BRITISH AND FOREIGN ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 10 April 1922, Page 1

BRITISH AND FOREIGN ITEMS.

[by TELEGRAPH —PER PRESS ASSOCIATION]

CANADIAN DEFENCE FORCES. OTTAWA, April 8. The Canadian Government has introduced a Bill for the consolidating of the control’of the military, naval, air, mounted police forces under a single Department of Defence, following on the Australian plan. PRINCE OF WALES. LONDON, April 8. The “Philadelphia Public Ledger’s” Hong-Kong correspondent states The Prince of Wales was accorded an enthusiastic reception on arrival here. He rode in a gilt Sedan chair, carried ]) v eight Chinese. All classes turned out in vast numbers. The university conferred a degree on the Prince. During the ceremony it was announced that the Rockfeller Foundation, of U.S.A., has offered $500,000 as an endowment for a Chair of Medicine and Surgery at the Hong Kong University.

SPEECH BY CHURCHILL

LONDON. April 7

Mi- Winston Churchill, speaking at Dundee, said that the keynote of British foreign policy was to produce a good understanding between France and Germany and at the same time she would he assuring France that she would not be left unaided in the event of jany unprovoked German aggression.

The situation in Ireland, he said, was the gravest, and possibly it would liecome even worse before it improved. Possibly some classes of Irishmen would kill each other over the treaty. He went on:—“If Irishmen choose to out off their noses to spite their faces, we cannot prevent them, and we will not try. They are responsible—not we. Nothing in the nature of a Republic in Ireland will be accepted in Britain. T believe the Irish nation is now in -a, position where it ought to look forward and not brood over the past.”

’VARSITY RELAY RACE. LONDON, April 8

Cambridge University won the four miles international relay ’varsity race, by 75 yards, from Pennsylvania. Oxford was 12 yards behind third. Time 18min. 7 2-5' secs. This is a new British record..

HOOLEY’S COTTON FRAUD

LONDON, April 8.

After a trial lasting for 26 days, the Hooley cotton fraud case has concluded. The jury found Fletcher end Breakspear not guilty. The others were found guilty. Hooley was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment in the General Division. McDonald was bound over. Mall is got 10 months, and Demerv one year, both in the Second Division.

Hooley is appealing. The jury found No van as, charged with customs frauds, not guilty, and he was discharged. Coffin was found guilty of fraud, but not guilty of conspiracy. He was sentenced to 18 months in the Second Division.

AUSTRIA N DEI I ON.STR ATION

VIENNA, April 7

The Austrian aristocracy and the dignitories and generals under the former regime, crowded to the Cathedral, when a Requiem Mass for the late Emperor Karl was celebrated.

Afterwards thousands of Monarchists paraded the city street, shouting “Down with the Jewish Republic!” On the occasion of the memorial functions for the ex-Emperor, the Austrian President refused to order any flags to he lowered on the public buildings. This was in view of Deputies expressing strong oppqsition to any mourning. Mounted police cleared the streets. PARIS, April 8. Following on the deatli of ex-Emperor Karl, the Conference of Ambassadors has decided ex-Emperor Zita shall be no longer forced to reside outside Madiera. It has also been decided to approach the controllers of estates regarding a suitable income for ex-Em-peror Karl’s family.

LOCKED-OUT ENG 1 NEEIIS

LONDON, April 8

The locked-out engineers are not entitled to any unemployment insurance doles. They are only entitled to poor law relief.

LORD HAIG’S VIEW

LONDON, April 8. Lord Haig, in accepting the Freedom of the City of Leicester, referred to “the cutting down of the nation’s insurance against foreign aggression.” He declared: “It would be a shortsighted policy to secure immediate economy at the price of national security, when seeds of war are scattered throughout Europe.” Me pleaded for a strong territorial force.

SHACKLETON’S DEATH

LONDON, April 6

The “Daily Mail” pulishes a private letter, received in London, disclosing that the late Sir E. Shackleton suffered a severe attack of seizure while the Quest was being repaired at Rio, but lie recovered sufficiently to depart tor South Georgia on December 19. He also- appeared worried as to the condition of the Quest.

HIS LIFE’S AMBITION. LONDON, April 8. Colonel William McLean, who ib now a Board of Education pensioner, and was formerly an educationalist of note is fulfilling his lifelong ambition by joining the Church. He will Shortly be ordained to become curate of Christ Church, Fulham.

