BRITISH & FOREIGN ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 9 November 1921, Page 3

BRITISH & FOREIGN ITEMS.

AUSTRALIAN AND N. 7. CABLE ASSOCIATION. LIBEL CASE. 'Received This Day at 11.30 a.m.) LONDON, Nov 8. During the hearing of the case, Buttonilev v. Bigland, the magistrate stated on the question of publication of the libel thafl there must he u committal, and if a defence was raised, it must lie a statutory defence, which must be raised in another court. IN THE COMMONS. This Day at 1.30 p.ni.) LONDON, Nov. 8. Lord Hnrmsworth. replying to a question in the Commons, said tbe terms of the recent agreement between Franco and Angora bad been,comnninicnted to the Governments, but its publication depended upon the permission of the French Government, who wore being consulted. BRIAND REPLIES TO CUR/ON. PARIS. Nov 8. Lord Curzon’s note was cabled to M. Brinnd, who replied personally. LABOUR CONFERENCE. 'Received This Day at 1.30 p.m.) GENEVA, Nov. S. The plenary Labour Conference adopt ed a recommendation in favour of extending sickness and accident insurance rind old ago benefits to agricultural labourers VIOLENT GALES. LONDON, Nov. s.

Violent gales oil the English Coast and ill the North Sea caused havoc amongst smaller emit. A number ol lives were lost. JAPAN’S CONFERENCE ATTITUDE " THE TIMES ’’ SERVICE (Received This Dav at 10-15 a.m.) WASHINGTON. Nov 8. The assassination of Count llara had a disturbing oiled on American thought regarding the Conference. It has deranged the exptetatioiis, founded oil the belief that Ham was of moderate tendencies and on the assumption that his influence might have prevailed over that -oninloiily attributed to Japanese miliary general stall. ft. is thought imssible that the Japanese official attitude at the Conference may lie stiffened. Tn any case the crime is a sharp reminder that the success of the Conference may depend less on the sayings and doings of statesmen than on the outcome of in obscure- domestic struggle ill Japan. It is all undoubted fact that important and possibly predominant sections of Japanese opinion hold that the moment is propitious for an attempt to extend and consolidate Japanese political supremacy in the Far East. It believes Hint the strategic superiority on soil and land of Japan already secured at a great cost-, should not lie compromised by limitations of armaments or internationalisation of control of the Western Pacific, or Asiatic mainland, whil,. the special position of Japan in Northeastern Asia should be admitted without pedantry. It would be futile to forget there are limits beyond which neither United States nor the other Pacific Powers can go to meet the Japanese wishes in particular. The l!riisli Empire ami, France have almost fundamentally identical views and interest with United States there. Moreover there is reason to Irelievc thatJapanese statesmen "ill understand that the pursuit of aims attributed to the Japanese General Staff would antagonist. the British Commonwealth of Nations as inevitably and swiftly as United States itself. The conviction is growing in many quarters that Humore general appreciation of this truth there is in Japan. especially among militarist section of opinion, the clearer, will he the percentage of ultimate risk to Japan, which an aggressive policy must involve, and consequently the stronger will lie the chances that the Washington Conference may succeed in securing pence through hearty co-opera-tion with .Japanese statesmen on a footing of frank equality.