BRITISH & FOREIGN NEWS

Hokitika Guardian, 4 March 1925, Page 3

BRITISH & FOREIGN NEWS

[Reuters Telegrams.l WE.MIiI.KY I.OKS. LONDON, a I art-11 hi the House of (‘ominous, t ii ; w.riling conditions, the price of ii'loi's-io i and Sunday open ini' were ant o.ig t!io minor criticisms of tlio YY'embu'y Exhibition when the debate was i , i.-sum<.d on a resolution for increasing 'he amount of the loans under the Tra le Facilities Act to wjhioh Government guarantees might he given from si ttyfive to seventy millions sterling. Mr liunciman complained of the looseness of the Wembley administration, and accountancy. .Mr Samuel, replying mentioned that the exhibition would have shut at one time, hut for tuo .Duke of Devonshire's public spirit in pledging his private fortune to the extent of (half a million sterling as a guarantee which subsequently was ratified by the House of Commons as being rightly transferable to the taxpayers. Mr Samuel declared that the Govern(meiit would not accept any further liability. If more money were required someone else would have to come forward with, fresh guarantees. He did nt anticipate than any profits would accrue. Sir Alfred Butt (Conservative,. Unlham) described the exhibition as a grave scandal, involving much corruption. He demanded that a properly audited balance sheet he placed before the Government, showing the whole financial position clearly. Mr Samuel read a report made in January last year, stating that no corruption had occurred. Sir A. Butt said that he referred to ithe period since the report was issued. Mr Samuel promised to consider reduced prices for admission, hut said that he was unable to permit Sunday opening. U.S.A. NAVAL CRUISE. SAN DIEGO (California) March 2. An Armada of 110 vessels, of the United States Navy, has now embarked on the first step in the greatest series of peace time manoeuvres ever held in the Pacific- Ocean extending through March and April. The naval forces stationed on the Pacific Coast fill the role of an enemy fleet, intent upon the invasion, of the Pacific Coast. Speedy craft of the Scouting Fleet based, on the Atlantic, hut now on route for the beginning, in April, of the cruise to the Hawaiian lslaals, and to Australia, and New Zealand, will he the defensive forces.

PORRITT’S SUCCESS. LONON, -March 3. The Oxford Sports have concluded. The 120 Yards High Hurdles final was won by Porritt by a yard and a naif, in UJ 3-5 secs. In the 220 Yards Low Hurdles, Porritt also won by five yards in 27 2-5 kccs. An American, Clcckley, fell at the last hurdle when level with Porritt. " > KING CONVALESCENT. LONDON, March 3. The King continues to make good progress. His bronchia! aflliction has almost disappeared. It is hoped that in tne next few days, His Majesty will t he able to go out of doors. AMERICAN TRADE FIGURES. OTTAWA.. March 2. Canada bought less from the United •States in the year ended last January.

The imports from tho United States •for the year were valued at ">lB mil- „ lion dollars, a decrease of eighty millions on the I'rcreding corresponding period. Thu United Kingdom purchased in the same period thirty million dollars worth more than in the previous year. INDIAN PROBLEMS. (Received this day at 12 80 p.m.) LONDON, March 3. The Ministry lias summoned Loyd Reading (Viceroy) to London to discuss Indian problems. TIIE HOBBS CASE. (Received this day at 12.30 p.m.) UINDON, February 3. The resumption of the Hobbs ease IVas interrupted lor a brief period owing to Hobbs having to leave the dock as the result of a fit of coughing for medical attention. Thereafter during Court argument with Sir Curtis Bonnet for the defence the Judge said that so far he had heard nothing showing that there was any stealing of cheques or justifying a conviction 'for conspiracy' to steal. GENEVA PROTOCOL RUMOURS. (Received this day at 12.30 p.m.) LONDON, March 3. In connection with the rumours arising out of a lengthy Cabinet meeting last evening on questions connected with the Geneva Protocol that ft favours an Anglo-Franco-Belgir.n security fact with if possible, German participation, it is learned from influential British circles that so far as is known Cabinet has not reached any decision in this connection. Many suggestions have been submitted to the Cabinet, but hitherto, as far as is ascertained, none of those have been adopted. Consequently, the statements that certain new proposals are supported by the Dominions are discredited. INDIAN STRIKES END. BOMBAY, March 3. All three strikes have ended. TUR-KISH CiOVER.NMENT RESIGNS. CONSTANTINOPLE, March 3. The Government has resigned. SUICIDE NOT SUCCESSFUL. _ ROME, March 4. M.iss Gibson is not dead, hut has aserious wound in the chest. The police found two revolvers in her room. Miss Gibson lately had three operations and became most depressed combined with deep religious fervour. When a priest called she cried suicide and pointed to the wound. AN AMERICAN PROTEST. PEKING, March 3. - The American Legation protested last evening to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding the detention of the steamer Chicuen. While ileplotj n „ the loss of life protests are made that the local authorities boarded tin ship and forcibly abducted the cap tain and held him in custody ashore and thus detained the vessel. Thcs> actions, the note asserts, constant an affront to the American flag; alathe violation of American Trent, rights. The legation asks the Chines ■Government to issue instructions t the provincial and military authorise concerned to arrange a satisfactor. settlement with the American const at Chungken.

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