GENERAL CABLES

Hokitika Guardian, 23 August 1928, Page 2

GENERAL CABLES

"United Press Association.—ByElectri* Telegraph.—Copyright.) GREEK ELECTIONS. ATHENS, Aug. 21. The final election figures are: VeniHaists 184, Papanastasaioiis Party ten. Mondyliss eight, Fairharnoss five, Michalaeopouloss four, Independents five. Total Government 223, Tsladriss Royalist Party twenty, Kafaiulariss Republiacn four, Pangaloss three; Total opposition twenty-seven. NAVAL AGREEMENT. PARIS, Aug. 21. A semi-official communique regarding the Anglo-French naval agreement points out that certain foreign press comments necessitate the pubication of an explanatory statement. It emphasises that the ngicement is not a diplomatic act, involving plenipotentnries signature, hut rather a settlement of the Fra neo-British dis-

agreement. The communique recapitulates the history of naval disarmament since tlie Washington Conference, and stresses the suggestion that there are secret clauses .is inaccurate because a signed convention does not exist. It explains the compromise is intended to, remote Anglo-French divergencies and emphasise France’s need for small low-pow-ered submarines to maintain communications with North Africa, and also defensively armed light cruisers, while Britain contends that such craft, when offensively armed, should he subject to limitation. The communique adds that the agreement is intended to scive as a basis 'for the settlement of the whole disarmament problem.

JAPAN’S ATTITUDE. TOKYO, Aug. 22. Japan, replying, approves of the principle of the proposals of naval auxiliary limitation. KING OF ALBANIA ■ WITH APPROVAL OF THE DUCE. DURAZZO, Aug. 22. The constituent assembly is expected very shortly to proclaim President Ahmed Zogu King of Albania, with the approval of Mussolini. RAINS IN INDIA. DELHI, August 22. After a month’s drought Punjab reports good rains and monsoon conditions, which, if continued, should ease the grave conditions. The wheat, cotton, sugar cane and rye crops arc much below normal. INDIAN LOAN. DELHI, August 22. -■ The Controller of Currency announces a full subscription of thirty-five brorcs of rupees for the Government of India loan issued at the end bf July. FRENCH BUDGET. PARIS. Aug. 22. M. Poincare in a preliminary outline of tlie 1929 Budget, says it is im- . possible to reduce direct taxation at present; perhaps not before 1931. Tlie estimates of tlie Government Departments would have resulted in a deficit of forty-eight million sterling, but tlie Government had cut down even those of national defence; arguing that a healthy financial situation with un-

diminished credit are the elements in the defence of the country important as frontier fortifications or supplies. The Budget will give preference : to the carrying out of naval building programme, and naval air services. It also includes a loan of four millions sterling for the purpose of agricultural credits, to enable farmers to replace machinery and buy needed stock. It establishes a fund of about eiglity-four thousand sterling for research into cancer and tuberculosis. L 55 BODIES. MOSCOW, Aug. 22. It is officially stated in reply to the British report that the Soviet has not replied to the British Government’s request for permission to remove L. 55 bodies to England for burial, that, expecting the British Government would wish to transfer to the Motherland L. 55 bodies, the Soviet authorities from the very beginning took appro T priate measures, and were careful to preserve the personal belongings of the victims in order to hand them over to relatives.