MISELLANEOUS ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 10 July 1924, Page 2

MISELLANEOUS ITEMS.

[iiv telegraph—per press association

EAIPIRK UNITY

ELOQUENT SPEECH BY LLOYD

GEORGI

LONDON. Julv 9.

Air Lloyd George was a speaker at l*ord Beaverlireok's dinner to Dominion journalists, lie eloquently pictured the resources of the Empire, the. easiness ot which, he said, staggered the imagination, but the great essential was unity, which must not lie made a question of race, party, or creed.

The present task Mas to lind a basis covering the multitudinous interests, and without which the Empire was not secure. The first step in that direction would he closer consultation, and the second improved communications. No real progress had been made to improve steamship intercourse, despite years of discussion. "Let us seek not to quarrel about the Empire,” ho said. "Quarrels impede progress, la't us seek unity as the Empire increases its hounds and becomes more and more democratic. The I’ress alone could make* a democratic empire possible and secure the triumph of a united empire of free peoples, which Mould ho tho uatchtoner of tho citadel of peace, liberty and fair play in the, world.” He paid a glowing tribute to tho Dominions troops in the war, and said: "I sometimes have tremblingly wondered what would have happened if a million of the world's bravest had not come troni the Dominions to help us. I will never forget the spring of 1018, "hen Hie Australians, near Mayence, broke ilii* spearhead which Mas being thrust into tlie heart of the British Army.”

JAPANESE ABROAD. TO 1C 10, July 8,

The Japanese Cabinet has approved an important Bill to permit Japanese citizens residing abroad who have not taken the oath of allegiance hy serving in the .Japanese Army, to relinquish their Japanese citizenship. Thus children horn of Japanese parentage in the I'nitcd States who have suffered tinder the confused status of dual nationality. would he enabled to discard their Japanese citizenship. The Bill becomes effective upon its arrival in the Diet, which will shortly consider the measure at plenary session of both Houses. It is hoped the measure will somewhat weaken the contention that Japanese are not assimilable. It supports the .Japanese Government's Hide in its last note ol protest against the U.S.A. exclusion, and also M. Shiih'liara’s assertion that the charge of uiiassimilability has not stood the test of time. Japan feels that a continuance of her protest against the cx--. clusion Mould lie fruitless. He regards the immigration question as an open issue with the I'nitcd States, and is making every effort to strengthen Japan’s eas" for such time when Japan raises the question again.

MOSCI. OIL QUESTION. ('ON ST ANT I NO IM. K, July s. Keplying to the Brhitish Note, tho Turkish Governmenr rejects the proposal to submit the .Mosul question to the Council of the League of Nations, on the ground that the Treaty of Lausanne is not yet in force Turkey suggests direct negotiations, expressing the opinion that these will yield I>ottor results SOVIET SENTENCES. MOSCOW. July S. A message from Leningrad states that a Soviet Court has sentenced to death three officials of the Soviet Tailor Trust for accepting bribes to effect unprofitable contracts, and for general mismanagement. Ten other accused men were sentenced from one to ten years’ imprisonment.