BRITISH & FOREIGN NEWS

Hokitika Guardian, 22 March 1926, Page 3

BRITISH & FOREIGN NEWS

(Australia & N.Z. Cable Association.] AMERICA KEEPING CLEAR. CLAIMS AGAINST DELTA IN. (Received this day at 9.0 a.m.) LONDON, .March 20. “ British and European diplomatic circles are completely taken aback by the action of the American Administration in publishing -Mr Houghton’s (American Ambassador in London) report on the present outlook in Europe,” says the “ Daily ’Telegraph’s” diplomatic correspondent. “It is an unusual step for a Government to disclose the confidential report of its Ambassador. I gather the assumption that Mr Houghton will not return to London is erroneous.”

The correspondent states he believes that Liu- Washington Government’s purpose is, *' First to, prepare- the American public for a return to America’s former isolation, and, secondly, to a hope that this exposure will clear the air, and will deal a blow at the revival of f-ccret diplomacy and intrigue.”

A very acute controversy lias arisen in London over the American claims against Britain for the violation of neutral rights in war time. These claims are repudiated vigorously hy the “ Times,” Lhe “ Morning Rost.” and other influential newspapers.

WILL NOT STAND FOR CLAIMS LONDON, March 21.

The “Observer” says Mr IF. Noughtoil’s frank report on the war spirit ol Europe is causing considerable comment. It is thought quite likely that it will lead to an important diplomaticincident. The reverberation of the report continues in Franco where feeling is extremely hitter.

The “.Sunday ’limes” learns, authoritatively, that no claims have been received, nor are any expected hy the Foreign Office, concerning the demands for compensation under the blockade.

Woli-inl'ormed circles consider it is incredible such claims should ho made. In any event the British public could not stand for them.

RIFLES FOR HOTBEDS OF UNREST.

LONDON, March 2!

A despatch reveals that extraordinary negotiations have been carried out on behalf of ,-.•)(■ ral European countries for the purchase of large quantities of arms and ammunition.

An Italian company received an order from the Greeks lor two hundred thousand rifles and the Soviet is similarly buying rifles, thence shipping them to China and Persia, hut efforts to place orders in England have entirely failed. German armament firms niv being inundated with orders. It is believed t hat. secret war stocks hidden in nearly all countries recently led to the wholesale selling of rifles, and these were mostly shipped to China, and Turkey, although Russia was the biggest buyer, hut she. was mainly acting as a middleman, reselling to the Balkan States, Finland, Lithuania. Poland and .)ugo-Shivia.

ABDEL KILIM MARRIES. .MADRID. March 2!

Abdel Krim is reported to have mar. ri.-'d the daughter of the late Raisuli Represen Inf ives of all tribes were or dered to witness the ceremony.

population Mobilised. LONDON, .March 21. The Soviet has ordered the mobilisation of a quarter of a million of the population to prevent the river Oxo taking a new and more northerly course across the east plum of Turkestan to the Aral Sea, in eonsequeneo of the spring, floods breaking the hanks near the town ol Khiva. Unless tho incipient new course i- dammed it is dillicult to exaggerate Hie calamity of the fertile land along Llia course liecoming a desert.

CHINESE CABINET

PEKIN, Alarch 21

The Chief Executive returned their resignations to Cabinet members and requested them to carry on. THE SHOOTING DESCRIBED. SHANGHAI, March 21. Reference to the. shootings at Peking, was delayed. Telegrams from Peking state a group of Shanghai students visited the Foreign Office presenting an uncompromising reply to the Tnku incident, which they wanted the Government to

adopt. Nearly one thousand students paraded the streets and finally reached the Cabinet in the afternoon when they intended to demand the dismissal of those responsible for the official reply, the forecast of which the vernacular morning papers published. Their entry was prevented and the students attempted to force their way hut the guards used their bayonets and finally fired point blank. 'Eye-witnesses state that three or four volleys were fired, after which

the crowd scattered in all directions, the soldiers continuing to shoot ns tho students fled.

Tho total casualties are now estimated at 120, including two girls and a woman. The chief .executive called an emergency meeting of the Cabinet following the shooting and stated at the meeting that tluo Communist movement had seriously affected the prestige of the Chinese Government, which was charged with being Bolshevik, hut, it- was not, and, strong measures were necessary to suppress the Communist movement.

SIR A. CHAMBERLAIN RETURNS LONDON. .March 21.

l: .\s T fear T. am to he executed on Tuesday.” said Sir A listen Chamberlain laughingly, when approached by an interviewer on reaching YictnriStation from the Continent, regarding the abortive Geneva negotiations, “I think I would rather wait until I reach the scaffold.”