BRITISH & FOREIGN ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 30 November 1921, Page 2

BRITISH & FOREIGN ITEMS.

FLEEING FROM ARMENIA. ueuter’s telegrams. LONDON, November 28. According to an official telegram received in London, Christmas in Citicia are beginning to emigrate in large numbers. It .is expected that at leas! fifty thousand will leave the country as they cannot rely on tlio assurances that the Angora Government will lie responsible for their safety. . ALEXANDRIA, November 28. Three steamers crowded with Armenians have arrived from Messina in Cilicia. It has not yet decided whether they will he permitted to land. A message from Athens says an Italian steamer has arrived at Smyrna with Anmenlian and, Gfreefc refugees from Messina. Tt says Christians are flocking to Messina from the interior.

BRITISH NOTE TO FRANCE. LONDON, November 28. The text of the last British Note to France, is not to be published in London. An announcement to this effect gives a warning against misleading reports of its contents particularly where such would give tlie impression that all the difficulties are removed. That this may be so is the strong hope of the British Government, which always maintained and repeats in the note to France, that the only right way to establish peace in the Near East is bv the close co-operation ( France, Italy and Britain. PURIC STATEMENT. LONDON, November 28. Paris advices say Britain has sent a note to France asking by wliat means proposed to safeguard Germans and other creditors if the Wiesbaden agreement of 2Jst October is enforced, declaring Britain views with concern France’s delay in ratifying the financial convention of 30th. August.

U.S.A. NAVY OUT. ' NEW YORK, November 28. . A telegram to tlie “Philadelphia Public Ledger” states: “Vice-Admir-aU-fde (Vice-Minister for the U.S.A. Navy) lias informed a correspondent that lie is preparing to face the problems raised by the possible adoption of the Hughes disarmament proposals. Orders have been sent to the chief U.S.A., naval arsenals and dockyards to cease all repair work for the present, and to slow down all new construction. No hands at these yards have yet been paid off, but the plans for such action are being considered. Admiral Ide explained that it would be impossible to check immediately the work in the priifrte yards, owing to the danger of serious labour troubles arisng if thousands of workmen were thrown out of employment; but plans were being formulated to liquidate the contracts in such a way as to prevent any labour disorders and financial disasters to the shipbuilding companies, which were entirely depend ent on naval contracts.

MINERS’ BODIES FOUND. LONDON, November 29. Some miners at the Prince of Wales Colliery, Abbern, broke through an old working and found the remains of many of tlie 263 victims of an explo--1 sion, which occurred in .September. 1878. The explosion was so terrific that few of the bodies were recovered at the time. COVENT GARDEN OPERA HOUSE. i LONDON, November 28. Madame Pavling, formerly Madame Huffend, and Mr E. D. Smith of Sydney, with a few others, are negotiating w|ith a view to purchasing Covent Garden Opera House. They are awaiting a reply to a definite offer. The lady believes there is every possibility of running Opera successfully at this opera House, despite the previous failures.