AMERICAN NEWS

Hokitika Guardian, 11 October 1927, Page 3

AMERICAN NEWS

(Australian & N.Z. Cable Association.) WIIEATCRETURNS. (Received this day at 11.0 a.m.) WASHINGTON, Oct. 10. The Agriculture Department estimates the spring wheat production at 313,771,000 bushels or 15.4 bushels per acre, and the quality 88.1 per cent normal, compared with a harvest of 205 million bushels last year. The estimated yield of all wheat is 860,538,000 bushels compared with 833 millions in 1920. Tho yield per acre of all wheat is estimated at 14.8 j bushels and quality 88.4 per cent. ‘ RADIO CONFERENCE. (Received this day at 11.0 a.m.) WASHINGTON, Oct. 10. A sub-cominitte has reached a tentative agreement on the first four articles ,of the proposed new radio convention, /vtiieh the conference is attempting to draft. The articles define the scope of the convention stations subject to international regulation, establish special provisions for the obligatory exchange of radio telegrams and provide for limited services. Proposals on the four articles were offered by France, Italy, Britain, United States, Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland and Czecho-Slovakia that would modify the present contention. Tho United States was particularly concerned with article two which proposed to define international service. “ Radio communication between two or more stations is not within the jurisdiction of a single high contracting party.” It is understood United States wishes its radio services to Pacific possessions to be considered national instead of international, and by 'a proposed definition 1 aims at avoiding the definition “ inter- { national service,” as equivalent to •' “ trans-Pacific.” i MEXICAN EXECUTIONS. t VANCOUVER, Oct. 10. 1

The execution of General Paulino Cortez, a former director of the National Railways, and fifteen followers brought the executions arising from tho Mexican revolution to sixteen generals and sixty-six others. General Arulfo Cometz, with' two thousand troops is said to be tbc only band remaining unenptured.

AMERICAN GRAFT DECISION. WASHINGTON, Oct. 10. The Supremo Court annulled the lease, of Teapot Dome Oilfields, which Fall granted to Sinclair’s Mammoth Oil Coy. in which started the scandal of 1923. The decision brings a victory to tho Government’s -long continued efforts to regain control of naval oil reserves, as the Court has already annulled Elk Hills lease, cabled on 4th. January, 1926, and Harding’s executive order giving the Department of Interior jurisdiction over Navy Oil, has been revoked by Mr Coolidge. Associate Justice Butler announced the decision of the Court in a judgment which occupied forty-seven minutes in reading. Butler said there was persuasive evidence that Fall 'and Sinclair conspired to defraud United States and tho failure of Sinclair to testify was strong evidence against his company. ‘‘We do not determine whether Fall was bribed.” The Court was of the opinion that Fall .was ‘‘a faithless public officer,” whioh it alleged to be confirmed by his “clandestine and unexplained acquisition of bonds,” from a continental company, which was apparently formed “for some illegitimate purpose.” The decision said : “Fall so favoured Sinclair in the making of the lease and agreement, that it was not possible for him loyally and faith-

fully to serve the interests of United

or impartially to consider nppli-<t.-i .cations of others for leases in the reserve, and lease and agreement were made fraudulently by means of collusion and conspiracy between them.”