AMERICAN ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 13 April 1922, Page 3

AMERICAN ITEMS.

IJSI HA 1,1 AN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION ENORMOUS FLOODS IN UNITED

STATES. WASHINGTON, April 11. A telegram from Chicago states that enormous floods have caused many millions of dollars damages throughout seven States. 'Pile areas inundated are the States of Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, and the South-West. There were several days of heavy rainfall. The rivers overflowed. Numerous towns are now several Let under water. Four persons have been drowned. There are severe snow and sleet stprms in the Middle West States. These have demoralised the telegraph and the railways.

U.S.A. CLAIM GERMAN GOLD. WASHINGTON, April 11. Britain has formally notified the United States that she has never questioned the justice or the validity of Ameri. ca’s claim for the expenses of the American Army that helped to occupy the Rhine for the Allies. She adds she would immediately consult France and Belgium to find mentis to satisfy the claim, Mr Hughes (United States Secretary) has replied, expressing gratitude at the British attitude.

CHANGE OF POLICY. | WASHINGTON, April 12. ’ Senator Lodge (Repunlicaii Senate Lender) has informed a Zionist delegation that he had tentatively drafted and would sooli introduce into the Senate a resolution supporting the ideal of a National Jewish Home in Pales-! tine, in line with Sir A. J. Balfour’s declaration. Mr Borah speaking in the Senate alleged that the Republican Administration was not fulfilling a promise to avoid the League of Nations. He affirmed that certain members of the Cabinet, especially Messrs Hughes and Hoover were openly favourable to the j League, and the country was being in- j evitably drawn into it. '

GRAVE CHARGES

AGAINST SEMENOFF

Received This Day at 11.30 a.m.) WASHINGTON, April 12.

General Graves, Commander of tlie American Siberian force, appeared before the Senate Labour Committee. He declared Semenoff, who is under arrest in New York, has been guilty of wholesale murders. Graves submitted the testimony of American officers v. hn had scon train loads of Bolshevik prisoners sent out and return empty. Investigation revealed great common graves where the massacred captives had been buried. Other evidence showed Semenelf’s troops murdered five American soldiers. Lieutenant Colonel Morrow testified that Semenoff’s chief lieutenant executed men by hundreds, cutting them to pieces with sabres. Morrow’s force yielded to appeals by thousands ol farmers who were menaced and plundered indescribably.

ALLIED DEBTS TO U.S.A. Received This Pay at 11.30 a.m.) WASHINGTON, April 12 Britain has informed the State Department that she is ready to begin immediate negotiations lor refunding eleven billion dollars of tlie Allied debt to United States. Assurances have been received that France, Belgium anu Italy will not pay or negotiate. A British commission is expected to arrive in Washington within a moiitli. Meanwhile Messrs Smoot and Burton whom the Senate confirmed as Congressional members of the America Commission are considering going to Europe to study the conditions.