GENERAL CABLES

Hokitika Guardian, 4 January 1929, Page 6

GENERAL CABLES

SOVIET PEACE PACT. (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright). LONDON - , Jan. 2. Whatever motive underlies the Soviet’s Peace Pact move, there is a deal of quiet satisfaction in Downing Street at Britain's policy since the death of the 1926 Protocol, of urging regional instead of general agreements. Some are inclined to think that the action is a curtain-raiser to melodramatic Soviet proposals at the Disarmament Commission in May. BRITISH ELECTIONS. LONDON, Jan. 2. The “Daily Telegraph’s” lobbyist states: The Christmas truce will be followed by five months’ unceasing preparations for the elections. It is reported from a most reliable source that the Government is planning a dissolution on May 10th. If that is impossible, the election will be postponed till October. FRANCO-OHINESE TREATY. PARIS, Jan. 2. The new Fra neo-Chinese treaty abolishes the previous treaty, and contains provisions regarding tariffs. It provides for China’s tariff autonomy and mutual application of .most favoured nation treatment. It will bo operative immediately if ratified.

INDIAN’S VIEWS. DELHT, January 3. Gandhi- in an interview by the “Englishman Journal ” at the end of the congress said India’s aim is freedom built up in India, something unimposed from without. Britain’s biggest mistake is in not considering the Indian situation, sufficiently important, regarding it, in short, as something tackleable some day when nothing else is on hand. U.S. CONGRESS. (Received this day at 11 a.m.) ' WASHINGTON, January 3. When Congress was reconvened after the holidays, a small group opposing the Kellogg Treaty gained another convert, Senator Blaine, of Wisconsin, who introduced a resolution proposing to eliminate the unofficial reservation of colony protection, which Britain set forth in the note to the United States before the treaty was signed. Blaine’s resolution proposed to state for the Senate the opinion that .the British note was not an official reservation. The resolution was tabled along with Moses Reed’s resolution proposing to protect traditional American foreign policies from any interpretations of the treaty. Mr Blaino made a short statement in whiclji he charged Britain’s effort to state a policy of national defence towards the colonies was nothing more than an effort to restate the article ot the League Covenant. He said: “If American adheres to the treaty then we legalise Britain’s dominions in all parts of the world and acknowledge that less than' fifty million subjects of Britain shall have the right to rule over four hundred million people without their consent and against their pro test.”

CHANNEL TUNNEL. FRENCH SUPPORT. (Received this day at 11 a.m.) LONDON, January 3. The. “Daily Mail’s ” Paris correspondent -says France is closely watching a revival of the international interest in the Channel tunnel if or which there is much enthusiasm. It is stated that were British opposition withdrawn France’s share of the work and financing of the tunnel would be voted with, acclamation. French experts estimate ns a result of a new method 'of evacuating debris, the tunnel could now easily be built in three years instead ot the pre-war estimate of six years.