MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 26 January 1925, Page 1

MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS.

REPLY TO M. BRIAND. PARIS, January 24. AI. Herriot had a trying ordeal in the Chamber when speaking, as his leg still troubles him, compelling him to lost his knee on footstool during the speech'. He spoke for two and a half hours. He replied to M. Briand, cx-Premier, who disapproved of the Government’s policy in reference to tho Vatican.

M. Briand declared that it was to France’s interest to be officially represented at the Vatican as at Moscow or Geneva. They were the seats of the three great internationals. M. Briand urged M. Herriot to subordinate party considerations to national interests, although it meant a breach of the Lefists’ election pledge. AT. Herriot replied to AT. Briand amidst continual interruptions from the Right Deputies. AT. ITerriot vigorously defended the decision to abolish the French Embassy at the Vatican. Referring to as pro-German the policy of the Holy See during the war, lie declared that the Papacy if anything, was less disposed to France since the restoration of the Embassy at the Vatican than before. Ho emphasised that a separation of the Church from the State was a- fundamental principle of the French constitution.

A WHISKY TRUST. LONDON, January 24. The “Morning Post” states that a. meeting of Buchanan, Dewars Limited, John AValker and Company and the Distillers Company, has l>een held in London for the purpose of discussing a merger. Twenty millions sterling are involved. The “Daily Chronicle” states that a working agreement is regarded as most desirable, in view of the Distillers Company owning practically all I the grain stores of the whisky country. The “-Financial Times” says: “If there is a whisky amalgamation, eventually the combined concern will own the largest stores of matured and maturing whisky in tho world, including practically all the chief brands and blends of Scotch whisky. The pending amalgamation is reflected in recent big dealings in shares and a ri.se in their values.

AVI iA N GEL’S AV ARSHIPS. PARIS, January 23. “Lo Matin” foreshadows awkward consequences arising from the French Cabinet’s decision to hand over General \Vrnngel\s warships to the Soviet Government. Romania, fearing their arrival in the Black Sea, has communicated with Britain and France, questioning whether the fleet is entitled to a passage of the Dardanelles. “Lo Alatin” suggests that Britain will forbid their passage. THE PEACE PACT. LONDON, January 23. The “Daily Telegraph’s’ diplomatic correspondent states: “Strong and well founded though the Dominions’ criti-

rising of the Geneva Protocol may lie, the Imperial Government is submitting it to a most conscientious and minute examination Ijv Cabinet sub-corn in it tecs and by the Imperial Defence Committee, of which a Suli-Committce held a prolonged meeting to-day. The effects of the Article relating to the operation of Sanctions needs the closest scrutiny from the viewpoint of the Empire’s fighting forces, for the navy nmv he more frequently called upon than that of any other power to intervene on heludf of the League in order to blockade Covenant breakers. The question of the cost of such blockades and the risk of their embroiling us with the United States needs the closest examination. Alternative policies of a mutual pact with the Western Powers, and a direct pact with France and Belgium, are being closely reviewed. The Government is submitting its views thereupon to the Dominions. Sir lan Hamilton, addressing the British Legion, said that the bite of 1914 had hardly begun to heal before there was talk of Geneva, protocols actually pledging them, under certain posibel circumstances, to go to war again.

CANADA’S. ATTITUDE. OTTAWA, January 24. The attitude of the Canadian Government towards the Geneva Protocol on disarmament is now the subject of correspondence with the British authorities. There has been some consideration of the Protocol by the Cabinet, but it is improbable that a Parliamentary discussion will be invited befoic a definite stand is taken. It is understood that there is some difference of opinion in the Cabinet over the Protocol, more particularly with regard to the Japanese Amendment. Parliament opens on February 4th.

A STRIKE. LONDON, Jan. 23. A lightning strike of a thousand riverside meat workers employed by the Union Cold Storage Company, began last night owing to the dismissal of seven workers, one of whom was a Transport LPnion official. The Company stated that staff reductions were necessary owing to the state of trade and they bad done everything possible to help the men in view of the prevalent unemployment, and waukl no longer be dictated to by the Trade Union. It was alleged that extremists engineered the strike, which is semiofficial. The Company repudiates the allegation that victimisation had been exercised in regard to discharges

AUBXHALIAN !ND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION. FRANCE AND THE CHURCH. HER RIOT’S VIEWS. • LONDON, January 24. Tho “Morning Post” Paris correspondent states that M. Herriot, in a two hours’s speech of unwonted warmth and vigor in the Chamber of Deputies, reaffirmed it was his Government’s conviction that the connection between their Republican Government and the Church must be severed.

He said that Franco’s renewal, during war time, of her relations with the Vatican has served no useful purpose. Continuing. M. Herriot said: “Wo should have bowed before the Papacy if it bad raised a demand for justice above the clamour of battle, as Pope Gregory the Great did against the vioiation of synagogues, but Pope Benedict XV displayed a curious type of neutrality, even in the face of atrocities. If, for political reasons, the Vatican was then silent, I am entitled to discuss this question from the political viewpoint.”