AMERICAN ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 30 July 1921, Page 3

AMERICAN ITEMS.

CABLE NEWS.

AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION. ALLIED DEBTS TO US.A. WASHINGTON, July 28. The Senate Financial Committee has voted a favourable report on a. Bill giving Mr Mellon (Secretary to the Treasury, unlimited power to arrange lor the collection of foreign loans to U.S.A. In outlining his .plan, Mr Mellon said that, starting with Britain, then deal-, ing with France and other countries, he would ask each debtor to submit a state ment telling how it could pay, and what terms it desired. He would defer interest on collections for some time, although not necessarily to April, 1922, the date concerning which the former Secretary to the Treasury, Mr Houston, had an understanding with Britain. Mr Mellon .said he might consent still further to defer payments of interest, if sought hv Britain and France, and would not accept bonds from any nation except a direct creditor.

MACLEAN’S PAMPHLET. WELLINGTON, July 2!)

Patrick Hickey was fined £5 and John Glover £2 for publishing and selling a pamphlet,, said to he of seditious intention. The case was dismissed when first before the Court, hut that decision was reversed by the hull Court.

AMERICAN ATTITUDE. WASHINGTON, July 27

It is understood that Mr Hughes has informed Sir A. Geddes finally that America is opposed to the proposal for a preliminary conference to the Disarmament conference on the grounds that an indefinite postponement of the Disarmament dismission would disappoint the public which is anxious for progress in the disarmement movement. \ln erica feels the Washington Conference would hinge on the* success of the preliminary conference Mr Hughes sympathises with the position of the Dominion Premiers, who favoured a preliminary conference so that they could attend en route home, conse' quently it is understood he has intimated that America is willing to hold the conference early as October or bite in September. America is not opposed to informal conversations with the Premiers as they pass through.

AMERICAN ATTITUDE. WASHINGTON, July 28

Mr Theodore Roosevelt ( Assistant Sc. eretary to the Navy), in a speech, declared: “The limitation of armaments will be the thought uppermost at the coming Conference, but I want to say that wo must never, under any circumstances, put our country in a position where she will be unable to defend ho? - self against anything and everything arising. The Pacifists are muddle-head ed idiots, and will shout for the United States to set the example, but we must not disarm and then wait for other armed nations to aet. y