BRITISH POLITICS.

Hokitika Guardian, 27 June 1924, Page 3

BRITISH POLITICS.

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[Reuters Telegrams.]

FHEK STATIC lIKPI!F.SKXTATION

(Received this day at 11.25 n.m.) LONDON, .Tune 2G.

In the House of Thirds, Lord Arnold, stated (lie Government had instructed tile British Ambassador at M Hshinj'tou to inform the , United States Government that they had eoneluded that it was desirable the conduet of matters at Washington exclusively relating to the Irish Free State, should he in the hands of the Free State Minister and the plenipotentiary accredited to the United States. They trusted this proposal would he acceptable to the United States Government. Lord Arnold added that the principle of distinctive representation at I "Washington having been agreed to in 1020 in the ease of Canada, it must he clearly understood that article two of the Anglo-Irish Treaty would he regarded as inherent in the constitutional statues of the Trisli Free State. The proposal for distinctive representation of Canada in Washington was I made in consideration of the great special importance of Canadian interests in the United States and this consideration applied with equal force I to the ease of the liish Free State.

POSITION' IX EGYPT. LONDON'. .1 lino 2th In the Hi.lisp of Lords the iloh.-ite on tlip Stidiin i|iipstion. which inn raised liy Lord Raglan. developed importantly owing to a notable intervention hy Karl (ln\v of Falloden. ulio deplored the fact that praetieall.v all Lord Cromer’s .splendid work of administration in Egypt was none or was Ruing. He hoped that it would he impressed on Premier Znghlul when he visits London shortly that the right of protecting and administering the Suez Canal would not pass to the Egyptian Government.

Continuing Karl Grey said: “We should equally make it clear that we tiro not going to abandon the exceptionally line work that we have done in the Sudan. Kuypt would never have had her linger in Sudan again hut for

Karl Grey insisted that in the forthcoming negotiations the Government should make it clear that the Egyptian Government lmd no say tit nil in the questions of the Sudan. The only exception must he the question of the Nile waters, which he acknowledged was a case for a joint iKgypt-Smhuiese Commission. He attributed the Egyptian's hold attitude. a« regards the Sudan, to the impression that we have been on the run in Kgypt. He considered the questions of Kgypt.. the Sudan and Iraq were interdependent. lie earnestly urged the Gavernment to give careful consideration to Iraq on military grounds. Karl Grey prefaced his striking speech by the statement that he did not. know whether his views represented the Liberal Party’s. Lord Pnrmoor said the Government did not intend going hack on the past. The British policy in Kgvpt and the Anglo-Iraq Treaty, of which Karl Grey bail expressed distatc, would he submitted to Parliament before ratification.

CHANNEL TUNNEL. j LONDON, June 2fi. . 1 -.r MacDonald informed a deputation of Commoners that in view () f the changed circumstances including tlio strategy of air power and necessity of promoting harmonious Anglo-French relations, he was summoning a special meeting of the Committee of Imperial defence, at which he will preside himself, to consider and report on the Channel tunnel scheme. fjONDO.V, June -JO. • 11l the Commons the Hon. ,T. 11. Thomas (Colonial Secretary), in dealing with Irish representation at 'Washington, said that it seemed to he the impression that if the Trisli Republic asked for it, it would he conceded. It should he undeistood that any such demands would receive the same repiy as he believed would he received from either of the two previous Governments. The Government believed peace and friendship could In- maintained in Ireland liv the establishment of a 'Free .State as a self-governing Tlomiuiim in the British Commonwealth and in no other way.

LABOUR’S PENSION SCHEME. (Received this day at 12.30 p.mA LONDON. June 2G.

The House of Commons carried tiie financial resolution on which the Government bases its Bill amending old age pensions and abolishing the restrictions under which limited private means, due to thrift, disqualifies persons otherwise eligible. The Rill provides that a person over seventy with tin income of 21s weekly is eligible lor the full pension of Ids weekly, provided that at least 11s of the 21s is derived from unearned sources. Married couples having a joint income of Ids weekly are eligible for a pension . of 20s.

Mr Phillip Snowden (Chancellor of the E.xehenqer) said lie hoped shortly to submit a scheme of pensioning for widows, especially widowed mothers, and to reduce the age limit to six tv-live also.