BRITISH S FOREIGN NEWS

Hokitika Guardian, 23 December 1925, Page 3

BRITISH S FOREIGN NEWS

[Reuter Telegrams.]

MUNITION WORKS BLOWN UP. LONDON. Dec. 21. The Central News Agency’s Strassbourg correspondent reports that a munitions depot at Merlbnacli blew up with a terrific explosion this morning. •Many houses were wrecked and great loss of life is feared. Details are at present lacking. ’Later hews from Merllmach .states 20 were injured in the explosion, mostly scholars who were struck by flying fragments. There was no loss of life. -18-HOUR WEEK FOR EUROPE. ONDOX. Dec. 21.

S; caking at an adjourned conference with repre,scuta I ive- of the engineering employees and workers, Sir A. Steel .Maithud said he had been in communication with Continental Governments. and had received a reply from the German and Belgian Governments to the effect that they were willing to participate in a conference with a view to establishing a 18-hours week. No definite replies had been received from Eranee and Italy, hut further steps were being taken. SETTLEMENT OF DISPUTES. LONDON. Dec. 28. "J lie Federation of Ship-building and Engineering Trades is balloting during the holidays whether to accept- the joint committees draft agreement to operate for three years, terminable at six months notice by either side, ft is designed to establish machinery for prompt conciliation in the event of the disputes, to avoid .strikers. CHINESE AFFAIRS. lOKIO. December 21. Foreign press comments on Japan's lespatch "l troops to .Manchuria, while generally regarded as sympathetic, has

somewhat astonished official circles by describing the .lapane.se movements to protect non-Chinese residents as an occupation of .Mukden. M. Debtielii (Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs), interviewed. said he considered that this could hardly he said to convey a true meaning of the purpose of the action

of Japan, who. in bringing up her garrison to a nonmil strength of eight thousand men, aimed, in the event of hostilities near the railway zone, to cheek fighting within a six-mile area of the line (that being a zone as laid down in Japan’s first note of warning to the Chinese Generals), and to protect the lives and properly of foreign residents in that territory.

DI NEDTN STEEL WORKS. LONDON. December 21. •Mr \Y. B. Pickering. Director and General Manager of lladfields. Ltd., of Sheffield, declares that his firm is not interested in the intended establishment of steel works at Dunedin.

JAPANESE ITEMS. TOKTO. Dee. 22. The Finance Department has decided to lift the silver embargo.

The Government, lias decided to send immediately from Port Arthur two hundred troops to Tientsin, making the total garrison live hundred and fifty. The situation is precarious in the Tientsin district. CHINESE PIRACY. PEKi.X. Dec. 22. The Chinn Navigation Company’s Tiingchow from Shanghai to Tientsin was pirated by ( liine.-.e disguised ius passengers Iwo hundred miles south of Weiliaiwei. The prates shot and wounded the Captain, held up all other officers and passengers and put the ship about lo Bias Bay. ihe ship was navigated by the chief and second officers under the watch of armed pirates, who seized all the ship’s arms. The engineers also worked under pistol threats. BAND GOLD MINES. CAPETOWN. Dee. 22. The dividend distribution of Rand gold mines falls short ol last year hy I.'. millions sterling, due to the loss on gold premium and shortage of native labour. The President of the ChainLet- of Mines, addressing that body, strongly protested against the Government's action in restricting the importation of native labour from outside the Union in accordance with the Government’s White Labour Policy. This, he declared, would eventually lead to the closing of a large number of low grade mines, and throwing out of employment thousands of whites.

No PAVERS IT'BLISHING. -LONDON. Dec. 22. No English papers are publishing on 25th and 2lith. December.

ROYAL FAMILY’S MOVEMENTS LONDON, Dee. 22.

The “Daily Express” says that early in the New Year the Vrince of Wales will take up his residence at MarlImrougli Rouse, the Duke and Duchess of York will take over York Cottage. the King and Queen will occupy Sandringham, while Princess \ ietoria is moving into her new home at Ivor, near Uxbridge. The whole Royal Family will spend Christmas quietly at York Cottage. * “ITALIAN EMPIRE.” MUSSOLINT EXPLAINS. (Received this day at 10.25 a.m.i LONDON, Dec. 22. The “Daily News" Rome correspondent asked Mussolini to interpret the meaning of the Italian Empire mentioned in his speeches recently. Mussolini replied: “The word had more than one meaning. In the Italian language it may mean a form of Government, especially that marvellous state of organisation which in the early centuries of me Christian Era dominated the world from Rome; it

also means that force might dominion command. When 1 mention Imperial Italy. I do not anticipate definite territorial conquest, but rather an attitude of mind and civil conduct, combative, if necessary, which Italy must observe in tackling International problems. Anybody who sees aggression in such a policy is a fooi. “Historv shows instances of nations peacefully agreeing to the firmer and more just equilibrium of their forces to safeguard the people’s peace and tranquility. I am confident Italy will not lack the means when occasion arises of obtaining peacefully that portion which is her due.

“Other nations would assume grave responsibilities in raising obstinate resistance to Italy’s moderate aspirations as a great power. The Locarno Pact should ho supplemented by other agreements of friendship and arbitration among the European powers. “Fascism refuses to meddle in other people’s domestic affairs, and is opposed to the abolition of submarines hecaue it would place the poorer nations at the mercy of the wealthier.”

PRINCE AND WEMBLEY GUARANTEE. LONDON, Dec. 22. The Prince of Wales in a letter recalls that before going to India in 1922 lie appealed for one million sterling for preliminary work in connection with the Exhibition.

The Prince acknowledged the generous spirit in which they gave them and lie wished to share their burdens in a small degree.

Mr Thomas, on behalf of the liquidators. commenting on his magnanimous and .spontaneous act emphasised the Prince was not a guarantor and under no obligation.