GENERAL CABLES

Hokitika Guardian, 17 February 1928, Page 2

GENERAL CABLES

(Australian & N.Z, Cable Association.^ NATIONAL AVAR, DEBT. LONDON, Feb. 15. f AH Churchill has received the following letter: Honourable sir,—Seeing that someone has kindly given half a million to help pay the national debt, I feel X would like to do a hit myself, so I am sending you ten shillings, as I am only poor.” Air Churchill has publicly expressed the thanks of the nation and warm appreciation for the patriotism of two Britishers, visitors to Nice, who recently won £6OOO at the baccarat tables, and telegraphed to Mr Churchill offering to devote a substantial part of their winnings to the national debt. Besides the ten shilling gift the s Chancellor of the Exchequer has grate- ~ fully acknowledged the gift of JSIOOi for debt extinction. Sir Reginald Hall at a public dinnernt Eastbourne last night said he hoped’ a public fund would bo started, and' within a few minutes £SO was subscribed, and a committee formed to* carry out the scheme. No doubt if the Government popularised throughout the country, and perhaps even throughthe Empire, a huge sum might be raised. Several critics, however, see objections to locking up money for fifty.or a hundred years. PLEA FOR DISARALAAIEXT. LONDON. Feb. 15. In the Lords, Lord Cecil moved a. motion hoping that the Government, would press forward a policy oi international 'disarmament and after consulting the Dominions, accept the jurisdiction of a permanent court of international justice in justifiable disputes, by signing an optional clause. Lord Cecil expressed tjbe opinion, that public opinion was miles aheid! of the Government’s attitude towards international arbitration, which: was the only alternative io war. He ffiidl ~“-v not believe that twenty Commoners: would oppose the signature of an optional clause, and it they did, fifteen would lose their seats lit the general! election. Lord Cushendun, replying, said:— Britain, since the Armistice. had scrapped two million toils of lighting ships, and made heavy reductions in the army. If she had kept these to* bargain with at Geneva, she would have been in a very strong position.. The other nations had not correspondingly reduced their armaments. Hedid not believe the signature of mioptional clause would materially affect the question of peace. AA e had arbitration agreements with various nations, practically covering the wardanger field, and doubtless would signmore. AAV had set an example at Locarno, and intended to do our utmost at Geneva to induce other nations to follow Britain’s example. Lords Buckmaster, Astor and Rhilliniore supported the signing of an optional clause. Lord Salisbury said that nothing had been more demoralising in recent years than (the number of treaties torn to pieces. AA r hen a critical time came, Britain would do her utmost, lmt would enter Into no agreement which the Government did not think thev would he able to fulfil. TheMinisters had come to the conclusion that it was wiser not to hind the Government by signing an optional clause. The motion was withdrawn. ROUM ANI AN ARREST. (Received tiffs day at 8.30 a.in.) VIENNA, Fob. 1(5. w A former Roumanian General, Raskowici. was arrested on the Roumanian frontier, journeying from Paris, allegedly carrying a manifesto Horn Prince Carol to High placed officials, sympathetic to his accession. FRENCH DEFENCES. [“Sydney Sun” Cables.] (Received this day at 8.50 a.ni.) PARIS, Feb. 1(5. The Chamber’s discussion of the organisation of the country in war time, was marked by General Kirschasfcr emphasising that the projected tortresses on the eastern frontier must be supported by a proper system ol railways and roads. France paid dearly for her voluntary retirement behind a twenty kiloeinter line in 1914 and could not again afford to risk the loss ol territory containing valuable minerals. She was at present able to resist invasion owing to the occupation of the Rhineland, but the position would change when it was evacuated. Deputy Vincent urged that attention was also essential to the 1 ranco-Bel-giuin frontier, owing to the coal mines. The present defence which was hound up with Belgium depended on an arrangement between the general staffs and was not binding to the parliaments. Al. Painleve replied that the Government agreed with Hirschsauer and had ordered that officers engaged in fortifications must he given every assist-