BRITISH & FOREIGN NEWS

Hokitika Guardian, 24 August 1926, Page 1

BRITISH & FOREIGN NEWS

[Australian & N.Z. Cable Association.] JAPAN’S NEW POLICY. TOKiO, August 23. The Foreign Office spokesman announced the opening of South Pacific trade conference and declared Japan had reversed her entire emigration policy after discovering the futility and folly of previous efforts to send out population where it was not wanted. He declared: “Henceforth Japan in-

tends to colonise Lokkaido, Fovosa and other possessions, but does not intend to emigrate to Australia, Canada or other countries, realising the previous folly caused much trouble and ill-feel-ing. especially in the South Pacific, and the encouraging of manufacturers and industrialists to concentrate on lowering costs, improving quality and building up huge exports. A bill outlining the programme for emigration to Lokkaido will be presented to the Diet in the coming session.

VISITORS TO FRANCE. PARIS, Aug. 21. More than 220,000 Americans, 759,000 British and 085,000 Spaniards visited France last year, according to the National Tourist Office.

DESTRUCTIVE EIRE. PARIS, Aug. 23. A fire broke out at Annonfty in the Town Hall, and spread to several adjoining buildings, including the Town Hall library, containing about 35,000 volumes and valuable manuscripts. Tho buildings and contents were destroyed. The damage is estimated at twenty million francs. CHURCH TREASURES. PARIS, August 22. Armed guards are now protecting tlhc priceless treasures in the Cathedral of Notre Dame, including the gold, silver and diamond-studded altar vessels. It is feared that a gang of international thieves wifi attempt to steal them.

This gang reputedly includes two Italians, who firstly were suspected revolutionaries, aiming at theft to obtain funds to finance a plot to assassinate Signor Mussolini. The treasures are stored at night in a strong room. Electric burglar alarms are attached to the Cathedral doors.

' INTERESTING -MEMORIES. LONDON, August 22. The “ Daily Telegraph’s” diplomatic correspondent states: “A new volume of General Bernliardi’s personal memoirs will shortly be published ill Germany. It originally contained a scathing exposure of the ex-Kaiser’s stupendous incapacity as a strategist and an army loAdor, but General Bcrnhardi yielded to the massed persuasion of other German Generals and he agreed to delete the chapter.” A PARIS SENSATION. PARIS, August 23. A noted motor thief named Bersange experienced his coup do" grace in thrilling circumstances. In the small hours of the morning, a gendarme, named Bergier, saw him driving a stolen car. The gendarme jumped on the footboard and ordered him to drive to tbe police station. Bersange suddenly battered his captor’s head with a spanner, hut, dazed and bleeding, Berger managed to draw his revolver, and lie shot Bersnnge dead.

With the dead man at tho wheel, tho car careered down a slope to a canal, where it crashed into a barge, which prevented it from disnpepnring in the water. MONSTER ’PLANE. PARTS, August 22. There has been a trial of the St. Nazaree, the world’s largest hydroplane, with a wing span of 170 feet. It is driven by five engines, combining 2.100 horse-power. It is capable of lifting five and a-half tons. Tho trial was successful. The machine is the result of five years’ experiments. SPANISH PLOT RUMOURED. LONDON, Aug. 22. The Gazette’s Genoa correspondent states: The departure of a Spanish squadron, from Spezzia is believed to bo due to tho discovery of a conspiracy against King Alfonso.

COMMUNISTS FIGHT. [Reuter Telegrams.] (Received this day at 8 a.m.) IJARIS,1 J ARIS, August 23. Brisk fighting with bottles anil bludgeons between Communists and Nationalists j is reported from C'olma. Alsace, where an attempt by Alsntion home rulers and Communists to hold a meeting broke down, owing to the violent opposition by Nationalists. Several were injured in scuffles. Ibe police intervened and arrested ten combatants. The Nationalists formed a procession in the streets singing The Marseillaise” and then dispersed. Subsequently the Communists attacked the Nationalists, whereupon the Nationalists reformed and tried to storm tlie Communists Club, Bottles and bludgeons were used as weapons. The police charged and cleared the building.