BRITISH & FOREIGN NEWS

Hokitika Guardian, 4 January 1927, Page 3

BRITISH & FOREIGN NEWS

[Australian & N.Z. Cable Association.] TO CHECK DEGENERATES. (Received this day at 9.30 k.m.) LONDON, Jan. 3. “Britain will shortly be forced to face compulsorily checking degenerates,” said Professor Mat-Bride at an educational conference.” If we continue encouraging the growth of tlio thriftless and penalising the enterprising of our civilisation, it is certain to succumb. It is now known that mental deficiency and other disabilities are duo to germ weakening. A hopeful feature is that if the germ weakens and the poople get healthier surroundings, flip weakness apparently passes off. For example, prize boars with shortened snouts, half toothless, and feeble legged, amiable for bacon, and really as horrifying as dropsical cripples, will regain their long snout and teeth if they run wild. That encourages the belief that if numbers of British city populations were transporter! to wilder parts of Australia and /eft to their own resources, tliej’ woidd in two or throe generations, develop into quite respectable poople.”

A FRENCH VIEW. PARIS, Jan. 3. M. Briand, in a statement to the newspapers, reviewing the events of 1926, said tlio principal merit of the Locarno Pact was that it had been confirmed by agreement freely entering into the Treaty once said to have been obtained by force. Such a system offered, should bo a guarantee of peace, T(lio fftalo-Gernnan 'Treaty had been drafted in exquisite terms and had become part of the general neaoe system, of which tlio League of Nations was tlio depository guarantor. French people did not desire in any way to oppose the Chinese people's emancipation movement. France would not interfere in Chinese internal politics and was sure in this policy to find herself in .agreement with the signatories of Washington Agreement. M. Olemen'eeau declined the request of the “Echo do Raids,” to comment on flic expected evacuation of Rhineland. He said he would not have waited to he asked if he had thought he could usefully say anything. In the cruel circumstances tlioy were now passing through. He concluded : “Excuse this opinion of a dead man who has seen his own funeral.”

SNOW SLIDE VICTIMS. VIENNA', Jan. 3. Six of the victims at Stares were Londoners. NICARCUAN WAR. (Received this day at 0.30 a.m.) MANAGUA, Jan. 3. Tlio bloodiest buttle of the present war occurred at Pearl Lagoon, lasting three clays and entled in a week-end victory for the Liberals who overcome the Conservative rearguard. They did riot attempt to bury over three hundred dead. Many of the 150 crawled to the swamps and died. Thousands of vultures hovered overhead to-day. The Conservatives retired from Elbluff land were disarmed by United States naval forces.

President Diaz has issued a statement alleging a third expedition has been sent by Cades government against Nicaragua consisting of arms, ammunition, aeroplanes and military personnel. It is expected hourly on the pacific const and preparations are being made to repel it.

A DISTINGUISHED CREW. LONDON. Jan. 3

Some associates of Capt. Sullivan, Commander of tho Renown, hold distinguished records. Commander Moore had an arduous wartime command on a monitor on the Belgian coast; Surgeon Commander' McGowan is one of the Navy’s new exponents of chemical war time; Engineer Commander Sutton, participated in Zeebrugge anti Ostend attacks and accompanied the Ring in his cruise in the Indomitable. Paymaster Commander Hodge served on tho Renown’s predecessor and namesake, also three years on the Hague staff at Genoa.

LONDON CHILDREN’S DAY OUT. LONDON, Jan. 4. As guests of New Zealand children )l!50 London children were entertained at an annual Xmas dinner and presented with gifts at Guild Hall, under the auspices of the Church and Army ,and sent greetings to His Majesty, the host. MR. COATES. LONDON, Jan. 4. Mr and Mrs Coates were escorted by Eric Fitter, a New Zealand meat expert, inspected Smithfield and praised tho appearance and methods of handling the Dominion meat. Tho Maori team give a farewell to Mr Ooates at Waterloo Station on Wednesday. Parata has bronchitis and may not accompany the team to Canada.

Sir J. Parr arrived from Paris and presides at the Australian fatjewell luncheon to Mr Coates. Lady Parr is ’ still in a private hospital in Paris recovering from broncho pneumonia and pleurisy. She will probably be removed to London shortly. It is understood Mr Coates is arranging tho placement in Britain of an additional half-million orders of materials for the New Zealand Public Works;