BRITISH & FOREIGN ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 12 February 1923, Page 3

BRITISH & FOREIGN ITEMS .

AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION. TV I IK AT -MAKKKT. j LONDON Feb. 10. I Wheal cargoes are firmly held, ami f |Uiot and unchanged; parcels arc firm . and threepence dearer. |

AXG'RY EX-SOLDIERS. ! LONDON, Feb 10. I Recent dismissal of ex-service men :is temporary clerks in the civil service, and notably from the .Minister of Labour, has led to many demonstrations of protest at a remarkable meeting of ox-service men last night. All the ex-service men agreed to return their war medals, to the Premier, including their Victoria Crosses. D.S.O.’s and .M.C.’s. i FOREIGN POLICY. LONDON, Fch 10. i The Independent Labour Party lias issued a manifesto, setting out its plans for replacement ol the inaction adopted hy the Oovernmeut, d he mani-i festo denounces the I' lunch occupation , of the Ruhr as a breach of intcrnatimi- j al law. [t advocates muling the Allied occiipaion of the Rhineland; the waning of all claims for reparations; the cancellation ol all. or ol part of the Allied debt ; tlm recognition of the Russian Government: the .summoning of a wurld-ronicremv to co-operate with the League ol Nations to reform the Versailles Treaty; and u initiati* f definite piiipmals lor world disaimument. i RIG Sl'Y A I I KIT A STREET P.t'RNT CP. SI'VA. February Hi. A lire in Ciimmiug Steel, Suva, tonight dostoyed all the south side and tali' the north side of the street. Ti e ■niise of the lire is unknown. The water -apply and bust’ were defective, other-

wise much damage might have been saved. The total damage is estimate I at £30.000. There were no casualties despite its being a dcn ,: ely populated area. OWII.YET RESIGNS. P.VIRO, February 0. The King lias a eepterl the Cabinet's resignation, THE BRITISH DEBT. LONDON, Feh. 10

I Tlie New Vurk Times Washington correspondent says the Senate’s Finance Ctiininittee reported favourably on the British Debt Bill after two sessions largely occupied by Smoot in explaining the settlement plan to his colleagues. Senators l.a Folletto, Walsh and (lorry opposed a favourable report, arguing the Committee should have more time to study the measure. The remaining eight members voter! favourably. The Mouse ot Represenlatives made a slight change in the hills terminology. I! will therefore he necessary for the Committee of the House and Senate to collier for the purpose of making the wording uniform. This mar delay the measure a day or two. but P is *yne»dnrl the Senate will pass the measure hy a substantial majority, despite SenatorJones’ threat to filibuster. An extraordinary session of Congress will lie unnecessary. CABLE FACILITIES. (Received this dav at 8 n.m.j LONDON', Fob. 10 The British Government propose laying cables between the principal West Indian Islands, via Bermuda, including Trinidad and Barbadians, to Deinarra, supplementing with the wireless system operating from Turks Islands, and feeding the smaller ecu tres. Proposals were made to the On vornments owning the Pacific Cable tr permit the Pacific Cable Board to work this new system through their Halifax station.

RUGBY FOOTRACE. (Received this dnv at 8 a.in.) LONDON, Fell. 10 At Rugby football, England defeated Ireland at Leicester by 23 to o. THE BRITISH ZONE. LONDON, Feb 10. The ‘•Sunday Express” states that France has asked Great Britain lor authority to pass coal trains from Ruhr through the British none to Cologne if a general German strike occurs. She has also requested the tnuislir of a small portion of the British occupied territory to France for the purpose ol laeiltatiug pressure on Germany. Britain lias referred, the requests to experts on the spot. General Godley is discussing the situation with General Dcgnizti. As the railway runs through the" otsßirts of the British areas an extremely small portion of the British none would be affected. The I 1 reucli request will possibly Ik granted. A COMING SCREEN ACTOR. j (Received this day nt 10 a.m.) j I’ARIS. February 10. | The remarkable story ol the Simian ; intelligence credits a small monkey j named “Caleb” with having captured j a burglar. Caleb’s owners returned to , the Flat and found the door open w ith ihe rooms disordered. The monkey was sitting before a locked door of a largo j cupboard. Caleb reiused to budge nil- j til his master, suspecting the Diets, . seized a revolver and unlocked tho j door. A cry of “Don’t shoot” was | heard, and a man was revealed standing inside, with his hands up. He explained he entered the cupboard for tlie purpose of stealing the contents when , the monkey crept up, locked the door, . and mounted guard till his master’s j return. The burglar was handed to j the police. Caleb lias disappeared and ; has lieen unheard of since. THE CHARMS OF MUSIC. j (Received this dnv at 10 a.m.) I ROME.' February 10. j Mascagni has returned from South j America. He was immediately invited to relate his impressions to Mussolini and discuss a plan of campaign for advocating larger State and private support for Italian music. There is talk of founding something like a State Musical Theatre in Rome and perhaps other cities, also encouraging the constitution of subscription theatres, with a mixed participation of State and private funds. Mussolini, who is an amateur violinst. wishes Government help to restore Italian music to the former high level. He asked Mascagne to prepare a plan for the best system of State subvention for tbe encouragement of musical composers. A PENSION GRANT. ROME, Feb. 10 The War Pension Commission proposes to grant a special pension to General Oadorva, who is living in poverty.