BRITISH & FOREIGN NEWS

Hokitika Guardian, 5 December 1924, Page 2

BRITISH & FOREIGN NEWS

[Reuters Telegrams.! ANGLO-GERMAN AGREEMEXT. LONDON, Dee. 3. It is understood that', under tho Anglo-German Commercial Treaty. Germany grants Britain most-favoured nation treatment in return for which Britain undertakes to introduce legislation for the removal of all restrictions upon Germans a.s ex-enemy aliens. British textile industries are protected against preferential treatment accorded the products of other countries. German seamen and stewards will he permitted in British ships and German hanks will ho allowed to reopen offices in London. BRITISH LABOUR PARTY. LONDON, December 4. The Parliamentary Labour Party lias re-elected Mr Ramsay .MacDonald as Chairman, Mr J. R. Clvnos as ViceChairman, and Mr Ben Spoor as Chief Whip. The “ Daily Herald,” states that over 1 .‘lO Commoners attended tho Rally’s meeting. Air Maxton severely criticised some aspects of the Labour Government’s record, and lie proposed the election of -Mr Lanslmry to the leadership. Air Lanslmry declined nomination, declaring that a change of leadership would he inopportune. Ono member suggested that the election of the Leader be postponed till adequato inquiries hud been made regarding M. Zinovielf. Air Henderson intimated that iTiis inquiry would lie pursued. Mr .MacDonald was then re-elected, there being live dissentient voices.

.Messrs l.ansb'iry, It. Smillic, P. Snowden, J. E. Tlmmas, Wheatley, .Maxton, Trevelyan, Graham, Wedgwood. Henderson and F. O. Roberts were elected as the Executive Committee.

SEIGEN MURDERS. A CONFESSION. RKIR LIN, December 4. As a result of a finger-print examination. detectives suspect that Angerstein himself perpetrated the murders Hi. Seigen. in Westphalia, and then slabbed himself, ill order to cover up bis financial difficulties. The sean-h for bandits up to tbo present, has been result less. Angel-stein's version is that he returned unexpectedly and saw bandits at work, and was attacked by them, being left helpless. The detectives announced that when the bodies were found, rigor mortis had set in, thus indicating that the victims had been killed some time e.ulicr. Angerstein is expected to recover BERLIN, December 3. Angerstein has confessed to commit-, ting eight murders, lie says that tho story of the robbers was intended to explain the loss of money lie luul embezzled.

SOVIET WORRIES. CHRISTIANIA, Dec. 3. The ‘Bergens Tidendc’’ Moscow correspondent states that the Soviet authorities have been puzzled for somo lime by the rapidity with which important decisions made hv the Soviet are made known to the British Government. fhe Soviet Secret Police, in the course of their inquiries, raided a night club, and arrested a woman, who asserted that Rndek. the head of the Soviet Propaganda, was a spy ill Britain’s

pay. Rndek, in refuting the charge, threatened to expose other Soviet leaders, including Trotsky, who, lie alleged, had received huge sums from American hankers.

The charge against Rndek has keen dropped, but the Soviet Secret Service is trying in discover how Rndek sent the Zinoviell letter to England.

SHIPPING DISASTER. PARIS. December 3. The Finnish four-masted ship ‘Port Caledonia’, was dashed to pieces on the rocks near La Rochelle, with the loss of all hands, numbering thirtyseven. The helm was broken in a heavy gale, and the ship was left at at the mercy of the Atlantic breakers, within sight of hundreds of watchers. Two lifeboats, manned ’by picked volunteers, attempted a rescue, but they were unable to even throw a rope to the wreck. The would-lie rescuers had to watch the doomed crew take to the rigging, from which they wore washed one by one. Finally the Port Caledonia sank.

WEMBLEY FINANCE. LONDON, December 3. The guarantors of Wembley have received a letter stating that’ unless the exhibition reopens, they will he called on to pay the full amount of their guarantees, namely C 1.700.000, in order to meet the deficit, which is Cl ,800,000. The letter asks them to state if they are willing to continue their guarantee for 1921. It is stated that the Government are prepared to increase their own guarantee from £OOO,OOO to y C 1.000.000 privided that support is 4 forthcoming.-from the other guarantors but it will he necessary for practic«ili\ all th* guarantors to continue if tho exhibition is to receive full benefit from the Government's increase. The letter alludes to estimates indicating that an attendance of only seven millions, compared With seventeen millions in 1921. would he sufficient to over the cost of continuing the exhibition through 102.1. The point is " emphasised that, while the position of the guarantors could hardly worse, after another season it may he materially better.