CABLE NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 10 August 1922, Page 1

CABLE NEWS.

BRITISH & FOREIGN ITEMS

AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION

rOINOAIRE IN DANGER. LONDON August 8. Elaborate precautions wero taken to guard M. Poincaire, French Premier, during his stay at Claridges Hotel, which has never before held such an army of political police and detective officers The time of M. Poincaire’s departure from tho hotel was never revealed even to his confidential entourage. Whenever he descends the stairs, M. Poincaire is always guarded and surrounded by police officers, and ho departs in one of several identical motor-cars, all of which ignore the speed limits. police daily scour the Soho Anarchist and Communist haunts, searching for any hint of conspiracy against M. Poincaire. FRENCH FOILED. PARIS, August 8. Owing to red tape, the Strasburg banks were only notified on Monday regarding the decision to sequestrate German deposits. Tlie wily Germans therefore were able to withdraw their deposits, and send them to Switzerland. Some walked calmly into the hanks and were able to close accounts without challenge on Monday morning.

BRITISH FREE TRADERS. LONDON, August 9. Earl Beauchamp, on behalf of the Free Trade Union, lias written Lord Balfour, approving of his war debts note, and urging the Government to demand as an indispensibTe concfition to the payment of interest on tho American debt that tbo United States grant the free entry of British goods to the value of the annual interest. The Union also recommends that a cancellation of the Allies debts to Britain should bo conditional upon the Allies reducing their tariffs against British goods.

POWERS CRITICAL AT GENEVA. LONDON. August 9. Sir J Cook and Sir J. Allen returned from Geneva last night. They are satisfied with the results of the mandatory conference because it gave them an opportunity of criticising what They term misleading portions of the Permanent Mandates Commission’s reports. This Commission comprises the representatives of the British Empire, Belgium, Holland, Italy, Spain, Portugal, France and Japan, who have been autliurised to report to tho League of Nations Council in September concerning tho earring out of tho permanent mandates by Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa, in New Guinea, Nauru, Samoa and Africa. Tho first two days of the conference they state, were devoted to prolonged interrogations of Sir J. Cook and Sir J. Allen, and Mr Walton (Africa) in reference to the administration of the mandates.

The Commissioners thereupon prepared a report, and they submitted it to a pub'.c session on Monday. The Dominions’ representatives state they did not. receive copies of this report until half an hour before the session opened. They were surprised to learn that tho report contained serious innuendos regarding Nauru Island and dangers to its people under the mandate as already cabled. Sir J. C'ook and Sir .T. Allen vigorously controvented these suggestions. The conference, not being empowered to .revise, amend or reject the report, it now goes forward to the League of Nations Council in thp form in which it was submitted to the conference at Genoa The report did not contain serious criticism of either New Guinea or Samoa, and was rather favourable in its reference to New Guinea.

POPE’S PLEA FOR PEACE. ROME, August 8. Tho Pope lias issued an Apostolic letter to the Italian Archbishops deploring the world-wide post-war spirit of turbulence, from which Italy, he says, suffers more than any nation, The Pope urges that the people should bo induced to return to their old obedience to the laws. The letter is interesting owing to its reference to the people respecting the laws of (lie Italian State.

disaster feared. LONDON, Aug !). Crave fears are entertained regarding the fate of the British .steamer Quito, which was reported to he sinking fast on Monday night, when 150 miles off the Tyne, after striking an obstruction. Further efforts to establish wireless coimnunicntion with the vessel failed. The Quito carried a crew of 28. DELUGE IN ENGLAND. LONDON, Aug. 8. Rains have fallen in the Midlands and in the south of England of an unprecedented volume since 1866. The crops in many districts are badly damaged, Imt the deluge has ended a water shortage from which England has been suffering for the past year. CHESS. LONDON. Aug 9. At the chess championships Tartakover defeated Watson (Australia) in the seventh round. Oliekim and Vidomar are leading with six points each. Rubinstein and Onpablancn have SV, but tire latter lias a game not yet finished.