BRITISH & FOREIGN ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 18 December 1922, Page 3

BRITISH & FOREIGN ITEMS.

AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION. WIRELESS IMPERIAL CHAIN. LONDON, Dec. 15. Commenting on the position of the Imperial Wireless project, apropos of the arrival at Capetown of a Marconi Company engineer to erect a station capable Of communicating all over the world, under contract to the Government, (lie “’runes’” Capetown correspondent says s—“ The steps that arc being taken are similar to those ot Australia and Canada. Parliament will be asked to ratify the contract in January. The original policy of the British Government was wholly inconsistent with these contracts. The South African contract arises from a conviction on the part of the Government and the public that the British Post Office scheme is an inefficient one, and liable to intolerable delays. South Africa is eager to participate in the imperial chain scheme providing that it is consistent with the Marconi contract, and does not involve any further disputes or delay regarding the erection of the local stations.

/INC CONCENTRATES. LONDON. Dec. Id. Air Wolmer. replying in the House of Commons to a question whether any attempt had been made to terminate the spelter and /.inc concern rates agreements with the Australian Government, said that no opportunity had arisen for terminating the contracts, but a discussion had taken place, which may result in some modification. COMMERCIAL CONVENTION PARTS. December 17. A Franco-C'atiadian commercial convention has been signed, of indefinite duration, with termination at a hallyear’s notice. France grants Canada i minimum tariff on 123 items and oil other items favourable treatment similar to that granted United States and in case of French colonies with their own tariffs. Canada receiving a favoured nation treatment. Canada grants France and Canadian intermediate tariff and most favoured nation treatment generally.

WOMAN REPRIEVED. LONDON, Dec. 16. Daisy Wright, sentenced to death for throwing her child into the Thames, has been reprieved. PROPOSED C.S. LOAN. (Received this dnv at 8 n.m.) LONDON, Dee. 16. 11l consequence of reports that American bankers, propose raising a })ijr loan on bolnili ot Germany, v. itli the co-operation of the American Government, some importance is attached to the departure of Mr Harvey (American Ambassador) to Washington, after consultation in London with the American Ambassadors at Paris and Merlin. The British Government is without official information regarding Hie American proposal to summon an economic conference of the chief countries of the world. British official altittiubi< cautious, and even sceptical regarding the American reports, in view ol the fact that a loan 1" Germany would |,o hazardous speculation, until Germany stabilises the mark ; also the difficulty of Germany giving adequate guarantees for repayment of the loan, while the Allies under the Versailles Treaty are able to seize German customs ' ami other revenues to enforce payment of the reparations.