BRITISH & FOREIGN ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 28 March 1922, Page 1

BRITISH & FOREIGN ITEMS.

inSTUin'IAN ANt> N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION. LEAGUE OF BOY FARMERS. LONDON, March 26. A correspondent of the “Daily Telegraph” interestingly suggests the formation of a League of bay farmers, on lines of the Boy Scouts as a means of imparting agriculture interest and knowledge in prospective juvenile immigrants to the dominions. Plant, Secretary of Overseas Settlement Committee comnfents that the provision for suitable training is the keynote to the whole problem of Empire settlement. Nearly half a million boys and girls leave British schools yearly, searching for occupation. General Baden Powell commends the scheme. Ihe danger is that unless the interest of bo.vs is really aroused and a taste for farming is formed lie drifts to the city.

SHIPPING SLUMP. LONDON, March 25. There are now over twp million tons of shipping, British and foreign, lying idle in thirty-six principal ports of United Kingdom, of which 1,900,000 tons are British. Altogether two and a quarter million tons of British shipping is unemployed, out of a total of eighteen million tons. The position of American shipping is worse. Five million tons or American State-owned shipping out of a total of twelve and a half million tons is idle, in addition to a large amount privately owned.

near EAST conference. PARIS, March 28. The “Echo d» Paria” says the Freaich: viewpoint prevailed 30 the Near East Conference in respect to a revision of the financial clauses of the Sevres Treaty. It asserts the form of administration of the Ottoman debt was confirmed in his prerogatives. Italy is to he given .a chance to extend Iter material interests in the Near E»st It is likely Gallipoli will be left to the Greeks while th© Asiatics side of the Straits will be neutralised, but removed from Straits Commission, whose authority is limited to the European side Th© Foreign Ministers were inclined to acjept the British thesis in regard lo the Thracian boundaries. Lord Curzon accepted a slight withdrawal of th© Rodosto-Midia Un® towards the west, but refused any further concessions.

A BIG THEFT. NEW YORK, March 27. The murder of a watchman, disclosed the fact that 164 United States Shipping Board vessels anchored in the Hudson river near New York, ow ing to the lack of freights, had hoe 1 raided and the furnishings removed, valued at nearly a million dollars. The operations were conducted during the winter, when the river was frozen over. The loot was carried over the ice. More than five hundred men composed the skeleton crews, who were supposed to be guarding the vessels. Tt is believed these co-operated with the thieves.

OFFICIAL STATEMENT,

BRITISH POLICY PREVAILING

PARIS March 27

The Near East Conference here has made an official statement to the ef. feet that the Armistice proposals offered Greece and Turkey by the Allies are based on a desire, firstly to reestablish Turco-Greek peace, by not imposing any conditions that will permit a resumption, by Turkey of independent nationality, and also permit of her retention of Constantinople; thirdly to assure the Mussalmans of a most equitable regime; and fourthly, to maintain the secular and religious authority of the Sultan. The Conference on the other hand, says it desires to compensate the Greeks for their sacrifices on behalf of the Allied cause during the war time. Tf this operation is successfully curried out, however, Turkey’s sovereignty will be assured over Anatolia. The official report of the Near East Conference ptates:—•“Ph.iis Constantinople and a largo portion of Eastern Tin-ace (in Europe) will remain under the Turkish Sultan’s complete sovereignty. The territory in the neighbourhood of the straits would be demilitarised, whether remaining in the Turkish Empire, or passing to Greek sovereignty. The protection of Armenians will, says the statement, be entrusted to the League ol Nations. Turkey’s financial independence wil"be l»r«ely r«i*W. . , Greece and Tadwy will b® writer! to depute representatives to discuss these proposals within three weeks.

EGYPT’S STRUGGLE. CAIRO, March 25. Three Egyptian plotters (cabled on March 8) were found guilty. The others were released on the ground that there was insufficient evidence to convict them. The sentences will be confirmed before they are published. SAILOR'S SUICIDE. DUNEDIN, March 27. Sydney Dillon, aged 21 a: sailor on board the Corinna, shot himself in the chest, and then in the head with a,n automatic revolver on hoard the boat this afternoon. TTo was removed to the hospital, but died before reaching the hospital. Deceased had been employed on tiie Corinna for one month, and had no relatives here. His home was in Bristol. • At the inquest a verdict of suicide was returned.