FRENCH POLITICS.

Hokitika Guardian, 4 December 1925, Page 3

FRENCH POLITICS.

[Australia & N.Z. Cable Association.] THE MINISTERIAL TIONCONFIDENCE IN GOVERNMENT. PARIS. Dec. 2. The gravity of the situation and the desire of the Government' to face the immediate difficulties without delay, were emphasised at the outset of the Ministerial declaration read in Parliament. It continues: “The Government, has decided immediately to vote measures to enable it. to avoid recourse to the consolidation of any portion of the national debt. It will ask Parliament for temporary facilities, limited to the Treasury's absolute needs. Definite re veil nes for an independent sinking fund will he drawn from all forms of acquired wealth, in such a wci\ as to avoid prejudicing the country’s productivity. An understanding with our Allied creditors is necessary to effect a financial re:oust ruction.”

The Alinisteriai declaration in the Chamber was read by Af .Briand, Premier. who hurried from London. The House agreed to a postponement of interpellations to allow of an immediate debate on Af. Louclieur'.s proposals. The Finance Minister’s proposals were submitted, amid murmurs of disapproval. which later died down to silence. PARIS. Dee. 2. The Chamber, discussing the Finance Bill, carried a vote of confidence in the Government by 208 to lift. Prior to the meeting of the Chamber. the Socialist group decided, by 81 to 20. to vote against the Government's fimuieial f i-br-mc. which the Chamber Finance Committee passed unaltered.

jjRITjCU p rnannw urw/c

[Reuter Telegrams.] BANK RATE RAISED. LONDON, Dee. 8. The hank rate, which stood at four per cent, since the .Tilth. Sept, was today raised to live per cent. LORD .1 ELI.ICOE’S SCHEME. HOW IT IS RECEIVED. LONDON, December I. li is slated the Admiralty does not regard favourably Lord Jellicoe’s scheme for an Empire navy, it lieing the outcome of lirst-hiiml observations during Lord Jcllicoc’s residence in New Zealand.

It is pointed out the Admiralty is satisfied to get ships, men and money regardless of where they come from that is the politicians’ job. ft is confidently expected in well-in-formed circles that some scheme of disarmament will shortly he evolved, removing the necessity for a scheme such is Lord Jellicon suggests. I!v a coincidence Lord Jellicoe’s -cb.cme was published simultaneously with the Navy League’s inauguration of a campaign drawing the attention of lhe public to the fact that Britain today has not a one-power standard of naval strength. The League is circulating thousands of leaflets pointing out that while Britain, possessing, like America, 22 capital ships. Britain’s cruisers arc out of date. Only eight have been constructed since 1818 against America’s In and Japan’s IS; also that Britain has only l>3 submarines against. America’s 128: while of destroyers. Britain has only M2 and America has 21)8.

The Navy League* supports Lord Jellieoe’s scheme hut the question of the Dominions’ contributions will provide a -nag which has wrecked many previous '(•hemes for an Empire Navy. The allocation of contribution is a political question for the Dominions' Parliaments and it is regarded in diplomatic circles in London that the time is not yet ripe for that.

Well-informed people believe they can accurately forecast the Uoniiiiions’ attitude towards Lord Jellicoe’s schema without waiting for official declaration. They said that Canada would uiianiiiioiis.lv reject the scheme. New Zealand would warmly support it. South Africa would protest that she was not able lo afford it, while if is recognised that Australia is already doing her bit; but. all arc agreed that the Empire's naval defence poliev should be urgently considered.

BRITISH COAL ENQUIRY. BOLSHEVIKS’ EVIL INFLUENT* BLOODSHED I’REDfCTEf).

(Received this day at 10.0 a.m.) LONDON, Dec. I

Giving evidence before I lie Coal Commission!. .Mr ('. I’. Markham, managing director of colliers raising ten million tons of coal per annum, made an outspoken attack on the Aimers’ Union. He declared that since the miners’ business has got into the hands of the Bolshevists, there has been nothing hut, trouble. .Many of the recent strikes were due to hotheaded agitators, who impose I their wills on ignorant or indifferent workers, there was not a collier’s house to-day which did not spend eight to ten shillings weekly at cinemas.

