GENERAL CABLES.

Hokitika Guardian, 21 May 1928, Page 3

GENERAL CABLES.

Australian Press Assn.—-United Service CAPE POLITICS. (Received this day at 11.0 a in.) CAPETOWN, May 20. The Select Committee of the Assembly on Mr Hertzog’s Native Bill, reported it would be unable to complete the investigations, and proposes to sit during the recess to report next session. The bill has been accordingly dropped for the present session.

EARTHQUAKE VICTIM’S. SIMA (Rem), May 20

Advices from Cutervo District tell o! the recovery of twenty-five bodies from debris resulting from the recent earthquakes. Despatches' say four towns in the province of Chnneapoyns were destroyed. The quakes continue.

THE BRITISH REPLY. (Received this day at 11.25 a.m.) LONDON, May 19. The British reply to Mr Kellogg states his Majesty’s Government will support the movement to the utmost ol their power. It feels convinced there is little divergence between it and the French, note. The British Government is in accord with the aim ol the United States Government to embody a broad statement of the principle, to proclaim without restriction a qualification that war shall not lie used as an instrument of policy. It does not consider the terms exclude action a state may be faced to take in self-defence, and there appears to be no antagonism between treaty engagements which the British Government has already accepted and the pact now proposed. It considers, however, it should be' understood that the obligations of the new engagement would cease to operate in respect of a party which broke pledges contained in Locarno and other treaties. The reply reminds Mr Kellogg there are certain regions of world the welfare and integrity of which constitute special and vital interest lor Britain s peace and safety and the British Government could only accept the new treaty on the distinct understanding that it does not prejudice its Ircedoni of action in this respect. The Government of the United States has comparably, interests, any disregard of which it has stated it would regard as an unfriendly act. The reply agrees it is unnecessary .to wait until all the .nations of the world have signified their willingness to becoming parties. It would be embarrassing if certain European Slates were not included but the British Government sees no reason to , doubt they will accept the new treaty. It lias been ascertained the dominion governments also cordially support the proposed pact and would doubtless be prepared to participate in its conclusion.' The British Government would not participate otherwise than jointly and simultaneously with the dominion governments.

SUNDAY PATI'.US BURNT. DUBLIN, May 20. A party of young men unarmed and unmasked, entered Killincy station and ordered the stationnia-ter and porter away. They held up a train from Kingston, forced the luggage van and seized and set- file to six. thousand copies of English Sunday newspapers. The action is believed to he'a protest against the publication in one, of tlio “Life of Christ,” about which the Bishop of Galway recently protested.

WILKINS’ JOURNEY. , OSLO, May 20

Wilkins and Eielsou have arrived at Trondhjcm after a triumphal voyage from Tromsoe, cheering crowds assembling at the quays en route. The municipality of Trondhjcm officially welcomed the airmen who have resumed their journey to Bergen.

ITALIAN AIK BRIGADE. Australian Press Assn.—United Service ROM E>" May 20. Mussolini lias approved of plans for the Mediterranean cruise by an air brigade comprising sixty seaplanes, including torpedo carriers. De Pinedo will be in command. Balboa (Undersecretary for Air) and Foreign Attaches including British will accompany the machines. The flight starts at the end of the month.

RUSSIAN TRIALS. MOSCOW, May 30.

Toss Agency states sixteen Don Basin accused pTeaded guilty, and twenty-four, including the German Otto Meyer, not guilty, and thirteen partly guilty, including the German Badstieber. who confessed to assisting to deliver inefficient machines.

- AFGHAN ROYALTIES. [“ The Times ” Service.] LONDON, May 20. A Constantinople correspondent says the-King and Queen of the Afghan” arrived from Sebastopol escorted by destroyers and were met by cruisers, torpedo boats and seven aeroplanes at the entrance to the Bosphorus. I.urge ciowds collected and cheered Irom the shores. King Amanuilali alluded to the affection of the two countries, Afghans regarding Turks as brothers.

WET POLLING DAY. (Received this dnv at 1.30 p.m.) LONDON, May 20.

A Berlin correspondent says a continuous downpour during the polling hours damped all external manifestation of political excitement in to-day’s elections. The streets were drenched and empty except for little knots of party supporters with limp. placards. The voters mostly adjourned to the beer shops.' A display of (lags provided the only possible index to the trend of political feeling. ~ , r There was a sprinkling of old Monarch irt colors in the better class districts and the Red Flag was prominent in the poorer quarters, hut the Republican flag predominated nearly everywhere. A visit to the Communist headquarters for the purpose of inspecting the election propaganda revealed the strength of the party lies in organisation. The interior resembles a Government office in a more modern capital with a labyrinth of tiled distempered corridors. hurrying officials, numbered and ticketed doors from which discreet pre-occupied individuals conduct business. This powerful organisation is centred in Berlin, but embraces the whole industrial area of western Germany. Communists give startling evidence of the resources at their disposal. One can only speculate as to where the monetary support is drawn from. Picked “red front fighters” today attend most of the polling stations.

A MURDER. PARIS. May 20. Mrs Florence Wilson, an English woman of fifty, was brutally murdered in the sand dunes near I.e Bourget. where she rented a bungalow. She was strangled and stabbed scve, a> times. There is evidence of a great struggle. The sand is cliurne’d up with numerous footmarks. A handbag is intact. Her husband arrived from London for the week-end. There are two arrests, one a deaf mute. The police believe there may be some connection with tile unsolved N"rse Daniels mystery.