BRITISH & FOREIGN ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 15 November 1921, Page 2

BRITISH & FOREIGN ITEMS.

al’si kalian and n.e. caboe association. J A BAN’S NEW PREMIER TOKIOj Nov. 13. Tiikahashi was invested .with the Premiership, and is organising the ! Cabinet. He is expected to make few . changes in the former Cabinet, possibly none. Takahashi is regarded as ' anti-militarist, especially in view of the recent drastic cuts lie, as Minister of Finance made in the military and naval 1 estimates.

AFRICANDER VIEWS. CAPETOWN, Novemerb 12. Addressing his constituents at SmithlieUl Mr Hertaog ridiculed "General Smuts’ theory that the higher status of a Dominion meant that while • the IT, ion does not possess Independent State individuality, hut solely as part of the Empire, internationally the Union had the right to lie regarded as possessing an individual free national status. It is no wonder America refused to acknowledge such a hybrid status. Her refusal to invite the Dominions to Washington showed that the higher status was a hollow sham and was due to a knowledge that the Dominion was subservient to the socalled Empire. Smuts c ould at anytime obtain America’s acknowledgment if using the right he possesses. he makes a declaration rati the authority of the people and the King informing the world that it is our will to lie a separate nation and the State could thus obtain acknowledgement of a free status, even without going to the extreme of secession from the Crown. 'lodav we are in the same state of sub s.orvienev as in 1010.

BR[TAIN’S MISSING. LONDON, November 12. It is officially stated that 03,800 offi cers and men missing during the war are still unaccounted for. A WAR ' MEMENTO. .PARIS, November 12. The first of 240 boundary stones, which are being erected by the touring club of France along the line where the German advance was checked in 1018, were inaugurated at Chateau Thierry. The stone is five feet high of Alsatian granite, and inscribed "Here the invader was thrown back, 1018.” LEAGUE LABOUR CONVENTION. GENEVA, Nov. 13. The Labour Conference of the League nf Nations lias finally adopted a dralt of an international convention tor guaranteeing to farm workers the same rights of association and of combination in unions as other industrial workTbe Australian employers and the Australian Government delegates voted against this. All the Imperial delegates voted in the affirmative. Another convention extending to agricultural workers the lienefits of the employers liability laws and also a recommendation to Governments to extend the lienefits of sickness invalidity and old age insurance, to farm workers was adopted. -•

A PECULIAR TRAGEDY. (Received This Day at 9.5 a.m.) PARIS, November 14. A decently dressed man accosted Romeo. a well-known commission agent, who "itli a lady acquaintance was about to enter a motor car in Rue Royale. The man drew a revolver saying- “1 am very sorry for you, but this is the unwritten law. You are a vulgar Bourgeois; Vive Communism.” He then shot both dead and committed suicide. The police received a letter on Saturday night stating the writer proposed to kill a man in Rue Rovale next day, but they treated the missive contemptuously.

REPORTED ATROCITIES. (Received This Day at 9.5 a.m.) HELSINGFORS, Nov. 13. Reports from Crimea state Bolsheviks have inaugiinited a reign of terror. following on the discovery of rti alleged plot against Moscow. It is re. ported that- seven hundred prisoners were shot, at Kertcli. SINN FEINERS’ HUNGER STRIKE. LONDON, November 13. It is understood that stringent regulations are being imposed on 150 Sinn Feiners who remain in Moiintjoy prison in Dublin. The new orders include their having to attend Mass only *n groups of three. This is resented as an indignity. The internees have been returned to their cells where they all are now hunger-striking. M'HITEHA 11, CENOTA PH. LONDON, November 14.

Two million (lower-bearing mourners have paid a tribute to the fallen at the Cenotaph in M'hitehall during the last two days. M'hitehall presented a remarkable and touching Sunday scene n dense crowd surging towards the Cenotaph which was embanked on all sides with flower.', wreaths and crosses. Two thousand poor people placed one or two Mowers only, side by side with the rich mail’s elaborate offering. There was much comment on the Australian and New Zealand offerings which still stand out prominently, and many affecting references were made liv the crowd to the war comradeship of Imperial soldiers and Australians.

A PROTEST. LONDON, Xovemlier 14. General Sir G. M. MacDonogh. when unveiling a war memorial, at Windsor, expressed regret that the poppy lias been chosen as the emblem to commemorate the fallen. It is a Pagan llower. and it represents oblivion. The General said: - ‘The last thing that we want to do is to forget those who have made the great sacrifice.”