THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS.

Hokitika Guardian, 6 March 1926, Page 3

THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS.

[Australia & N.Z. Cable Association.] THE BRITISH VIEWPOINT. FOREIGN' SECR ETAIiY\S CI.EAR .STATEMENT. LONDON. March 4. Sir Austen Cluiniborlaiii. continuing bis statement, in the House of Commons, said there has been too little recognition of tbo lirilisli viewpoint in tbo press controversy, but, lie was encouraged to hope for better t bines, from tile statements of tbe representatives of Hie. nations directly concerned, all of whom showed the same appreciation of the difficulty and delicacy of tbe situation and tbe proof of the moderation of the outlook in their desire to arrive at an agreement.

“We regret," said Sir Austen, “that large issues have arisen at the present time. We did not raise them or instigate the raising, but. perhaps, if was inevitable that they should have cropped up.” Sir Austen Chamberlain said that il he understood aright, the British nation was not unalterably opposed to any change or addition to the Council, but be feared opening the question would endanger the Locarno Agreement, or, that there was something in the air that, was not fair play. Tbe other day Dr Stresemann alluded to the presence of Castlereagli's photograph in the room where the Locarno Pact was signed and rightly deduced that meant the British policy was the same now as fastlereagh’s after he Napoleonic wars.. The only dilierence was that the League was used as an

instrument of present policy which was to protect the world against a repetition of the evils or dangers if had just escaped, ami welcome back to the concert of nations an enemy ol yesterday. Tt must always he a guiding principle for Brifisli, delegates to Geneva that they should not he parties to anything endangering the sneeess i.l Locarno or making it impossible aL the last moment for Germany to miter the League as shoi sought ill the fulfilment of her assurance of peaceful intentions. Sir Austen, continuing, said that how all the divergencies could be reconciled no mail could say. Great Britain could not he a, party to trying to recreate within the 'League camps ol opposing forces, which were the curse ol 'Europe before the war; but what was one vote or less to anybody since iliciv could he no result, unless the Council was unanimous. There might he an exceptional ease when the ( ouneil would Juive to decide by a majority vote. Then it would he a temptation not to make the Council as nuthoritive and influential as possible for peace, but a. lobby to obtain a majority. Therefore, till the changes tool; place, which he did not expect to see, it was essential to preserve the rule ol unanimity.

(Received this day at 9.0 a.m.f LONDON. March 5

The comparative smallness of the Government vote at the end <d the debate in the Commons on the question of permanent seats on the Council f ,f the League is attributed more to the belief that the opposition will not. force a division on the eve ol Sir A. Chamberlain's departure for Geneva, than to any desire on the part ol Conservatives to abstain from voting. No Conservative voted against the Government. Neither of the formal motions put down, by both wings of the opposition was moved for technical reasons. The re is still some dissatisfaction among Conservatives with Hie position of Conservative criticism and directed against Britain being in any way tied to Spain. All tbe.parties show a. dislike for anything approaching an entanglement expressed in Sir A. Chamberlain's opposition to any rival camps.

AMFBfc.W m\J NEWS, [Australia & N.Z. C'ablo Association.] U.S.A. STOCK EXCHANGE. NEW YORK, .March L The drastic decline on the prices ot shares and stocks was brought to a halt in the first two hours ol the trading on the Stock Exchange on Thursday, when buying orders lor hundreds of shares were distributed by strong financial interests and by hundreds of “ bargain hunters." The trading continued in enormous volume, with a rebound in prices from one, to almost twenty-four points. The close of the day was marked by an enthusiastic- outburst of buying. The sales for the day totalled 2,500,000 shares, compared with 4,785,700 on Wednesday. NEW SHIPPING LINE. SAN FRANCISCO, March 4. Officials of Matson Navigation Company which operates most of the vessels running between San Traneisco and Hawaiian ports, announced to-day that negotiations are in progress for the purchase of the Oceanic Steamship Conmany, whose three steamers (Sonoma, Sierra and \ ontura), ply between Australia, Pago Pago and San Francisco. The Oceanic Company holds the mail subsidy from the United States Government. The Hawaiian traffic, centres upon Hie transportation of sugar, molasses, oil and Iruit. The Matson Company interests are in fact, identifieal with the large system of Hawaiian plantations. The extension of the Company’s activities to Australia, whither one of the Company s principal officials is expected to g° shortly, has aroused considerable interest. and there is much speculation ns to whether it forecasts the augmentation of the present service between the Touted States Pacific coast and Australia. KAN FRANCISCO. March 5. Mr William Roth, general manager of the Matson line, stated that no negotiations arc pending or projected, and that the report is the idlest sort of rumour. The officials of the Oceanic Company also said their company had not boon approached on the deal. Other official sources, that could not he quoted, said, however, that preliminaries for the purchase had hoen entered into, although There is no indication that they will he brought to a successful conclusion.

A STUB SINKS. NEW YORK, March 5. A telegram from Hoquinm, Washington, states the Japanese steamer Horsisan Maru, bound for Japan, turned turtle and sank at drays Harbour on Thursday night. Forty-eight men were picked up. They are believed to be the entire crew COUNTESS OATHCATUr. NEW YORK. March 5. Countess Cat-heart won her suit, to remain in the United States when the writ of habeas corpus was sustained after District Attorney Buckner had entered in the record that adultery does not constitute a- crime mulct the laws of the Union of South Africa. The Assistant Secretary for Labour, 1.1. V Husband, has ordered the ActingCommissioner of Immigration to return the Countess of Cathcart to Ellis Island immediately for deportation, if she loses her Habeas Corpus proceedings ou Friday. WAR LOSS COMPENSATED. SAN FRANCISCO. March 4.

According to a telegram from Seattle the America n-llawaiiaii Steamship Company anounced on Thursday that it has been awarded claims aggregating 3050 thousand dollars by the Mixed Claims Commission for the loss of five freighters sunk in the world war by German submarines.