BRITISH & FOREIGN ITEMS

Hokitika Guardian, 25 January 1922, Page 2

BRITISH & FOREIGN ITEMS

AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOIn«,3?ION GREEK KING’S POSITION. LONDON, Jan. 23. The London “Daily Express” Athens correspondent states: “The British Minister here has made it clear to Kin~Constantine that normal relations wAS 1 -' Greece cannot be restored until he lias abdicated the throne in favour of , Prince George. It is understood that King Constantine has decided to abdicate shortly, doing so in the interests of Greece. If the King changes his mind, certain recent financial arragements made will be cancelled. M. Venipelos, ex-Premier (who opposed Constantine) has intimated his willingness to serve the State after the abdication.

CONCERN FOR FARMERS.

WASHINGTON, Jan 24

President Hardiing opened the National Agricultural Conference recommended the extention of the farmers’ co-operative marketing organisations, provision for greater working capital for farmers, and measures to prevent violent price fluctuations.

He declared if the nation fails to aid the farmer it will' precipitate a disaster that will affect every industrial and commercial activity.

THE RUSSIAN BUDGET. BERLIN, January 23, The Russian Budget has been published. It covers the January to October period of 1922. The expenditure ns estimated at 1,877,000,000 gold roubles. Thirty eper cent of the expenditure will be covered by taxes. Nine hundred million gold roubles will accrue from the State industries, and seventy million from the State industries and seventy millions from the State lands.

The deficiency of under 200,000,000 roubjle swill be covered by pjaper money issues.

FRENCH NEGOTIATIONS

(Received This Day at 8 a.m.)

PARIS, Jan. 23.

Government sent to Count D’Esteaulaire, Ambassador in London, instructions regarding the proposed AngloFrench treaty. Negotiations in diplomatic channels have thus begun. Instructions regarding Angora, Tangiers and Genoa will follow.

THE BOTTOMLEY CASE

Received This Day at 8 a.m.) LONDON, Jau. 23 The sensational end to the Bottomley case, astonished the public. Bottomley explains that the trial would have occupied at least twenty-one days and cost many thousands. Therefore he is' seeking other means of dealing with Bigland’s charges, when he can conduct his own case. At Old Bailey he would have been subjected to a week’s crossexamination in connection with every incident of business life for the last twenty years. The proceedings at Bailey were so rapid that the publichad no time to make a demonstration, but Bigland’s friends gathered round the dock and congratulated him. There is still a c-ase pending at Shropshire Assizes, where Bigland is accused of inciting people to extort money from Bottomley, during Wrekin election. Bottomley states after the Shropshire case there will probably be further proceedings wherein he wi}£ conduct his own case. »

A WEDDING GIFT. (Received This Dav at 8 a m.) LONDON, Jan. 23 Subscriptions are being raised throughout the Navy limited to one shilling each for a wedding gift to Princess Mary. SOCIALIST CONFERENCE. (Received This Dav .at 8 a.m.) BRUSSELS, Jan. 23. An International Socialist Conference has been summoned for the sth of February at Paris, if permitted, otherwise it will be held at Frankfort, to discuss reparations, disarmament, and reconstruction of Europe, prior to the Genoa Conference. British and Belgian labourites, and French, Italian, and German Socialists and Communists will be represented.

A GENEROUS OFFER. (Received This Day at 8.30 a.m.) OTTAWA, Jan. 24. Lord Atholstan, proprietor of . the Montreal “Star,” has offered a reward of one hundred thousand dollars to the graduate or student of any recognised University, who within five years is the first to discover medicinal treatment for the effective cure of cancer. The decision will be made by Royal College of Physicians, London. The offer may be renewed after the lapse of the five year period. MT EVEREST. “ THE TIMES ” SERVICE. (Received This Day at 9.5 a.m.) LONDON, Jan. 24. The Mount Everest party is sailing at the end of February, and will reach the foot of Everest in May. The climbing party number four, who willmake a dash- for the summit, taking advantage of the previously prepared advance camps. *

NEAR EAST SETTLEMENT. (Received This Day at 9.40 a.m.) CONSTANTINOPLE, Jan. 24 The Franco-British. pourparlers in reference to the Near East have sO far progressed that Lord Curzon has submitted a note stating the British conditions. It is understood the evacuation of Smyrna is admitted, with adequate guarantees for Christian minorities including the appointment of a Christian Governor-General, and modification of the Thracian frontier, which it is suggested shall follow a line slightly south of Midia on the Black Sea via Chorlu, ending at Rodosto. Fra neo-Turkish circles, however, consider the frontier strategically pip sound,

CABLE NEWS.