BRITISH & FOREIGN ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 14 May 1923, Page 3

BRITISH & FOREIGN ITEMS.

AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION

LABOUR PARTY AND SOVIET. GRAVE CONCERN. LONDON, May 12. Tlie Executive of tho Parliamentary Labour Party lias cabled the Soviet that the British Government’s decision lo send a gunboat to Murmansk with orders to us,* force in the event of further arrests of British trawlers, causes grave concern, and the Labour Party in the mo.-t friendly spirit begs the Soviet to refrain front any action precipitating a resort to force or an outbreak of war until further negotiations have taken place on the British ultimatum to Russia. The Labour Party ; cable continues:—"We are working hard for peace and the full recognition of Russia and view with alarm anv possibility of a rupture before all means to arbitrate or negotiate have been tried.” PILOTLESS AEROPLANE. TO FLY ATLANTIC. LONDON, May 12. Tlie “Daily Chronicle” states Urn: secret plans are being evolved for a wirelessly controlled pilotless tlight. across the Atlantic. British and American experts are engaged on tlie do tails of tin* flight, and they propose to send n machine in the first place miles high off tlie American coast and direct it towards Europe like a projectile from a gun. A feature will lie the midAila ii tic- wireless lieaeon projecting powerful waves, of energy which will attract the machine's relay. Ships between America and Europe, with special wireless plants, will also send out directional power to the machine flying at an invisible height. SHI P-BUH.DING DISPUTE. LONDON, May 11. There is n prospect of the prolongation of the ship-building dispute. The boiler-makers’ ballot resulted—l-175 for and 14.505 against acceptance of the national overtime and night shift agreement. BRITISH TRADE. LONDON, May 11. Imports increased by .175,<84,000, exports by €7,303,000, re-exports by €3,228,000. The principal increases in imports were meat € 1.580,0110, dutiable food and drink £2,8 19,000. In exports, coal .€(,204,000, vehicles €3.813,000. The principal decreases in imports were grain and flour €4,374,000, raw cut ton €1,308,000. In exports cotton yarns manufacture €1,717,000. INDIAN LOAN. LONDON, May ItAn Indian loan of twenty millions at four and a half per cent has been Issued at €9O payable in 1950-55. It lias been underwritten.

MRS I!YNDMAN’S DEATH. PATHETIC FAREWELL LETTER. LONDON. May 11. Mrs H. M. Hyndham left a farewell letter stating: "It is nearly eighteen months since w.v husband, die I, and 1 have finished the work he especially wanted done. I simply cal mot go on living any longer. It there is any kind of tonipeiarv personal survival, I must take my chance. | cannot go on. If yen blame me. remember I have many times ben-leu of! a violent desire to leave everything rnd follow him at <•nee.” Evidence was given to the effect that she had several times threatened to commit suicide. The work to which the letter referred was the completion of the life of her husband, the late Mr H. AL Ilyndniiiu. The verdict in connection with the death of Mrs ilyndmait (cabled, April 12th) was that death was due to veronal poisoning. THE OENE STORM. PARIS, May 12 Eye-witnesses of tho storm win fli swept over the (true Department, -ay that tlie countryside is like a outtleii- Id. Following tlie darkening of the sky, there was a noise like a huge motor ear engine, and the clouds formed a conical mass which advanced earthwards in a cone, swirling rapid!),. People flung themselves on the ground in terror. The storm lasted half an hour, hut the greatest damage was done in a few minutes. The hamlet of Loiigucnne was blown away. Household linen has boon found five miles away. Roof-beams, 24ft long, were blown a hundred yards. It is estimated that 59,000 trees wero uprooted in the Forest of Andaines.

RIOT IN INDIA. DEI.III, May 11. More rioting lias occurred at Amritsar, also incendiarism. Fifty were wounded, and many arrests were made. The municipality has asked lor extra polite. The doubled salt tax remains the most prominent political problem. Several members ot the legislatures have resigned since the Viceroy’s certification. The Democratic Party pealed to the Viceroy to call a special session of the legislatures to pass a resolution asking His Majesty-in-Coun-ci 1 to disallow the doubled salt lax. hut the Viceroy refused.

LO.G3 OF STEAMER. (Received this dav at 9.-15 a.m.) DELHI. May 13. During a cyclone in the Bay of Bengal, the British India Company’s steamer Okara wirelessed that she was sinking. An exhaustive search made since has .failed to disclose any signs of the missing steamer. JAPANESE VIEWS. (Received this day at 9.15 a.m.) LONDON, May 13. Lecturing before the Japan Society at London, the Japanese professor ITishinima said the cramped population of Japan caused her anxiety, and she naturally east eyes towards thinly populated areas in north and south America. Canada and Australia, as places to which to send her surplus population, which would turn a wilderness into rice and wheat fields and hives of industry. Japan would, however, limit ilie number of immigrants in order not to disturb peace with her neighbours. He concluded that unless some western nations awake from the mistaken attitude towards the eastern nations, a struggle between East and West would he the outcome, involving the whole of humanity in the most disastrous war ever seen. CHINESE TRAVEL. (Received this dav at 8 a.m.) PEKIN, May 12. The National Union of Chinese Chambers of Commerce sent a delegation to- Lineheng to attempt to mediate with bandits and to offer a guarantee of payment' of a ransom. Tourist travel in north China has virtually ceased as a result of the kidnappings. Trains are arriving empty and passengers bound for the coasts from the interior seek other routes than TientsinPukon railroad.