BRITISH & FOREIGN ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 11 October 1922, Page 3

BRITISH & FOREIGN ITEMS.

AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CARLE ASSOCIATION. BRITISH LABOUR’S STAND. LONDON, October 10. The official report has now been published of the recent Trade Union deputation to Mr Lloyd George in opposition to a war in the Near East (as cabled on September 21st). The report shows that Mr Ben Tillett said that he! would admit tiliat owing to the existing unemployment, shine mi'll would join the colours, particularly the young men ;l>ut, he said “the Tradb Union leaders have come to tell the Government the plain God’s truth : We are opposed t"> war and we would organise opposition against any form of war.” Miss Margaret Bondlield said: The impression which the Cabinet’s call to the colours made upon women was one of horror, [t is blasphemy to fall it a holy war.” Mr .T H. Thomas, M.P., described the call to the colonies, not only as unwise, but as humiliating ami d ngerous. If. he said, war were forced upon them. then an active, strong, and determined opposition l>y Labour would make it disastrous from tbe point i f view of the Empire. Labour was rot unmindful of the necessity for keeping the Straits open, but the Government’s support of the Creeks had been a direct cause of the aggravating situation. America, lie said, had no right to run away from its obligations. * Mr Lloyd George, in reply said that if the Government had taken strong measures, it was because it was firmly convinced strong measures were necessary to avert, an international conflict. A policy of drift would make war inevitable. “Wo never gave Greece sixpence.” he said. The Government would welcome the occupation of the Straits by the League of Nation* provided that the League placed an adequate force there to keep the Straits free and neutralised. The League of Nation would have to decide whether foitifications were necessary to guaran-

tee such freedom. HONOURS SCANDAL. LONDON, October 0. The Honours Commission of inquiry lias decided to sit privately. It will issue each day ft press communique for tbe public. UNION COY’S NEW LINER. LONDON, October 9. Mr Archibald Hurd, in the “Daily Telegraph” says the Union Steamship Company’s order (cabled on September 29th) for a new liner for the Vancouver service with Diesel engines, represents the most daring advance over undertaken since motor ships were disc nisei . Such a huge internal combustion ship would, a decade ago, have been regarded as madness. The order speaks "ell for the Union Company’s motor engine makers’ enterprise which will put the motor ship’s advantages i the supreme test. SHIPBUILDING R ETURNS. deceived this day at 8 a.m.j LONDON. Oct 10. Lloyd’s quarterly shipbuilding returns show the merchant tonnage under construction in United Kingdom, was 1 017.0-15 tons .including 419.000 on which work was suspended, making the tonnage actually being constructed 1.198.000 which is 692.000 below the average tonnage under construction during the 12 months immediately before the war. The tonnage actually under construction, abroad i- 820.090 not including Germany and Danzig, whetwe no pet urns, are available, but it is estimated that Germany is constructing 350,000 arid Dunzb’ > 0. AND O. COY. (Received (bis ilav at 11.30 a.in.) LONDON, October 10. The P. and (). Cov’s credit .balance £7,-144,901 and carried forward £lOl,799. The report sates the Egypt’s captain, who had been all bis life in the Company's service with an unblemished record, without an accident, had voluntarily resigned, and had been granted the maximum pension under the Company’s rules. It was expected the Mongolia will he delivered early in the spring, Mooltun in June, and Muloja in August. The Directors are preparing plans for several new mail steamers and will invite tenders ns soon as the time appears favourable. There lias been a slight improvement in outward trade, but it is still very ) oor. The homeward trade- is greatly bound up with the outward. Current rates to a great extent were unremunerntive. The passenger trade was satisfactory and every outward vessel was being fully booked.

GERMAN AIR SHIP. (Received this dav at 10.30 a.m.) LONDON, Oct 10. • Despite the Versailles Treaty’s rest'rictinns. Germany is making important progress in aeronautics. She is building the world’s largest seaplane with a span of 197 feet, capable of (lurrying sixty passengers, with a maximum range of a thousand miles. SOVIET AND BRITAIN. (Received this dav at 10.30 a.m.) LONDON. Oct 10. Leslie Urquhart, in a statement ru-

garding tlie Soviet’s non-ratification cabled on tho 6th., doscribes it as a bitch, not a break-down. Thu agreement lias not been denied ratification of merits as a business contract, but simply and solely because polities have been injected into the matter. but politics will be put into their proper place when the rulers of Russia realised they bad made it for foreign capital to rtf-enter Russia. It would appear that by with-holding ratification,' the Russians thought they saw a chance of inducing Great Britain to recognise, the Soviet’s claim for inclus-

ion in the coming conference re the Straits. ENVER PASHA STILL A M VST HR V t ßeceived this dav at 1.30 p.m.) DELHI, Oct 10. There aro all sorts of conflicting reports as regards the late of Enver Pasha.. Travellers from lladakslian tell circumstantial stories of the arrival in Khanahar of Enver’s servants, bringing his own personal effects, including the coat lie was wearing when he mot his death. The coat is perforated by a bullet. On the other hand, equally creditable, stories state that Enver retreated with the remnants of his defeated forces into the wilds of Ferghana- A third rumour

has it that peace was signed between the insurgents and the Bolsheviks, and that Enver is once more an ally of Russia. IN AFGHANISTAN. DELHI, Oct 10. Reports from Afghanistan state everything is peaceful, and great progress is being made with reforms.