BRITISH AND FOREIGN ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 12 June 1922, Page 2

BRITISH AND FOREIGN ITEMS.

AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION; GERMAN LOAN QUESTION. PARIS, June 9. It is reported that Pierpont Morgan j opposes proceeding further with the j German International loan if France • holds tile London schedule of German piiynieiits are inviolable, Morgan regards it as futile to study the reparations problems for Britain; Belgium and Italy, who ill aggregate are only eilI titled to forty per cfent. of the reparai tions. Most df tile, newspapers streHj uously oppose a reduction of the Qe¥? ! man debt, except the “Gaulois” which I declares France is moving in a vicious j circle. The point is whether it would be more advantageous for France to i reduce the debt on await' further opj portunities for settlement of the action. The “Frnncais” believes a reduction is inevitable and it is uselss to grumble.

COST OF OCCUPATION. BERLIN, June 10. The maintenance of the -Allied Armies of Occupation oii the Rhine had cost Germany £250,000,000 sterling up to the eiid of March 1922.GREEKS ATTACK TURNS. CONSTANTINOPLE, June 9. The Greeks, after giving the Turks notice to destroy all munitions, bombarded Samsun, on the Black Sea coast on the expiration of the ultimatum. The bombardment lasted three and a half hours. The fire of the Turk Coast batteries was poor. Izzet Pasha has protested to the Allied Commissioners. , PUSSYFOOT JOHNSON. . LONDON, June 9. “Pussyfoot’ Johiison is due in England on July Ist. He then goes to New Zealand on July 21st in the interests of his World-in-I.eague-A gaiustAleoholism.

DISTINCTION BETWEEN MURDERERS. LONDON, June 10. The newspapers angrily comment on tlie reprieve of Reginald True (for the murder of Miss Gertrude Gates). The papers point out the lad Jacoby was hanged, though the' jury recommended him to mercy, after the murder of Lady White.

There are letters now pouring into the newspaper protesting that Jacoby was only a poor friendless lad, while True is the son gf a rich, titled, and influential mother, whose name has not been disclosed. True, it is complained, becomes the guest of the nation at Broadmoor, where he will be allowed to v y play cricket and billards, and write letters. It is also pointed out that no money has been spared on True’s defence, and the question of his sanity, according to the legal definition of sanity, was fully argued at his trial. . The “Daily Express”' states Rt Hon M r Sliortt (Home Minister) is guilty of an error of judgment in reprieving True. This error renders him unfit to he Home Secretary. The pstper adds:—“Crimes of violence are increasing to a terrifying extent, and society is entitled to be safeguarded.” The “Daily Chronicle” defends Rt Hon Mr Shortt. It suggests that True’s insanity has developed since the death sentence was passed on him. The paper declares that Mr Shortt lias i had no other alternative than to appoint a committee of medical experts to examine True. They inquired, not ' whether True was legally insane when -vu he committed tlie crime, but whether he is now medically insane. SEMENOFF GOING BACK. OTTAWA, June 10. Semenoff has arrived at Toronto, on route for Vancouver, where be intends to sail and. rejoin the remainder of his army who are now said to be in North China. He said his prosecution at New York was due to political and commercial animosity,