BRITISH & FOREIGN ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 19 July 1923, Page 3

BRITISH & FOREIGN ITEMS.

LATEST CABLE NEWS

AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CARLE ASSOCIATION. HUGE ARMY OF UNEMPLOYED. LONDON, July 17. Tho ''Daily Telegraph’s” Dusseldorf correspondent says:—“What appears a formidable economic crisis in tho Ruhr is practically certain within eight or ten days. A great foundry, owned by the Bochunier Yercn, employing 20,000 has been closed. Kmpp steel works employing four thousand have ceased. Tile textile trade is also seriously affected. Ow ing to tne fall of the mark, they are unable to purchase English coal. They declare the situation is so grave that they will he compelled to close with thousands thrown out of work. There are doubts as to whether the authorities will he able to keep me huge number of unemployed people quiet. The Government has met the situation up to the present, hut it is now grave. Oliiria] statistics in Cologne show the cost of living doubled in the period from the 2<)th. of Juno to 11th. July.

BRITISH FREE TRADERS. LONDON. July 17. A meeting (.!' members of the House of Commons, who mostly were liberals with a few Labourites also, funned a permanent Parliamentary Committee to promote the interests of Free Trade. Sir A. Mond said that it was obvious that free trade was likely to he challenged in the near future more seriously than in the past. He urged that a close watch should he kept on the activities of the Empire Development Committee.

The meeting adopted a resolution expressing its determination to oppose any form of protection, whether advocated oil the basis of Imperial preference, or on the plea of assisting liritisli agriculture. CYCLE RACE. LONDON. July Id. An injury to an ankle, as the result of a fall earlier in the cycle contest, cabled on the 1 fith. caused Maeheath's retirement during the event. His partner became a member of a new team which is two laps behind Nagel and Anderson who have lost a lap. The leaders had covered 701 miles at eight this morning.

A LIBEL ACTION. (Received this day at 9.15 a.m.) LONDON. July IS. Lord Alfred Douglas is suing the “Morning Post" for an alleged libel contained in a letter from the Editor of the “.Jewish Guardian.” whieh the “Post” published. The olfending paragraph stated it must no longer be a [laying proposition to men like C.'roslaiid and Lord Alfred Douglas to invent vile insults against the Jews. Mr (,'omyns Carr, the plnintitf’s Counsel, said the “Post" had attacked a large section of the Jewish race, attributing to them many of the evils from whieh th(> country was suffering, adding that the “Post" had also attacked President 'WiNon, Lloyd George and others at Versailles Conference, alleging their actions were controlled h,v Jew-. Consequently the only reason for justification of the alleged libel seemed to he* that the “Post" was actuated by spite and malice against Doug] is. Hunting from the newspaper “Plain English." which Douglas edited, i- an accusation that a certain Cabinet .Minister drafted a false report of the Jutland battle, which caused such a. fall in stocks that a group of Jews had cleared eighteen million profits on the sph-a'itiient rise. .Mr Hastings. Counsel for the intimated his intention lo call Hon Winston Churchill to sav why Douglas was not prosecuted. Douglas, giving evidence said the altitude he adopted towards Jetts injured his netvspapei verv much, because advertisers boycotted it. Tie knew he might he prosecuted for the Jutland article, hut he risked that, knowing lie was trying to do a hit of good. Asked if he thought i- was the action of a gent lonian to make a statement about a Mims.er <*i Llif: Crown, he said he was no rosp *e: oi of persons, and it would not he the action of “gentlemen to obscure the truth. BRUSSELm July >.

The Military Service. Bill providing for twelve months service in infantiw. and thirteen in cavalry and artillery, passed the Chamber by eighty-six to seven tv-six votes. It is regarded as a distinct victorv for the new Cabinet,

EGYPTIAN AFFAIRS. CAIRO. July K

The lledjiiz dispute has mused tne keenest controversy in the press, Hie action of the Egyptian Government is eeiierally approved. The proposal that Hie powers proclaim Ilediaz a neutral State, administered by an ntternatioiial Moslem Council is gaming :-i mug support.

A SUICIDE PACT. (Received tins dav at 11.4-t n.m.) LONDON, duly 18. The story of a suicide pact, was told at the inquest on l-lorence Julies. ugi l •'!) \ statement was read bv Robert Sheppard. 22. that he and the girl lived together, and contemplated mai-,-iage when she was 21. ’Becoming depressed at their prospects, they mutually a "Toed to commit suicide by pmpoisoning. The girl turned on the gas asking Sheppard to go into the next room ami there follow suit. '' " waiting he regretted his action, and returned to the room, but was too kit' • The Jury found deceased was aided and abetted by Sheppard, who was commuted for trial.

INTERESTIN': EXHIBIT. LONDON*. July le. One ut the most interesting P'l'in-h aircraft, for exhihitoii at t.othcnbuig is the Blackburn seaplane, which calries between the chassis a special large size torpedo, similar to the ship Dpt - The seaplane, descending about hi. feet above the water will launch Hu torpedo under cover of a smoke seu-.m from other aeroplanes.

EXAM. RESCLT PAH Its. July le. Beekingsale. of Weiington. has passed the May examination ot the Institute of Actuaries. Part I. DUTCH NAVAL UNIT. (Received this day at 11.10 a.m.) AMSTERDAM. July 18. Cabinet, has decided to submit a I‘ l at the autumn session, making pun - ion for Dutch naval units m East Indies. The Finance Minister, disagieei„e with the high expenditure incurred under the Bill, has resigned.