BRITISH & FOREIGN ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 30 January 1924, Page 2

BRITISH & FOREIGN ITEMS.

AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLK ASSOCIATION. ICE HOCKEY. (Racaived this day at 8 a.m.) LONDON*. Jan. 28. At Chamonix, in the Olympic ice luw-key. Cnited States beat Belgium 10—0; Sweden heat Switzerland 9—i). SOUTH-WEST AFRICA. CAPETOWN, Jan. 28 An important step, connected with the future of the mandated territory, is marked by the issuo of a memorandum, giving the results of the conference held in London between Premier Smuts and representatives of tho (Jorman Reich, when an agreement was reached under which the Ocrma tionals automatically liecomo citizens of the South African Union, with tile •same privileges and responsibilities as other citizens. Every facility will bo

given them for the free use otMlio German language. The Germans and their children will not, be liable for military service against the German Reich for a period of .‘lO years. The German Government undertook to recommend acceptance of tho conditions. At a later conference hold at Capa Town, between Premier Smuts and a deputation representative of the South

West Protectorate, the Premier explained the position. He stated that the Union Government was desirous of doing its utmost to carry out the agreement which he did not the deputation to ratify, because that was unnecessary, hut he did ask for help in advising the Germans to adopt the course recommended by the German Government. The deputation replied I hat they had hoped to obtain a great deal more than the agreement provided. They expressed a wish that tho. territory he not annexed as a fifth province to the Union, but made a separate State with a Legislative Council, and a right to vote its own Budget. The deputation was, however, of tho opinion that automatic naturalisation as citizens of the Unoin would not meet with serious opposition from the German population.