BRITISH AND FOREIGN ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 5 July 1922, Page 2

BRITISH AND FOREIGN ITEMS.

AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION. U S. RAILWAY STRIKE. NEW YORK, July 3. The Labour Board has declared all striking Railway workshops workers to he “outlaws”, and. they cannot return to their positions. Mr Saifl Gdmperi* is Jirotesuilg against this action. He calls it Bolshevism, and an atteiflpt to dissolve the unions. He asks whether the Labour Board can be dissolved. Th e Railroad executives’ organisation boasted to-da.v it will meet the Maintenance Way Workers’ Union, 400,000 of whom voted for the strike, and the train schedules are affected. WASHINGTON, July 3.

The U.S.A. Coal Conference, which sat on Saturday, hag adjourned for a full week, without reaching any de* eisiorii , ,

It is considered probable that arbitration by the Government Commission will be forced if the Conference is finally fruitless. JAPAN’S NEW NAVY. TOKIO, July 4. The Japanese Admiralty has issued a statement denying the recent report (which probably was based on a comparison of the naval programme as cabled on June 27th) that Japan is evading the Washington Naval Treaty by increasing the construction of her auxiliary vessels. Japan j it is stated, intends to build only four cruisers of 10,000 tolls each; four of 7000 each; 24 first class destroyers of ati aggregate tonnage of 33,000; and 24 submarines of an aggregate tonnage of 28,166 tons: This represents a reduction of 13,035 gross tonnage on Japan’s orjgirU al 1921 programme. Twelve thoiisaild naval officers will be dropped. It also is announced that Port Arthur (iti China) will be abandoned as ft JaJlirtßsß naval port.

-MAX HARDEN ATTACKED. TARIS, July 4

Advices front Berlin state that two men clubbed into insensibility Maxi*. nuliah Harden, the German Liberal journalist. One arrest has been made r

Mexican oiL, WASHINGTON, July 3.

The U.S.A. State Department has seiit a vigorous protest td the Mexican Government asking for the punishment of the murderers of Mrs Chefiey, wife of the American citizen employed by an Oil Company, whom some bandits killed on June 29.

DISARMAMENT: PARIS, July 4. AL Viviani, opening tile Mixed Ar- ' mameiit Commission of the League of Nations, outlined what he termed the overwhelming difficulties confronting peacemakers. The first, he said, was Russia, .with a possible army of two mSlions; secondly, there was Germany whose universities were more menacing than barracks and habitual assassinations. Thirdly, the small nations wer struggling in a welter of financial and economic chaos.

The commission will to-day disciiss a draft treaty prepared by Lord Rob: ert Cecil, and providing for mutual protection of nations wlio reduce anna- „x~ ments to an approved level;

UPPER SILESTA. FEARS OF TROUBLE. (Received this day at 8.30 a.m.) BRESLAU, July 4. Frontier fighting continues in Upper Silesia between Germans* and Poles. Fighting at Gleiwitz’ between Germans aud French is proceeding intermittently, despite the introduction of a special courtmartial. The Allied troops left Upper Silesia yesterday when the .Go-' vernment changed hands. A German national defence force enters Gleiwitz to-day.

PARIS, July 4

According to reports from Upper Silesia, a critical situation is developing over the part of Silesia handed over to Germany. German police are overpowered and cannot cope with the terrorism of the. so-catled self protection oarganisations. The police placed itself under control of General Leroud, hut ther.e are fear® of what will happen when the Frenc'y *roopS lire with l dr&wiii The French ittubaksadoi- at Berlin threatened reprisals should the French troops he attacked.

THE LABOR .VIEW. (Received this day at 9.50 a.m.)

LONDON, July 4. The Railway Conference carried a resolution that while unemployment is one of the inherent evils of capitalism, the present abnormality is due directly to the Versailles Treaty, and urged Government to have it revised. Mr Thomas, - supporting, said a profound mistake was made among the working class in assuming that the substitution of a Labour Government would automatically cure unemployment, but unemployment was pot a local, or even a national question, it was international. The present Government was return I on a cry of “hang the Kaiser, make Germany pay.” Lloyd George now saw this was a mistaken policy and was veering to the other side. AVe could not crush Germany without ourselves having to pay a terrible price. France’s, present policy only encouraged the enemies of the new Germany.

WILSON SHOOTING. LONDON, July 4. Documents found upon Wrigley, clerk, in the Kensington 'Post Office, who ’has been arrested during the inquiries in connection with Wilson’s assassination, indicate a movement was afoot to organise a force to commit violence in England. CABINET CHANGES. LONDON, July 4. There are unconfirmed reports current of Cabinet reconstruction involving Lord Curzon, who is ill, also Lord Balfour, and Mr Baldwin who may succeed the Hon. Mr Shortt, the latter probably going from the Home Ministry on to the Bench. Mr McCurdy's name is mentioned in connection with the Board of Trade. NEW ZEALAND DELEGATION. LONDON', July 4. Sir James Allen, Sir Francis Bell, and Mr Steel Maitland (former joint Parliament Under Secretary of the Foreign Office) will jointly represent New Zealand at the League of Nationas assembly. It is understood Mr Steel Maitland offered hjs services at his own expense nqd Mr Massey accepted.