BRITISH & FOREIGN ITEMS,

Hokitika Guardian, 21 June 1922, Page 3

BRITISH & FOREIGN ITEMS,

AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION. FRENCH PLEASURE. (Received this day at 10.15 a.m.) PARIS, June 20. The newspapers are delighted at the renewal of relations between M. Poincaire and Hon. Lloyd George, after Genoa’s interruption.

Nt >X-U USSI AN COMMISSION. (Received this day at 10.15 a.m.) HAGUE, June 20. The Non-Russian Commission lias been appointed. It consists of—Britain (Graeme. Uilson and Young), France (Benoist and Leydoux). Belgium (Cottier and Glaopiu), Japan (Sato and Sekn.a), Italy (Aveggana aiul Giniiiiini). Tlie names, have been transmitted to Moscow. The Chairmanship of the Commission is not decided.

A SEA LORD'S WARNING. (Received this day at 11.30 a.m.) . CAPETOWN, June 20. The ‘‘Argus” publishes a cabled summary of all exclusive article by the naval expert, Air Hurd, on the naval situation. Hurd went to the fountain head for information and quotes the following statement by one of the Sea lands, who won a great reputation during the war—“lf things go on a-s at present, it looks as though we shall soon have little or no Navy loft, though the British Empire is larger than ever, and far more vulnerable.”

MARKING TIME. (Received this day at 12.25 p.m.) LONDON. June 20

In the Commons, Hon. TV. Churchill announced the postponement of the Irish statement, on the ground that a discussion of Irish affairs at the present time might he prejudicial to the public interest, as so many uncertain factors existed.

QUEST RETURNS HOME. 'Received this day at 12.25 p.m.) CAPETOWN. June 20. Speaking at the Mayoral reception in his honour. Commander Wild said it was practically certain tlie Quest would return to England. The expedition was a business proposition arranged lietueen Sir E. Sliaoklcton and Mr Rowott. It was now necessary to wind up tlie affairs. The matters were in the hands of the Chancery Court which wanted the ship hack, hut Mr Tlowett was very keen on the expedition. Tt was possible arrangements might be made for another expedition.

VALUABLE FIRST EDITIONS. LONDON, June 20.

The first edition of the “Pilgrim's Progress” has lieen sold by Satheby’s for £2.010 sterling. A first folio *f Shakespeare fetched L'5.50 sterling.

RETRENCH ED NAVAL' OFFICERS (Received this day at 12.25 p.m.) LONDON. June 20. Hon. iAm cry promised that the

claims of retrenched naval' officers would he considered in schemes Unassisted passages. Other help would lie given under the Empire Settlement Act, under which it is hoped satisfactory arrangements would soon lie reached with certain Oversea Governments.

DISARM AM ENT UII.L. I.ON DON, June 19

The text has been issued of a bill introduced by Lord Lee in the House of Lords, providing lor the carrying out of the Washington Conference treaties, for the limitation of naval armaments and protection of non-combatants ai sea, during «ar time. The Bill restricts the building cf warships except by license from the Admiralty and empowers the Admiralty to search any ship in course of building or altering, arming or equipping, and to sev'.c the ship where there are reasonable grounds for believing that the Act has been contravened. Tlie penalty for contravention is imprisonment no! excelling two years, with or without hard labour, and a fine not exceeding Cl (Ml sterling or both, and forfeiture of the ship. Anyone violating the rules of wurlare against commerce, is liable Lo punishment, simil :rly r.s for piracy. 1V..visions eiver the whole Kinpire excep'. tb > nonunion of hrlia and Irish t ree State, when constituted.

LABOUR DISSENSIONS. (Received tliis day nt 8.30 a.m.) , UINDO.N. Juno -JO. i Tile secolltl flltei national lisis coll-1 eluded. It. declared tin; Third Com-i numist International had shown Imd faith in regard to the trial of Social Revolutionaries in .Moscow and Georgia, and therefore decided if could not take further part in attempts to come Lo an agreement with the Third Interna-, tionnl. : Weis, a German delegate, said an overwhelming majority in Germany favoured entering the League of Nations on terms consonant with the dignity of the German nation. t ! ADMIRAL DMAD. (Received this day at 9.50 a.m.) LONDON', June 20. 1 Obituary.— Admiral Beaumont. INDIAN LOAN. LONDON, June 20. The underwriters receive sixty-three per cent, of the Indian loan. BUTTER RISES. A FURTHER ADVANCE. (Received this day at 8.30 a.m.) LONDON. June 20. Butter continues to advance. New Zealand choicest 21 ds to 2165.; Australian 208 s to 210 s. PAPAL FINANCE. (Received this day at 9.50 a.m.) ROME, June 19. It is no secret that the Vatican finances are not in a. prosperous condition. Tt was found when Pope Benedict died, that only a million lire were in the Vatican safe. Benedict was generous to the utmost degree, and gave over forty million lire to Russian and Austrian poor. The new Pope is rigidlv economising.