BRITISH & FOREIGN NEWS

Hokitika Guardian, 16 April 1926, Page 3

BRITISH & FOREIGN NEWS

[Australia & N.Z. Cable Association. 1 AUTHOR DEAD. LONDON, April LI. Obituary.—Harold Spender, the author and journalist, aged 02. PREMIER AND -MINERS. (Received this day at 11.25 n.m.) LONDON, April 15. After siting privately for over an hour this morning, the executive of tiie Aimers’ Federation met Air Baldwin and Air Stecl-.Maitlund, at Downing Street at noon, when it is under; stood the miners informed the Premier that in their view a deadlock had been reached. Air Baldwin undertook to gel in touch with the Alining Association as soon as possible and asked that the miners be available early next week for a further discussion. THE NOROE’S JOURNEY. STOCKHOLM, April 15. The Norge sent a message to Vaxholm wireless station at 5.40 this morning, stating they had entered a zone of mist, extending almost over the whole country, and were unable to tell her position, hut the navigator thought he was taking the right direction, HELSINGFORS, April 15. The Norge hns landed at Gatchina, 38 miles south of Leningrad. SOVIET OFFERS. JIELIXGFORS, April 15.

The Soviet representative verbally informed the Finnish Foreign Ministry that the Soviet was ready to negotiate separate, non-aggression treaties with Finland, Baltic States and Poland, ineluding provisions under which the contracting parties undertake to remain ( neutral in the event of another power attacking any of them. MUSSOLINI'S EARLY DAYS. LONDON, April 15. An examination of old railway payhooks at Lugano (Switzerland) reveals | that Mussolini' worked as a mason dining the construction of the line in ( 1907, receiving 2s (id daily. The records show he was a. diligent, steady worker and his Socialistic views necessitated his expulsion from Switzerland. A DUKE’S AFFAIRS. ] LONDON, April 15. The Duke of Portland has turned ( himself into a limited liability company ■with a capital of £780,000, entitled | AV el beck Estates Limited. The Ahiri|uis of Titchfield is director. Port- ' land has followed the example of the Dukes of Leinster, Grafton, Ruckleigh and Poiilaml in an endeavour to counter taxation and death duties. AN ESTATE. ' LONDON, April 15. Henry Wyndhain Gray, formerly residing at Clifton, Canterbury, left an English estate valued at £79,523 starling. AIR AFFAIRS. 1 PARIS, April 15. In collection with Quotidien’s report (cabled on April 14th) it appears that while an agreement was reached in regard to the establishment of air lines, there are still difficulties with regard < to the rule laid down by the conference of Ambassadors in 1920 with a view to discriminating between military and commercial aviation, concerning which Germany is demanding a revision of the rules so as to allow ox-officers of the German Air Force to he employed in commercial aviation. It is hoped n solution will shortly he reached and a convention signed. TAX ON RACECOURSE RETTING. LONDON, April 15. Political circles agree that Mr Churchill’s budget will introduce a tax on credit and racecourse cash betting. It is expected this will realise six to ten millions. MR BALDWIN TRIBUTE!). LONDON, April 15. Sir Joynson Hicks speaking at a luncheon of the Commercial Motor Users Association said to-day was the time of great anxiety, since a cloud was hanging over the country. He believed the anxiety of Ministers to-day was greater than during the war, because then the whole nation was united, while there was to-day the prospect, he might almost say, of a war. a prospect of a grave difference of opinion and possibly disturbance, but the nation was not united as regards the- best means of obviating the terrible bomb. Their greatest asset was the charactei of the Prime Minister, who was absolutely honest, and would give a square deal. FRENCH ESPIONAGE AFFAIR. PARIS, April 15Considerable public interest is being taken in the Rivera espionage affair in which two Frenchmen, Andre Jocope and Georges Lntapio were arrested, and eleven foreigners, mostly Italians, with whom they are alleged to have had relations were expelled from the country. The newspapers hint nt the existence of a huge espionage organisation. The arrested men deny the charge of espionage.