AMERICAN ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 21 June 1924, Page 3

AMERICAN ITEMS.

L-ReUTERS TELEGRAMS, j ATLANTIC COLLISION. Sl'. JOHN'S (New Eonndland). June 20 The Canadian-Pacific liner. Molagnma, has collided with the Italian steamer, Claraeamns, seven miles off Gape Race, in a fop;. 'The -Metagama’s stokehold is reported to he full of water. The Claraeamns was badly damaged. Roth vessels are now heading for St. Johns. The Metugnniu was hound from England to .Montreal. With the water gainin'; on tin- pumps the Captain was forced to bench the Mctugnma on a shoal near the dry dock. •MOVIE SCANDAL. SAN FRANCISCO. June 19. A telegram from Los Angeles says that Horace Greer, former chauffeur to -Mahcl Normaud, lias heen acquitted on a charge of assault with intent to murder 0. S. Dines. He was immediately re-nrrysted and charged with a violation of the prohibition law, tlie police laying the charge. They found whisky in his rooms. U.S.A. PRESIDENCY. FARMER-LABOUR PARTY. NEW YORK, June 19 According to a message from St. Paul, .Minnesota, the Farmer-Labour Party Convention has ended with the nomination of .Mr Duncan MacDonald, ; i miner, for the Presidency, and .Mr William Houck, a farmer, for VicePresident.

The Party’s platform mainly endorses the nationalisation of industries, and the abolition of private titles to land. It also advocates loan* free of interest to farmers. The nominations, however, arc merely provisional, because the Party’s National v ommittee may cancel them, il Senator La Follntte’s so-called Progressive National Convention (scheduled on July -I) offers a workable plan. The Union of Interests superficially associated as those of the Farmer-La-bourites Convention, despite its wide potentialities, lias ended as a disappointment, if not ns a failure. The membership consisted ol such contradictory elements, as to induce grave premonitions of failure. Nevertheless the farmers scarcely expected to he submerged by the so-called Communist leaders, who captured control of the Convention, and practically dealt a death blow to the Farmer-Labour Party.

However, Mr .MacDonald. in accepting nomination, voiced the lonveiitiou’H cordinl discontent with the major parties, saying: ‘‘l am not a Communist. I am not rod; Init 1 prefer being cnllcd a Communist Hod to being smeared with oil, or gaining the approval of Morgan and the others who name the candidates, and direct the policies of the old parties. Never has organised wealth been so entrenched as it is in the United .Stales to-day.

JAPAN AND RUSSIA NKW YORK. .7line IP. 'l*|, o “New York Times” correspomlent interviewed the •fapanese Foreign Minister. Sideharii. who entegoricnß*" denied a Paris report that a secret treaty exists between Japan and Russia, in exchange for oil concessions in Saghnlion Island. Mr Sidelmrn stated that such rumours were utterly without foundation. He also denied that Japan was hacking the Riissn-Cliineso treaty. The Foreign ohas pointed out that Japan and Russia have reached no agreement. It is known, houevei, that Japan expects to obtain oil, coal, and timber concessions in Northern Saghalien, mill also compensation for the massacre of Nikolaievsk Negotiations lietween Mr Keshiziiwa (Japanese .Minister at Pekin), and .Mi Kara whan (Soviet Knvoy) have revolved particularly around tins point, mid are now at a standstill, while Mr Koshix/iwn is en rimLc* to Tokio to iuform the now (loeyrnment of the -tutus of the negotiations. Tho correspondent learns Mr l\oMuawa will ask the Government to moderate* its demands, in view nl Japan’s need of fuel, anil l>—i-'s determinntion to grunt concessions without -<!tprntection provisos.