SEANCES FOR SHELL-SHOCKED SOLDIERS.

END IN WILD PANDEMONIUM.

LONDON, April 8,

M. Cone, the auto-suggestion authority, of Nancy is visiting London, and is giving a remarkable series of seances, in which, apparently, a number of cures are successful.

Lady Beatity, who herself has benefited! by auto-suggestion, has induced M. Con e to visit the Tooting Neurological Hospjftal, where shellshocked soldiers are being treated. One hun_ dded of the patients attended a demonstration. After half an hour one soldier, suffering from bodily tremors came up to the platform. M. Owe made passes and he suggested that the tremor were unreasonable. Suddenly the patient, with a piercing shriek, and a contorted face, writhed upon the floor. The effect of his frenzy upon the rest of the ex-soldiers, was horrible. Man after man shrieked and flung himself on the floor in an uncontrollable hysteria. The doctors and the sisters were unable to calm thep». Lady Beatty ran out of the hall ip distress. M. Cone abruptly closed the demonstration.

STRANGE MURDER TRIAL. PARIS, April 8. A strange murder trial is reported at .Tuzes in the Department of Hante. Garonne. M. Reynes, who was Mayor of Juzes, was recently defeated at the election by M. Poux. Thereupon Madam Reynes, in a fit of wounded pride, lay in wait for her husband’s successor and shot him dead. Madame Reynes was sentenced to only one year’s imprisonment.

WAR ON WHISKY

LONDON, April 7

A party of Sinn Feiners have destroyed 500,000 gallons of whisky. This was done ..during a raid on the Customs House. The damage is estimated at several millions.

BIG ODDSLONDON, April 9. It, is pointed out the chances are a million to pne against two aeroplanes on the London-Paris route meeting in exactly the same line at exactly tthe .same altitude. Such an acc-idept never happened before and probably will never happen again in this generation.

EMIGRATION. (Received This Day at 8 a «n.) LONDON, April 9. Harold Cox in an article in the “Sunday Times” asserts inter-Imperiaj emigration cannot solve over-popula-tion iii England, where population is increasing "by thousands daily* contends that birth control is the only solution. Unfortunately the State by a lavish system of doleß is encouraging the least desirable classes to multiply indefinitely. The article points out the dominions demand is for agricultural workers, these being very people England is least willing to part with. Also Australia and Canada are increasing the lo c al output of manufactured goods and are buying more largely from 'United States, instead of restricting purchases to Britain. These considerations, are put forward not with any idea of discouraging any voluntary scheme of emigration but in the hope of destroying the illusion that there is much to be expected from a scheme of State aided emigration now loudly adbocated. The colonies have grown into great States strong enough to be self dependent. They have no right to beg us to tax ourselves in order to supply them with our best people. Doles to emigrants which Mr Amery advocates will not effectively diminish the doles to unemployed, which Mr Amery rißghtly denounces. They only add a burden to the British taxpayer.

COMMERCIAL, April 10. LONDON, April 8,

Cargoes are dull owing to heavy world’s shipment and bearish interpretation of Washington. Reports afloat and loading 55b ; parcels afloat 545.

PRINCESS HOME. LONDON, (April 9Princess Mary and Viscount Lascelles have returned to London and are residing at Chesterfield House. A BAD OUTLOOK. Received This Day at 9.40 a.m.) CAPETOWN, April 8. At the annual meeting of the Chamber of Commerce at Johannesburg, the President referred to the serious effect of the strike revolution on industrial and economic conditions. Insolvencies had multiplied, and ruination was facing a considerable portion of the population. Unemployment was rampant and there was every prospect of increased taxation. Probably more disastrous conditions of things in relative magnitude had never visited the country at one time.

LORD READING’S POSITION

DELHI, April 8

In a speech at Peshawar, Lord Reading announced the Home Government had informed him that there was no question of impropriety, either personal or on behalf of the Indian Government, regarding the telegram which resulted in Hon Montagu’s resignation. Lord Reading stated he realised that the publication might affect the international situation and therefore asked the assent of His Majesty’s Government. His Majesty’s Government declared only was my Government entitled to keep them in England acquainted with Moslem sentiments and impress them as forcibly as we could, hut also my Government acted with constitutional propriety in requesting His Majesty’s Government assent to publication, and through the proper channel of communication, the Secretary of State. This spseob finally dispels all rumours that Lord Reading’s resignation is in"volved.