BRITISH AND FOREIGN NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 29 August 1927, Page 3

BRITISH AND FOREIGN NEWS.

(Australian & N.Z. Cable Association.) LORI) CECIL’S RES 10NATION". LONDON, Aug. 28. Lord Cecil told the 11 Observer ” that file real cause of his decision was the failure of the Disarmament Conference, at which he strove his hardest to prevent a breakdown, which was avoidable if Britain bad been readier to compromise. Lord Cecil postponed his resignation until .Mr Baldwin’s return because lie wished frankly to make a statement regarding bis reasons and an explanation to Mr Baldwin was the first essential. The “Observer” adds that the disarmament fiasco lessened the prospects of the League’s Disarmament Committee’s success and it is douhtlul i! it would lie resumed, resulting in Lord Cecil’s position liecoming most difficult. The “ Standard ” says there also have been Cabinet dissensions over the reduction of the Rhine army. Lord Cecil contending its maintenance opposed the spirit of the Locarno pact, whii'e Sir A. Chamberlain supported the French refusal to agree to a substantia! reduction. INDIAN ENQUIRY. CALCUTTA, Aug. 28. The Committee investigating tiie allegations of the European Association against political activities of the Y.M.C'.A. in India, generally found the charges unfounded. The report says there was no evidence that paid officials of the Y.M.C'.A. sell their time to pro-, motors of anti-British political' 'movements. In only a few cases have lectures of an objectionable character been delivered in Y.M.C'.A. buildings, but the Association was warned to lie careful that its hospitality was not abused.

TERRIFIC ATLANTIC STORMS NEW YORK, August 20.

Five liners brought stories of one of the most terrific storms known for many years in The Atlantic Ocean. Five hundred passengers on the Martha, Washington were ordered to stay below the decks while the ship was tossed like a rowboat amid mountainous waves. Five persons received slight injuries. The passengers prayed while the storm was raging. Lifeboats Were smashed and ventilators were .'blown over and the wireless was wrecked. Radio operators climbed the masts and repaired the apparatus with ropes around their waists to prevent being washed overboard.

The ireighter Yanderwale sent a. message reporting that the lifeboats from the deck house had gone and the captain had two ribs broken and the mate was injured. Passengers on the steamer Maracaibo once gave -up all hope .'of reaching land and lauded the captain's skill.

CABINET AND LORD CECIL. LONDON. Aug. 2,8

Reports were current on Saturday that Lord Cecil had resigned from Cabinet. The position appears to bo tha the wished to resign when he returned from the abortive Disarmament Conference at Geneva, but Mr Baldwin was then en route to Canada and bis colleagues persuaded Lord Cecil to postpone bis decision until the Prime Minister’s return. Tt is expected the matter, will bo cleared up to-day as Mr Baldwin is departing for bis annual {holidays at Aix Les Bains, while Lord Cecil is tine to leave for Geneva on Tuesday.

The ‘Observer’s” political correspondent says Lord Cecil strove bard in the last stages of the Disarmament Conference to avoid a complete breakdown but according to report was over-borne by supporters of the Admiralty view. In Lrod Cecil’s opinion failure would have been avoided it a readier disposition were shown on the British side to compromise.

Other political winters aver Lord Cecil is put of harmony with Cabinet’s policy.

CANCER TRKATMEXT. LONDON, Aug. 28

The new method of treatment for cancer was revealed at an inquest on Mrs Harriet Woolley, held at Chase- i town, near Walsall. Doctor Arthur J' Thompson said Mrs Woolley suffered from cancer. He attended her at Birmingham hospital where he found I it "impossible to remove it by operation. It was therefore decided to give <: lead glycerine treatment. After eight T injections the patient was in almost normal health and tho cancer reduced from the size of a man’s fist to that of a hazelnut. After the ninth injection, however, she developed toxic 1 symptoms and died in a few days, o A post mortem revealed under one tenth of a gramme of lead, only ten 0 per cent of which probably represented * an overdose, “showing’ said the doctor “how little turned the balance against ins.” A verdict was that death was due to fatty degeneration of the liver, probably due to load 'poisoning. Tt was disclosed that besides Airs Woolley, two other patients ; were treated in Birmingham. “AV O 1 are sanguine that in these eases a P cure is definite,” said a hospital official, “but before we allow ourselves to bo elated we must await the lull course of treatment which occupies six months. Then if it is thought a. cure i is effected, a periodical examination V will be planned over a term of five e years. We cannot be certain under I that period.” The official added that f it was premature to give details o s the treatment but it follows the lines e of investigation by Doctor Blair Bell, v of Liverpool. Bell is a firm believer in lead treatment for cancer and recently declared it " only scien- ; 1 ilie plan- upon which further advance can bo made. 1 SLAVES QUESTION. i LONDON, Aug. 28. Newspapers are publishing articles ] and letters voicing concern at the Sierra. Leone court’s judgment that a master may recapture a runaway slave, , notwithstanding that the latter reaches British territory. Dr Wright, Bishop of Sierra Leone, who is spending a holiday in England, suggests, in a letter to the “Observer,” that instead of waiting for slaves to purchase their freedom, as already provided, at £4 apiece, England should luuid oier sufficient money to redeem all immediately. The difficulty is that the amount must be unlimited Because the number of slaves is unknown. The “Observer” sympathises with the framers of the Protectorate Ordinance, which provides for a gradual emancipation by stipulating that slaves become free at their owner’s death, and that none can be born in slavery. 'lndividuals have a light to purchase freedom, but it is urged that a more rapid abolition is now necessary. “Even the mildest kind of slave hunting is intolerable under any flag” [ adds the “Observer.” “Clearly the > ordinances must be amended.” TRAIN ACCIDENT BLAME. I PARIS. Aug. 28. i The official inquiry into the Chamniounix disaster resulted in bi’ame being 1 laid on the dead driver. Experts gave i evidence. It appeared he opened the - steam regulator while on a steep slope, - causing a sudden iork and the oonse- - quent derailment. e SOVIET ARRESTS. BUCHAREST. Aug. 28. t A Soviet espionage organisation was f discovered at Kishinoy, Fifteen were arrested.