BEYOND THE DOMINION.

King Country Chronicle, Volume III, Issue 144, 1 April 1909, Page 5

BEYOND THE DOMINION.

Australian Defence. | Mr Ftshrr, the Federal Prime MinI ister, delivered the fint section of his policy speech at Gympic on March 30th. Dealing with national finance, he declared for a fixed minimum of \ £6,000,000 per annum, to be guaranteed to the States, the latter to receive any surplus on a per capita basts. Mr Fisher proposed the creation of ! an Australian fleet of not less than 20 destroyers, calling for an expenditure ' of at least £3,000,000, in addition to the cost of maintenance, during the next three years. Military defence will include a scheme for universal compulsory military training. To effectively accomplish the naval and military schemes financial provision will be made by direct taxation. In default of proper steps being taken by the States to provide land for Immigrants the Federation will institute a progressive land tax, with exemptions up to £SOOO. An absentee tax is also proposed.

The Kruger Telegram. In a speech delivered in the Reichstag, Prince von Buelow, Chancellor of the Empire, declared that the famous Kruger telegram was a State act. and the result of official councils, and was nowise an act of the Kaiser's personal initiative. The "Time*" Berlin correspondent adds, from definite information, that the Kaiser drafted the telegram which was toned clown as the result of the counsels of the Foreign office. Australian Wheat Market The wheat and flour market is very firm. Buyers are paying 4s lOd on trucks in Sydney and Melbourne. Offers for April delivery of wheat at 4s SJd meet with no response. Flour has advanced 10s and is now £lO 15s per ton. Anti-Jap. Americans As the laws imof the States of California and Oregon prohibit the marriage of whites with Orientals, Miss Helen Emery, who was mobbed at the 'Frisco railway station because she was engaged to a Japanese named Gungiri Aoki, was married to Aoki on March 29th at Seattle, Washington. The mayor of the neighbouring town of Tacoma has issued a notice that if the couple apear in the streets of that town they will be arrested as a public nuisance. On The War Trail Advices from Oklahoma, formerly an Indian tcrirtory, but recently raised to the dignity'of a State, describe a sharp encounter between a party of Crces, who have been on the warpath for some time, and the troops sent out to subdue tbem. The redskins were beaaten in thejfight, and 20 of them were killed by the soldiers, on whose side there were no fatalities.

The Balkan Trouble The decision of M. Isvolsky, the Russian Foreign Minister, that Russia was : prepared to recognise Austria's annexation of Bosnia and Herzegovina became known in St. Petersburg from foreign telegrams. The discovery is causing the greatest excitement and most heated comments in the Russian newspapers. The "Times" shows that after the military precautions by Austria and Germany to prevent any resistance to the Balkan agreements with The Porte, German diplomacy took the field in St. Petersburg and wrested from M. Isvolsky the declaration mentioned. The "Times" adds: "In the light of Germany's temporary triumph, which cannot tend to permanent peace, the censure debate in the House of Commons will assume a new and increased significance." "The British Navy," concludes the "Times," "has stood more than once between Europe and the claims of the same great Continental Power to be the sole and supreme arbiter of its destinies." A semi-official report from Rome states that Germany has asked the Powers to adhere to M. Isvolsky's declaration to Baron von Aebrenthal, the Austrian Foreign Minister, regarding recognition of the annexation of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Reuter's Vienna Agency states that Sir Edward Grey, British Foreign Minister, intends to ask for the adjustment of Austro-Servian differences before the Powers recognise the annexation. Baron von Aebrenthal's reply will be that these are two entirely distinct questions.

Servian Prince's Renunciation It is considered in some quarters that the Crown Prince's renunciation of the Crown was due to his extreme disappointment at Servia's isolation. King Peter received the leaders of the political parties and discussed with them the Crown Pirnce's renunciation. Later news states that the Crown Prince has firmly adhered to his decision, and signed the renunciation of the Crown in the presence of the Cabinet, King Peter countersigning it. The King'* second son, Alexander, at present a student in Russia, will be proclaimed heir.

Alexander's Refusal Prince Alexander, hearing of bis brother's renunciation, declared that under no circumstances would he take his brother's place, adding: "If he cannot be a good King, neither can I. I will stick to him through thick and thin."