BRITISH & FOREIGN ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 6 January 1922, Page 3

BRITISH & FOREIGN ITEMS.

AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION,

BIG FIRE AT‘HARTLEPOOL. LONDON, Jan. 5. A gale is assisting to spread at Hartlepool a big fire.

Tlio big fire occurred in Horseley and Son’s timber yards, covering eight acres, in Hartlepool. It has extended to the residential area, and many houses were destroyed. The fire is still burning.

There are fire hundred people already homeless.

Trains are conveying fire brigades from neighbouring towns.

BIG TOKIO BLAZE. TOKIO, Jan. 5

There has been a big fire in Tokio, which threatened the main railway station, and many of the most prominent buildings in the city, including the Imperial Palace. The Imperial Household Guards helped the firemen, who devoted considerable attention to keeping the roof on the Palace cool, by pumping water thereon.

It has destroyed the Central Post Office, including a large foreign holiday mail.

ITALIAN BANK FAILURE. ROME, January 5

The Court has ordered the sequestration of the private fortunes of the Administrators of the Banca Disconto which lias been closed, including that of Signor Marconi, the wireless inventor.

EX-CABINET MINISTER ARRESTED. PARIS, Jan. 4

M. Vilgrairi, who was odd Minister in the Clemenceau Government' has been arrested at Nancy and charged with shooting himself in the hand in order to obtain a discharge from the Army, and thus be free to earn money as a general dealer. Vligrain says be was shot whilst fighting.

THE TRADE SLUMP. LONDON, Jan. 4

Sir “Walter Runcimarij in an article in the “Daily Telegraph,” says: “ft is criminal that uninformed politicians, both in and out of office, should tell the public that there is an improvement in trade. There is nothing but stagnation in every part of the world. The truth is that we have not yet reached the lowest depression.” He defines remedies. He says the cutting out of waste, the reduction of prices, the creation of confidence, the re-estab-lishment of the gold standard, the sweeping away of obstacles to free exchange, and the re-opening of international trading are all essential before a recovery commences.

“It is flippancy for people to console themselves,” lie adds, "that we shall never sec pre-war conditions again. Of course we shall, when we stop trying to regulate nature. In the present conditions, no owner in his senses is going to incur an outlay for repairs which will far exceed the value of lfis vessel. Hence the dry-docks arc empty, the shipyards are under lnre poles, the Lancashire and Yorkshire mills are feeling the drought badly, and also tbe coalfields. Financial chaos and prohibitive taxation have knocked the spirit out of enterprising men. What encouragement is there to solvent traders to run risks merely to increase their burden of taxation, and have nothing left to carry on with?”

FRANCE AND ENGLAND. (Received This Day at 9.5 a.m.) LONDON, Jan. 5.

At Cannes M. Briand and Hon Lloyd George had several prelimin rv conversations, which are asserted to be satisfactory. Nevertheless the atmosphere on the eve of the Conference is by no means clear. France’s declaration that submarines should not be utilized on attacks on merchantmen, has modified somewhat the feeling of resentment against France over his ' attitude at Washington.

It is realised Britain favours giving Germany some relief over the current year’s reparation payments in winch she will have Italy’s support, while France sturdily opposes further concession as regards the instalment duo. There is feeling lietween Belgium and France. The former is likely to cause trouble. Theunis and Ins colleagues take the view that the total sum which Lloyd George proposes Geimany should pay this year, represents only what Belgium under her priority scheme is entitled to. If Belgium is firm on this point, the "'Bl nothing. M. Briand accuses Belgium of pursuing a policy of isolation, and warns tier she may lose the priority right. Briand apprehends that without Belgium’s support Britain and Italy may enforce a moratorium proposal.

BRITISH LABOUR’S ATTITUDE. LONDON, Jan. 4. In response to Mr Lloyd George’s suggestion, the Labour Leaders have submitted to him at Cannes a memorandum defining Labour’s attitude in regard to European problems. They recommend, firstly, the temporary suspension of Germany’s reparation payments ; secondly, the reduction of tiic reparations by the sums which the Allies claimed for war pensions and allowances to widows and dependents; thirdly, the cancellation of the international war debts; fourthly, the appointments of an international conference to restore a normal condition of production and exchange in Europe especially in Russia, by means of international loans or credits. , The memorandum expresses Labour’s ; conviction that it is within Germany’s ! power to reconstruct the devastated ' areas in France and Belgium. It re- j commends that German labour and materials should play a part in such restoration, if French sentiment permits.