BRITISH & FOREIGN ITEMS

Hokitika Guardian, 15 April 1922, Page 4

BRITISH & FOREIGN ITEMS

iUSTIIALIAN AND N. 7.. CABLE ASSOCIATION. REPLY TO GERMANY. (Received This Rev at 8 a.m.) PARIS, April 13. The Repatriation Commission lias replied to the Gorman Chancellor’s com-, munieation. It declares the reply of the German Government in refusing to impose taxation or pay reparations other than by way of foreign loan is tantamount to a refusal to make any serious effort to provide foreign currencies for reparations as regards the refusal to act. The fiscal control Commission sees nothing in its letter of March 21st to justify the disquietude on the part of the German Government. If the attitude adopted in the Chancellor’s note is persisted in further discussion will he impossible If by Ma y 31st the reforms demanded are not carried out the necessary sanctions will be considered.

CONFERENCE REPORTS. 'Received This Day at 8 a.m.) GENOV, April 13.

The first Commission does not meet until Saturday, at the request of the Russians who have not '-ompleted their study of the experts report. Russians submitted voluminous documents dealing with currency and another on cost of armies. The chairman reminded them that while they were entitled to refer to the effect of armies on budgets, they must not deal with disarmament. Rakowsky presented highly optimistic views to the financial sub-committee on the Soviets financial position, which created surprise in face of the reports of the Soviet fantastic circidnf ion of paper money. TTo declared Russia, since 1920 had reduced the army from five millions to a million. Rakonsky is credited with suggesting the gold concentrated in some c ’intries during the war should lie dis trihuted uniformly amongst all countries.

Rumours are current that Germany intends raising the reparations questions.

competent authority declares the .statement is entirely without Inundation. likewise a. statement that Moil Unyd George at to-morrow’s meeting of the first sub-committee contemplates moving for a miltinry holiday. The British view is to allow the committee to follow along the Cannes line and if a proposition that the nations should guarantee not to attack each other for a given period is .agreed to. it will he unnecessary to specify a military holiday. Bartliou addressing Anglo-American .Journalists disclaimed any desire to block the Conference, lie had no love for Germany Imt no malice if the Germans were present at the t nnlVrciice v:! h a, whole smiled desire to • ad\a.nce

economic reconstruction of Europe. He admitted he disliked Tehitehorin’s initial speech, but since meeting him mi the sub-committee he had conceived, ,\ better impression. France had no desire to work adversely to Imr Allies. Relations between England and I'ranee may be liked to husband and wife, who suspected each other’s fidelity. He desired lo impress upon England and America that France would do her umost to help the conference to achieve success.

AN EXPLOSION. Received This Day at 8 tn.) X ld WNORK, April 13. At ( liarh'ston, South Caroline, a .mipmom of euu.lcmurd war munitions explode I at the port t; iminals, killing four peisons ami d unoli.-hing the Leild ing. ihe Ida-t was fell nine miles: Si PER! \X WAR. TOKIO, April J 3. \ I divos'oek ptc suite Japan- ■" poops have driven, die Chita '' t'lut t i'ccs iroai the neutral zone, between I be: i ;.ml J ' e VI di, .

ALLIED EXPERTS REPORT. I'iM'J ! ;!... Lv\ ; lt , ,s it.|,|.) LONDON, .'•)>, ij r; Alii, cl experts r|. • I I.sing i, ; <»!>'!. i:i„; 1: ii.lt* with Russia which 1.-. i ■ been considered ;u Genua, s ipul.ii.’.i: ‘ s I ■ 1 - I ii>l aec. jji j( 11 ihe previous Russian Government liabilities to the Allies; also liahilitics for losses suffered by foreigners owing to the Sovo-ts predecessors neglect, tlie i’’ (iiml ■ ! miv• to !•(• determined by iie f’iissiiiu debt commis-don, which v. di establish mixed arbitral tribunals. • econdly, ell Hussions pre-\v:ir debts to : r: U;n powers ti he recorded os eomi;l:‘eiy discharged by pavilion; of the : unis named in the schedule to be agreed upon. Thirdly, the .Hussion debt commission " ill issue b nids to oil arbitral awarders holders of existing Hussion bonds, and persons eu if led to interest and repayment . ; capital. Provision is also made for pood administration of justice in Russia for foreigners. freedom of entry and egress to and from Russia, freedom of foreigners to use postal, telegraph and wireless communications; freedom ol foreigners to restart their enrnuien iol indii'ti'i;7 undertakings. The Soviet must, facilitate the acquisition abroad of materials necessary .for tlie restoration ol industry and transport and undertake to retrain from imposing taxation on foreigners on a scale calculated to prevent reasonable return from invested capital. THE GAPE REVOLT CAPETOWN, April 13. Tn the Assembly the Minister of i Alines speaking on the Indemnity Bill, accused Air Hertzog of secretly meeting the strikers at AVitbnuk. adding it was freely stated amongst the strik-; ers that Hertzog offered his assistance j from the Free State. j Hertzog characterised the statement > as the grossest lie ever uttered. j The Minister of Defence stated nc- j cording to the latest information the | killed and died of wounds on the Rand ; other than Government forces totalled | 138, and wounded 287. Approximately four thousand persons were captured of . whom 1,200 are detained. In addition to 1,130 firearms captured in the fighting 1,800 firearms were handed to the police from private houses. TOTUO, April 14. A Vladivostok communique reports the Japanese cleared Chi tans from the railway zone and are steadily pushing bock their left, which is now more than 150 miles from Vladivostok.