BRITISH POLITICS.

Hokitika Guardian, 23 July 1929, Page 5

BRITISH POLITICS.

COMMONS SESSION. CLOSING ON FRIDAY. (British Official Wireless.) (Received this day at 11.25. a.m.) RUGBY, July 23. The Government hope that outstanding Parliamentary business will be concluded on Friday to enable the House to adjourn for the long summer recess. -Matters remaining include the third reading of the Housing Bill, providing for a revision of housing subsidies and the Development Bill which deals with loan guarantees and grants for schemes connected with employment. Statements upon the Naval Policy and conversations regarding Disarmament are expected to be made by tli£ Prime Minister before the House adjourns. Members will also he asked to approve of supplementary estimates amounting to i.z06,00() of which about £109,090 will he contributed to the National Radium Trust, the remainder going to the National Gallery to assist in the purchase of Wilton, Diptych and Titan’s picture of Corman’s family. The grant, in respect of radium, is made on a basis of £1 for every £] provided hv voluntary contribution to augment the supply for treatment ol the siqk and for the advancement of knowledge in undergoing such treatment. Mr A. Henderson (Foreign Secretary) replying to a question in the House of Commons, confirmed that as a result of communications received from the united States Government on Saturday, the British Government sent ajn intimation both, to the United States Government and the French Government that it associated itself with them in all efforts they were making to secure a pacific settlement between the Soviet Government of Russia and the Chinese Government, Mr Henderson was asked whether there would be an undertaking that there would ho no diplomatic relations with either of those powers if the Kellog Pact was not kept. He replied: “I think to give a committment like that in view of the fact that it has not been decided which of the two countries is at fault, would iot he in the interest of peace.” The Foreign Secretary stated that no reply had yet been received from the foviet Government in answer to his invitation to them to appoint a responsible representative to visit London.. Mr Henderson was asked whether the Government was bound by the undertaking given by the late Government in regard to a proposed committee of verification' and conciliation in connection with the evacuation of the Rhineland. He replied that His Government, as well as French, German, Belgian, Italian and Japanese Governments were committed by the decision taken at Geneva last September to the principle- of the proposed commission. The operations, objects and duration of the commission were; however, matters which would form the subject of negotiations. On these points, His Majesty’s Government had not committed themselves and did not propose to commit themselves until the Conference met. The meeting place of tho forthcoming Conference on Reparations was still under consideration between the governments concerned. Mr Henderson stated he hoped a definite decision was now imminent. Asked whether the Government were prepared to treat the question of evacuation of the Rhineland independently of the question of Reparations, Mr Henderson said the Government retained complete liberty to withdraw British troops if and when it seemed expedient to do so. Asked whether a British mediation had been offered in the boundary trouble between Bulgaria and Jugoslavia, Mr Henderson stated the British Government and French Government were offering friendly advice both at Belgrade and Sofia, with a view to facilitating direct negotiations between the Government’s concerned.