BRITISH & FOREIGN ITEMS

Hokitika Guardian, 17 December 1921, Page 3

BRITISH & FOREIGN ITEMS

AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION. KING EDWARD HOSPITAL FUND. LONDON, December 15. Lady Mount Stephen has informed the King Edward Hospital Fund that her husband left nearly all his fortune to it. Lord Mount Stephen had previously given £500,009 to the fund. RUSSIAN HELP. WASHINGTON, Dee. 16. The United States House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs lias reported favourably on a Bill appropriating 2,000,000 dollars for the purchase of grain and other food products for distribution among tlie Russian people in tlie famine districts. This will provide twice as much food as President Harding had asked for in his message to Congress. RETROGRAD NAMED AFTER. leuin. COPENHAGEN, December 10. The Soviet is christening Pctrograd “Leninburg,” ill recognition of Lenin’s service*. IMPERIAL AVIATION. LONDON, Dec. 15. ft is understood that tins British Government intends commiiieating with the Dominion Government, suggesting action in reference to the initiation of an Imperial Airship Service. The British Government is prepared to move when the Dominions are ready. Air Ashholt. interviewed by the Australian Press Association, stated that private investors were prepared to find £3,009,000 wlmn the Dominions approved of the project. The proposed Government contributions include Britain £325,000; India £250,000; Australia. £250,000; South Africa, £IOO.000; and New Zealand. £75,000; totalling' £ 1.090,000 spreading over three years. The scheme provides that this £1,000,000 should be expended on the. construction of bases along the route which will occupy two years. There is to be £1,400,000 from the capital to go for the construction of seven airships and £600,000 for the completion of ground establishments, plus running expenses, with £500,000 reserved for contingencies thus totalling altogether £3,500,000. The promoters ask for subsidies for a term of years. They suggest £240,000 from Britain, and a similar amount from the combined Dominions. They anticipate the scheme will he in operation within two years. The first 18 months would he devoted to providing bases, and tho next six months would lie devoted to running experimental trips between Britain and Australia. Thereafter h fortnightly service would he run to Egypt, India. South Africa and New Zealand.

It is proposed to erect shed bai<*s in Bedfordshire,. Egypt and Melbourne, with nine intermediate mooring masts and stations.

GERMAN REPARATIONS. LONDON. Dec. 10

Replying to a question he could not | sav what would he the total charge in-j ,mired in tint event of cancellation ot | the eonrarts for four new battleships , under construction. The matter " :I 'j now in suspense. 'lTie luture depended | on results of the Washington Confer- j cnee. I LOANS FLOATED. j LONDON. December 16. j Indian and Auckland City loans wore j over-subscribed. GREEKS AND TURKS. (Re'eired This Day at S 90 a.m.) ATHENS. December 15. Turks concentrated two thousand irregulars near Ti luitnldja. Of twenty thousand Greeks residing at Tarsus. Alcrsinn and Adana fifteen thousand have already lied. A AI INK DISASER. PARTS, December 16. Twenty six miners were burned to death through an explosion in a stranded mine at Charleroi and fifteen others •ire in a critical condition. RIOTS IN KANSAS. NEAV YORK, Dec 15. Rioters at Pittsburg. Kansas, were successfully dispersed only after the Federal troops had arrived on the scene. Women strike supporters cabled on the 13th new lace arrest. Warrants have been issued for tin-' leaders. Efforts will also be made to apprehend all partiepators. The prosecutor stated no lenience will he shown women on account of their sox. L.S. POLITICS. WASHINC.TON, December 15. Senator France introduced in Ni« Semite a resolution for the recognition of the Russian Soviet Republic. The motion was referred to the Foreign Affairs Committee