately. Official circles 'say they believe the Prince’s visit will be attended with consequences as favourable as his other Dominion tour.

The press, with the exception of a couple of Nationalist Non-Co-operation organs, indicate the Prince will be assured of a warm welcome.

The Viceroy (Lord Heading) lias appointed an advisory committee to cooperate with the Political Department in supervising the arrangements for the visit. The Maharjah of Gwalier and Bikaner attended the first meeting, at which a provisional programme was arranged. The Prince’s visit to Delhi will be in, the middle of next February. It. is to be marked by a number of imposing functions.

A NATIONALIST THREAT

i DELHI, July 16 The Leader of the Indian Non-Co-operators’ movement threatened to boycott the Prince of Wales’, visit. The threat is not taken seriously by the press in India. „

THE INDEMNITY. AUSTRALIA’S WHACK. LONDON, July 15. On reliable authority it is stated that Australia’s share of the reparation payment will he £64,000,000.

JAPANESE STATEMENT . LONDON, July 16. The “Daily Express” Tokio correspondiant interviewed M. Hara, the Premier of Japan, who said : lam sympathetic to disarmament, but the matter is still under discussion by the Powers, so it will be improper to express an opinion. Nevertheless, Japan would welcome an opportunity for a discussion with friendly Powers on a matter vital to the peace and happiness of th o world. Japan hopes tluH practicable arrangements will he devised for .lightening the burden of armaments.” The propsal is absorbing the Government’s whole attention. The inclusion of China as one of the parties to the deliberation is regarded as doubtful. There is a lurking four that Japan may have manoeuvred her into an unfavourable position. \ prominent Japanese says it equality of opportunity is postulated in China it must not be denied in America and Australia. The Indo-Chinese tariff and New ”<>a

(land’s and Australia’s discrimination in the Pacific Islands; and emigration

questions must necessarily arise. Japan ♦ cannot discuss these except on terms of equality.

AMERICAN EIN.ANTES

WASHINGTON, July 1(5

President Harding, addressing the Senate, said that the proposed soldiers’ bonus legislation, .contemplating a national obligation of live thousand million dollars, would greatly imperil the financial stability of America. He said: “Our land has its share of financial chaos and industrial depression. Three things are essential to the restoration of peace-time conditions, namely, a reduction in internal taxation, refunding of the war debt, and the adjustment of foreign loans. It is unthinkable to expect a business revival while maintaining excessive taxes and it will he impossible to reduce the tax-burdens, while committing the Treasury to additional obligations.” The President added that the first duty which the country was fulfilling was toward the disabled soldiers. Mr Harding has signed a naval Hill appropriating 410 million dollars.

AVIATOR HAWKER’S DEATH. LONDON, July If

The verdict at Hawker’s impiest was that death was caused through accidental loss of control of )iis machine, due to physical disability. The evidence showed that the machine did not catch

fire until it touched earth. The medical evidence disclosed that Hawker was in bad health. A postmortem revealed an abscess on the spine. Sudden haemorrhage caused paralysis. His neck was broken by the fall.

NEW BALTIC STATES. COPENHAGEN, July If. The foreign Ministers of Latvia and Lithuania and Esthonia have arranged an agreement for an economic and defensive alliance.

KING’S YACHT WINS. LONDON, July If The King’s yacht Brittania with the King aboard, won a big class handicap at Southend Regatta over a 37 miles course.

ARGENTINE BEATS N.Z. LONDON, July If. Sir Thomas Mackenzie speaking at the Empire Agricultural Conference, criticised the British for their handling of New Zealand meat and wool. He asserted that the Argentine products had boon allowed to reach the British markets in preference to New -Zealand’s.

IMPERIALISM IN TRADE. LONDON, July 15. The Empire. Agricultural Conference lias unanimously passed a resolution in favour of the formation of a provincial committee, consisting of delegates of the present Conference, to frame the outlines of a policy for the consideration of agriculture associations throughout the Empire, and to deal on behalf of these associations with any crisis arising.

FRANCE SHORT OF WHEAT. PARTS, July 15

Despite a bountiful French harvest, the President of the Paris Produce Exchange states that France needs one million tons of wheat.

CABLE NEWS.

AMERICAN POLITICS (Received This Dtiy at 8 a.m.) WASHINGTON, July 14. The first conclusive evidence of a proposal for general cancellation of Allied war debts was obtained when a letter from Hon. Lloyd George to ex-Presi-dent Wilson dated August sth., 1020. was read to the Senate Finance Committee. The letter stated England’s willingness to consider the cancellation of all debts owed her. if America would consider wiping out British indebted ness.

