BRITISH AND FOREIGN NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 22 February 1926, Page 3

BRITISH AND FOREIGN NEWS.

[Reuter Telegrams.] A BANDIT’S CRIME. PARIS, February 20. flow the action of a murderer in squandering the money of his victim led to his arrest was described at the Marne Assizes, when Andre Halliard, a voting bandit, was sentenced to death for the murder of Mademoiselle Leroy, a wealthy recluse. Unman! was temporarily working for Mdlle Leroy when he shot her. stole her keys, and took twelve thousand francs in bank notes and 1200 francs in gold from her safe. He then indulged in a riot of extravagance. hut he lost hall the money, being robbed by a chance acquaintance. After this, he spent the money on a girl until l.e became bored. I hen lie bought a motor car. In. this he touied Frame with a youth and a chauffeur. Hi:, reckless cxnemliture attracted attention at Bordeaux, where he claimed that his lather was a wealthy man, hut the police discovered that his parents were poor. 4 hev then easily lined up llamard with the murder, to which lie confessed. THOSE FOREIGN TYPEWRITERS. (Received this day at 10.25 n.m.) LONDON. February 20. In the House of Commons, Sir 11. Brittain has given notice of a question whether the foreign typewriters whereon British patents are taken out are imported as complete machines or assembled ; also asking tho number of firms In the British Empire manufacturing typewriters which are used in the Government offices. FRENCH MINERS. PARIS. February 20. The threatened miners’ strike lias, apparently, been averted as district settlements have been reached practically everywhere. CHINESE AFFAIRS. PEKIN, February 20. General Chiatcnyao, War Minister, has taken over the Premiership from llsushiaving who has resigned. lhe Cabinet has drafted a mandate ordering a punitive expedition against Vi u Pei Fit. MUCH .MYSTERY. (Received this day at 11.25 a.m.) LONDON. February 21. There is still mystery concerning the agreement concluded by M. do Jouvcnel (French High Commissioner in Syria) at Angora.

The Paris diplomatists in the East and the English are misinformed, but withhold details.

ROUMANIAN POLITICS. BUCHAREST. February 21. A municipal election, the first since the war, resulted in the defeat ot M. Bratiani’s candidates by a large majority. It is expected the result will have an important bearing on future policy. SEARCH FOR STRANDED SAILORS (iteceived this day at 8 -i.ni.) LONDON, Feb. 21. Four Free State reroplanes have arrived at the disused British aercfllrnmc

at Crauniorc preparatory to participating in a search for the missing crew of the Swansea Castle. who are believed to be clinging to an uninhabited island fringing t lit* Galway Coast. Tiic machines arc equipped with medicine's and restoratives which "ill he dropped to seamen bv means of parachutes. .Mean" bile sea craft arc scouring the neighbourhood.

The partiepants in the search report that owing to fug and heavy seas they were unable to land on the high island from which signals are supposed to have come. NE W COM A! AN D Kll -I X-Cl I IFF. lON DON, Feb. 20. Vice-Admiral Sir Walton Cowan has been appointed Comma ndcr-in-Gliief of the North America and West Indies Station from June Ist.

THE COMMUNISTS. PRINCIPLES REAfATN UNCHANGED. MOSCOW, Feh. 21. Addressing the executive id the Communist Internationale, wherein thirtytwo countries arc reported to he represented. the President. M. Zinovieff. declared the basic programme and tactical principles of the Communist Intermit ionic would reject: the proposal of the Independent Labour Party to merge with a second International'.?. FRANCE’S DESPERATE PLIGHT. PRINTING PRINTING PRESS THE ONLY SOLUTION. LONDON. February 21. The “Sunday Express’s” Paris correspondent states it is significant that certain newspapers now openly mention the possibility of a revolution and a crisis of the gravest nature, which is hound to ensue if the Senate and Chamber conflict over M. Doumer’s finance proposals. There is no politician prepared to face the country and tell France there must he further inflation ; but every thinking man feels the printing presses must he set to work again if France is to he extricated from her desperate plight.

THE FRANC

STILL GOING DOAVN. PARIS, Feh. 21. After a slight recovery tlv' franc resumed its steady downward course yesterday morning, though there was no panic. It seems the movement is not due to speculation, hut mainly to the trade position. Once again the French are the principal sellers of lraucs. Many counted on a rise billowing the appointment of At. Doumer as Finance Minister and M. Eereneger as Ambassador at Washington, and so aocoidingly preferred to postpone as long as possible purchases of foreign currency for trade settlement: hut they were disappointed. The outlook is still unpromising. The Government is hound to have the greatest difficulty in getting its financial measures voted in both Chamber®, which are completely at loggerheads and a failure to obtain cash will certainly entail fresh inflation. Franc investors are tending, more and more to buy foreign securities, which involves an exodus of foreign capital abroad.

LATEST LONDON COSSIP

THE THIRD ROYAL AT ABA’

LONDON. February 22,

The latest society gossip anticipates the enrlv announcement of Prince Henry’s engagement to Lady Mary Scott, daughter of the Duke of Rue- 1 clench. Prince Henry recently frequented the Duke of Buccleueh’s various country seats where lie was seen more often than at Buckingham Palace. Lady Afary accompanied Prince Henry to Sandringham shortly after Queen Alexandra’s death. She is an unaffected pretty buxom, aged 22, and resembles a country lass more than a society woman. She is a brilliant conversationalist. It is pointed out the marriage would provide a third rovnl Alary,