Air .Markham believed to (trouble was not going u> stop without bloodshed, but the bloodshed would be due to the miners and not to the owners. The Commission was only putting oil the evil day. There must he a light, whatever the Commission decided. LONDON. Dec. I.

Air Frank Hodges, in evidence before the Coal Commission, declared the IMtur miners’ output had considerably increased. The German was prepared to do his share of work. .More pits were closed in Britain than in the Ruhr. , Air AVillianis. President ol the Aiming Association asked whether Air (lodges seriously believed in the possibility of the Anglo-German coal entente. Air Hodges replied: "Just as possible as the Locarno Pact between the Nations that were recently fighting. •‘CUPID’S CHRONICLE." ASTOUNDING bigamy CASE. one thousand women duped. (Received this day at 10.0 a.nt.)

LONDON. Dec. I

Astounding bigamy charges were heard at tlu: Lnks Assizes, which resulted in George Leslie being sentenced to ten years’ penal servitude. Bv using an infinite variety of aliases he duped at least one thousand women, usually posing as a lonely bachelor to lonelv middle aged women. The police proved eleven bigamous marriages, but others are known or. through these eases. , I eslie onlv married when he foil'd he had no other means of getting money. He is a son of a 1 ippoi:n> tU 'Xow’a well preserved and good looking man of fifty-five, Leslie listened with a sardonic smile to the evidence of his victims. The police evidence showed tl.at Leslie had made, on an average, at least- £l-200'per annum during tin. last five vears. including £2OOO from a wealthy widow. He became acquainted with the woman through a mau’imonial agency’s publication called "Cupid’s Chronicle.” Five thousand letters, Irom three hundred women, were found in one of jute's lodgings Not one of hi*

gave information to the police. One sent a telegram of warning and another when taken to identify him at the police parade, threw her arms around his neck declaring ‘ 1 will love him always.” , Leslie had a complete system of ledgers for recording his victims, using abbreviations such as “do” to represent “dearest one,” “dl” for “darling love, 01 When sentenced Leslie smiled and (.owed to the Judge and (hen to his wives near the witness box. PROTEST AGAINST FASCTSAL BERNE, Dee. 1.

The committee of the Swiss Federation of Trade Unions adopted a resolution protesting against the regime of oppression established in Italy as regards trade unions, and the suppression) of the liberty in the Assembly and opinion in Italy. The Federation proposed to get in touch with the International Federation of Trade Unions and enquire hou international action might he taken against the Fascist regime of violence.

HANDSOME GIFT FOR UNIVER-

SITY. LONDON. Dec. 4. Sir Charles Hyde, proprietor of the "Birmingham Post” has presented the Birmingham University with £R)H.ol)i> unconditionally.

THREE AVIATORS KILLED. SAN FRANCISCO, Dee. 1. AVhile naval planes acre concluding manoeuvres off San Diego in three plane formation, two planes collided while attempting to make a cross-over, -ending Captain Shepherd and I .ce and Lieul. Christian to their deaths. DUEL TO THE DEATH. BRITISH' COT.UAI 111 A, Dec. L The story of a duel to death between two ohl men in the northern wilds of Providence has reached here. Alexander Dncharnie a hunter who for years had trapped around Lake Chilco met a prospector, Fred Cyr. who told how he had made a rich gold find. Dncharnie warned Cyr not jo carry the news outside as iL would drive trappers from he field which would he tiooded with minors. A quarrel ensued and the men separated. Next (lay Cyr heard bullet strike a rock alongside, which T* was standing. He took cover and ■ duel began, Dourharnie being shot lead and Cyr wounded. The latter surrendered to the police. A gold rush lo the field is expected in the spring.

AOR ANDES VOYAGE. SUVA. December 8

The Aorangi from Honolulu has sail’d for Auckland. The passengers in- • hides Doctors Maeeaehern. AleGaviu. Martin. Justice Stringer and Prince Jacques tie Broglie.