BRITISH & FOREIGN NEWS

Hokitika Guardian, 8 January 1926, Page 3

BRITISH & FOREIGN NEWS

[Australia & N.Z. Cable Association.]

EFFECT OF THE PACT. LONDON, January 6. Lord Pnrmoor, who as a member of the Labour Government, was one of the authors of the Geneva Protocol, lias joined in the controversy regardin'; Canada’s attitude towards the endorsement of the .Locarno Pact. Tfe says: “ Though the Dominions were not consulted concerning the Pact, they cannot escape some of the results of Britain’s new obligations. Tho mere insertion of a. clause not binding the Dominions cannot alter the fact that the Dominions, if Britain is at war, are tho enemies of Britain’s enemy, though they need not send troops. If the Dominions arc hound by Britain’s foreign policy, they have the right to. demand -“a guarantee that Britain will come to their assistance, as, for instance, if Australia should get into trouble with Japan. If the Dominions intend to pursue an independent foreign course, then international law must ho adjusted so that they will not automatically he plagued by war when Britain is.”

EGYPTIAN POLITICAL TRIALS CAIRO, January 6.

A protected enquiry into a series of political crimes committed during recent years culminating in Sir Lee Stack’s murder, is nearly completed, and it has been decided to commit for trial Asmed Taber and Afasmud Nolcrashi, respectively Minister of Education and Under-Secretary for the Interior under the Zaghlotil Government. Also Hassan Kamel Cliichini, and Abdel Halimbiali (the latter, until recently. was Secretary of the Egyptian Legation of Constantinople). They will be charged with being accomplices in the attempted murders of certain Egyptian Ministers and the murders of Aldred, Brown, Bimbashi. and Cave of the Cairo City Police; the attempted murders of Colonel Piggot. and Thomas Brown, and the murders of Hassan Abdel Ba/.ek, and Zulu! Bey. BISHOPS Alt BESTED. BEKI.IX, January 11. Seventeen bishops have been arrested at Moscow, including the Metropolitan Peter, the highest dignitary in the Orthodox Russian Church. The arrests are the outcome of the Soviet’s renewed persecutions of the Christians.

Th charge is that the Bishops are refusing to recognise the living Church, and that while superficially orthodox, they actually are teaching modernised heresy.

LLOYD GEORGE’S LAND SCHKMh (Received this dav at 9.45 a.ni.i LONDON. Jan. H.

The controversy among the members of the Liberal Party over Air Llovd George’s land proposals has reached an acute stage. Sir Allred Mmul, addressing the Caermarthen Liberal Association, attacked many details of the scheme and declared that he intended to protest most earnestly against any attempt to make the support of a land scheme a test of Liberal loyally. Personally, he <■ mid not accept such a position, nor any laud policy in which, the freehold tenure is not absolutely safeguarded and a minimum of State interference provided for.

GREAT PLVITNUM FIND. I.OXDOX, dan. 8. Professor David lias arrived in London. He visited South Alria. on route, including the Lydonburg platinum tind. He describe;! it is an amazing discovery, comprising a belt seventy miles long and from four to thirty feet across. The samples disclosed two to six pennyweights of alloy per ton. Up to the present the belt has been tested only at intervals, but if it equals expectations it will control the world’s markets and mean a considerable reduction in prices. PRINCE CAROL INTERVIEWED. HOME, Jan. 8. Prince Carol, interviewed at .Milan, said: “I cherish the highest regard fo r Princess Helen, wlio is an exemplary wife and mother. Tam proloundly indignant at the infamous insinuations against her. I adore my son and repudiate all assertions regarding my future. I regret the unfounded allusions to a plot. There are no political reasons behind my action, which is purely personal. Even Princes have some private rights, i will continue to love and serve my country, hut I want silence.” WIDOWS PENSIONS. LONDON, Jan. 8. It is learned officially that 306,000 widows and children so far are benefiting from the pensions under the new Widows and Orphans Pensions Act which came into operation on January Ist. 'l’he number of claims received was '163,000 and pensions awarded 103,000, applications rejected or withdrawn 25,000, applications still under investigation 345,000.

A OKU.MAN SUICIDE. BERLIN, Jan. V

Paul Cassierer, a well-known art dealer and publisher, committed suicide, following on unhappy domestic relations with his wife, who is an actress, Tilla Pinions, who achieved an unchallenged position at the head of her profession as an impersonator of volcanic temperaments, including Oscar Wilde’s characters A dissolution suit was lodged after nineteen years of married life, the parties meeting in the presence of lawyers to arrange financial matters, after which Cassierer went to an adjoining room and aimed a revolver at his heart. He died a few hours later.