BRITISH AND FOREIGN ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 24 May 1922, Page 3

BRITISH AND FOREIGN ITEMS.

AUSTRALIA?! AND N.Z. CAULK ASSOCIATION BRITISH CABINET. LONDON, May 22. Mr Churchill, in the House ol Commons, stated the British Oovornment were not yet able to lorm any final conclusion in regard to the Irish agreement between -Mr l)e \ alera and Mr Collins. That agreement, he said, would appear to raise most serious issues, both as to the character and validity of the Irish elections to he held, and the treaty itself. The Government therefore invited the signatories to the Irish Treaty to come to London.

IN THE COMMONS. LONDON, May 22,

Mr Chamberlain, in the House of Commons announced that a Blue Book dealing with the Genoa Conference will be issued to-morrow by the Foreign Office, and a vote will be taken on Thursday so as to allow lor a discussion on the conference. Mr Worthington Evans opens the debate. The lit. Hon. Mr Asquith, in the House of Commons, asked whether Mr Lloyd George was not going to give Honse a full and an authoritative account of the Genoa Conference, instead of Mr Worthington Evans.

Mr Chamberlain said that the Prime Minister on this occasion wished to hear what his critics had to say before he made his speech.

JAPAN’S POLICY

I.OXDON, Afiiy 22. In the House of Commons, Mr Chamberlain, in replying to a question referred to’ a statement reported to have l>een made by M. Tcbitcherin (Russian Foreign Minister) at Genoa, warning Japan that any attack by the latter on the Far Eastern Russian Republic would automatically result in war with Russia. Mr Chamberlain declared that the British Government would not make friendly representations to Japan to evacuate the Russian territory, without delay, as the British C abinet relied on fulfilment by the Japanese Government of its undertakings. IRISH OLYMPIC GAMES. LONDON, May 22. The Irish Olympic Games are approaching. They are to be for Irishmen only, and the interim reports slum that .strong teams are expected. The promoters announce that Australia and New Zealand are among Die countries that are sending strong contingents, and they state all the exiles will receive a hearty welcome. 700 YEARS OLD. ROME, May 22. The University of Padua has just celebrated the 700th anniversary of its establishment. TRADE AND POLITICS. lON DON. May 22. Representatives of Australia. South Africa, Canada, and New Zealand, including Mr A. M. Myers, ex-Minister are making a three days’ tour of Birmingham and Nottingham under the auspices of the Empire Parliamentary Association. On arrival at Birmingham, they were welcomed by the Chamber of Commerce, and spent a day inspecting important factories, including Avery’s, Lucas's’ the Midland AXngon Company and the B.S.A. Factory. Lqt- ’ er they were entertained at luncheon by the Chamber of Commerce, at which Mr Nevill Chamberlain. M.P.. presided. Toasting the Dominions he said. Birmingham citizens of all political * opinions would he glad when Imperial preference reached the Statute Book. Britain’s and the Dominions’ needs were mutual and complimentary. BRITISH EMIGRATION.

T ONDON. May 22. The House of Commons read for the third time file Empire Settlement Bill, for emigration. Colonel Amery’s resisted Colonel AVedgewood’s Labour amendment to restrict the scheme to the operation of the Dominion Governments, so that private emigration organisations should be excluded. Ihe amendment was then withdrawn.

PRINCE AT PENANG. (Received this day at 8.30 a.m.) PENA KG, May 23. The Prince of Wales visit to Penang was the last of the tour for which a programme was arranged. The Renown anchored eighteen miles off the port and the Prince proceeded by tug. nearly a three hour journey among wooded islands to the harbour. He drove through the streets lined with mem- ' hers of European, Chinese and Malay communities to Government- house. He met representative men at lunch at Penang Club and motored sight seeing in the afternoon. He returned to the Renown at night,, which then sailed for Colombo. AMERICAN POLITICS. (Received this day at 9.50 a.m.) WASHINGTON, May 23. Mr Harding’s advisers suggested an international conference of bankers l>e called at Washington to devise means for solving Europe’s economic problems. It is understood the President is favourably inclined. An intimation was conveyed to Senators, that the Administration desires the Senate not to interfere in the question of recognition of Russin, consequently Mr Borah’s resolution favouring recognition of t’-e Soviet will be either rejected or blocked,. SOUTH AFRICAN BUDGET. (Received this day at 9.50 a.m.) CAPETOWN, May 22. In the Assembly during the Budget debate, Mr Smuts said but for the strike revolution, the finances would practically have balanced, but the hrigiit spot in the storm was that it was now possible to reorganise the mining industry on a sound basis. He hop’ed it would now enter a new area of development. Referring to the coal industry, Mr Smuts said unless new outlets for export were provided in the Indian Ocean the industry would be throttled. Negotiations were proceedjHfng with the Portuguese delegation to such outlets. If they were successful he hoped the coal industry would become one of the greatest in South Africa. It ought ultimately to take the place of the precious metals. The

gold industry should be working at full strength by September. The only trouble remaining would he to provide for tlie unskilled and semi-skilled linages on to the industry, The time had arrived when he could safely proceed with a programme of railway construction, and bv this means and irrigation and afforestation works provide the needs for all unemployed on the Rand. Dealing with the industrial policy, Mr Smuts said the old Shibboleths of free trade and protection no longer possessed any vitality. The problem which the country had to face was how to breach the tradition from old South to the n?w. It tyns clear the

country could not continue to subsist on mining and agriculture. Mr Smuts continued that the question was in what way could protection

oc given legitimate industries. The tariff needed revision both from revenue and protective points of view. An investigation would be made by the Board ofi Trade into the proposals. Tariff revision would bo brought forward n r session. ,ie foreshadowed a new policy of bounties for iron and steol prod ed in South Africa and a scheme of r tie ra.sing. Industry was sufferi> - from internal chaos. The export trade was mined. A way out of the existing disorganisation must lie found, whereby the interests of farmers and consumers could be safeguarded. He was not in favour of nationalisation but would not hesitate to adopt a system of State cold storage, if no other solution could be found.

AN INDIAN CHAMPION. (Received this day at 9.50 a,in.) LONDON, Ma y 23rd

Valentine Chhol speaking at the East Indian Association, described Snstri as probably one of the most remarkable j Hindus, certainly one of the most re- j spected. Sastri at London, Geneva, j

and Washington Conferences displayed j a dignity of bearing and mastery of the English language and an eloquence | and elevation of thought which com- I billed with his modesty and self-re- | straint showed what India at its best j was producing.

A SI'DDKN JIKATH. j (Received this day at 9.50 a.m.) j LONDON, May 23.

After entertaining the Australian j Bowlers, Mr E. S. Humby (Mayor of j Salisbury) playing with other Councillors a friendly game, collapsed and died in live minutes.

ENGLISH WEATHER. LONDON. Mn v

Tile temperature in London and the. South of England has reached 82 in the shade. This is the hottest for May fmyears. At the same time Lincolnshire and Yorkshire have been visited by remarkable thunder and hail storms which have flooded many districts. There have been several deaths from lightning. A NECESSARY BILL. (Received this day at 10.15 a.m.t LONDON. May 21. Hon Ley is drafting a Bill aiming at the control of the Communist Sunday Schools. The Minister states the Bill is on, the same lines ns introduced in the Commons. He lidded the people had tolerated the machinery for disloyalty revolution in their midst long enough.