BRITISH OFFICIAL WIRELESS

Hokitika Guardian, 29 July 1927, Page 1

BRITISH OFFICIAL WIRELESS

THE EMPIRE’S NEEDS. BRITISH CABINET CONSIDERS SITUATION.

HUGHY. July 20. For several hours yesterday a committee of Cabinet was engaged in close and detailed consideration of the questions raised in the report given at Friday’s Cabinet meeting by the principal British delegates to the Geneva Naval Limitation ('on fere nee. Great Britain’s minimum naval patrol, involving in particular the protection of approximately 80,000 miles ot Empire communications, upon which almost any time 9,500.000 tons of British ships, with an individual tonnage exceeding 3000 tons, are engaged, wore fully examined. The importance of this purely defensive side of the British naval policy is emphasised by the fact that much ol the trade thus borne is foodstuffs. of which (treat Britain never Inis sufiicient to last her population for more than seven weeks, while the remainder is necessary for the economic welfare of the Empire. The technical details upon which the British proposals to the conference are based were again closely discussed, rn relation tu the various demands advanced at Geneva, and “The Times” says tin' possibilities of a compromise were reviewed, and suggestions for securing at least a provisional agreement were considered. The Cabinet Council has been summoned for to-day to consider the results of these discussions.

The Government has been concerned tn avoid any precipitate steps, and will probably take full advantage of the present opportunity to dissipate misunderstandings, and to leave no doubt whatever, either concerning its earnest desire for an agreement on the disputed issues, or the vital naval needs of the British Empire. Nothing is known in ofiicinl quarters in London of the newspaper report that the British Ambassador at Washington has lodged a protest with tl-.e United Stales Government against the misrepresntation of the British proposals for naval disarmament, and the misquotations of official statements nit the subject, which have appeared in United Stntes newspapers. It. appears, indeed, from more recent Press telegrams, .that the aims of the British naval policy are beginning to be more fairi’y dealt with in the United States.

SIR WILLIAM ASHLEY. RUGBY. July 20

The death has occurred of Sir William Ashley, the eminent economist, who was vice-principal ol the Birmingham University from UHs until his retirement two years ago.

[Sir William Ashley occupied the chairs of Political Economy at Toronto Unviersity. 1888-1802 ; Economic History. Harvard. 1892-1901; and Commerce, Birmingham. 1901-102.’). He was examiner in History, Economics. and Commerce, between ISO!) and 1020. in the Universities ot Gumbridge. Durham. London. Wales, and Ireland. .Many of bis publications have been translated into other languages. ]

WAR PENSIONS. WHAT BRITAIN BAYS. RUGBY. July 20. The cost of war pensions and their administration during the current year will a moil nt to Oil, I 12.0dd. being the largest single vote of any public Department which comes before I’afilament . This brings tile dual expenditure of tin' nation on war pensions since 1911 to C 780.000.000. which is greater by nearly 20 per cent, than the whale national debt ns ii stood ut the outbreak of war.

LORD OXFORD AND ASQUITH. RUGBY. July 26. The “ Daily Mail" says the* friends ol Lord Oxford and Asquith, who is now in liis 75th year, art* preparing a oil't for him, in recognition of Ids "rent services to the Km pi re over many years. It is honed that the gilt may take the form of an annuity of £2500.