Senators La Folette and Norris asked the Foreign Relations Committee not to take action on their respective re solutions asking for recognition of Irish independence and protesting against Britain violation of land warfare laws in Ireland, pending the outcome of negotiations between do Valera and Lloyd George hut they declared they "ill press for action if the negotiations fail

LORD NOR TiIt'LIFFE. LONDON, July 16

Lord Northeliffe sailed for America on route to Australia. He arrives at Auckland on August 26; and Sydney on 31st. Tie remains three weeks and afterwards goes to Japan. He states lie desires to investigate (lie opportunities offered Australia for immigration ond investment of capital.

GERMAN ROOM. (Received This Day at 8 a.m.) BERLIN, July 16,

There is'a remarkable boom on the German Stock Exchange. There is an abundance of motley and rumours of Coys making fast profits are causing reckless speculation. Brokers end hankers are overwhelmed with orders to Why stock.

AFRICAN LABOUR. ACTION. (Received This Dav at 8 a.m.) CAPETOWN, July 17 The committee appointed at Johannesburg by the South African -Mineworkers Union reports a strilife at Consolidated Langlaate was due to the wilful distortion of the general council’s instructions to suit the ends of the delegates. The committee and a number of prominent union officials were fined fifteen to sixteen pounds sterling and others suspended for periods ranging from one to live years. The branch committee concerned lias been suspended. The report adversely criticises the Chamber of Mines punishing the men who struck owing to the misleading statement.

JAPAN’S ATTITUDE. (Beceived Ti is Day at 8 a.m.) TOKIO, July 16. • The Government Party is urging fount llara to attend the proposed Armament Conference, declaring it a delegation is sent which is compelled to unit Tnkms instruct ions, it would lie disadvantageous to Japan. Army circles favour Yamamoto’s appointment, and Navy circles Koto’s, who declared they would not ret use such an assignment ond added it would he better to discuss Pacific questions separately. II a satisfactory armament agreement was concluded, Japan would not adhere to the eight battleship and eight cruiser programme.

(Received This Day at 10.15 a.m.) BUENOS AYRES, July If Argentine lias defaulted the Davis Cup match to Denmark, due to insuflicient funds by Argentine Lawn Tennis League, for players’ expenses.

LORD NORTHCLIFEE. LONDON! July If Lord Xorthelifl'o devotes his tour mainly to the study of Pacific problems in evorv Pacific country.

(’IIURCH ANNOUNCEMENT. LONDON. July 16

The Church,authorities have ordered that no further copies of the Prayer l ook arc to he printed, until the Prince of Wales marries. It is estimated that when he marries, it will cost between ten and fifteen thousand to insert the name of Die Princess in four places in the prayers for the Royal family. Ihe Bishop of Ripon, in announcing the decision of the C hurcli National Assembly mentioned he did so because it was ijuite conceivable that the Prince of Wales would marry before long.

MADAME MELBA. VANCOUVER, July 15 Madame Melba has sailed from Vancouver for Australia.

A DUTCH VIEW. (Received This Day at 10.15 a.m.) LONDON, July 15 It is reported from the Hague, that the'Dutch Government is watching developments regarding Mr Harding’s proposed conference with the keenest interest, because .a settlement of the problems would solve the grievous burden of protecting East Indies. Ihe Government has decided on an elaborate programme of naval deleave in the Pacific, directed primarily against Jsipan. The Dutch policy hits been to avoid entanglements, but in view ol her interests in the Pacific, hopes to re-, ceive an invitation to the Washington Conference.

' LEIPZIG SENTENCE. BERLIN, July If. Boldt Dittman was sentenced to four years without hard labour.

AMERICAN TRADE,

WASHINGTON, July 11

(Delayed)—The Department of Commerce announces the American Foreign trade for the year ended June 30th was three thousand million dollars loss than 1920. Exports totalled (5519 million dollars and imports 3666 milions; gold imports totalled 646 millions compared with 150 million during 1920. NEW YORK, July 12.

As a result of a decline in prices of crude oil, petroleum has dropped an average of twenty-eight per cent, since Ist January. The lowest {wholesale quotations fifteen cents per gallon at aKnsas City, twenty-six at "Seattle. The price mainly current is twenfy-onc cents.

CANADA’S SHARE. OTTAWA, July 15. Official London cables state Canada's share of Hie German Reparations will he three jfiindrorl million dollars.