BRITISH AFFAIRS

Southland Times, Issue 18830, 25 May 1920, Page 5

BRITISH AFFAIRS

QUEEN ALEXANDRA

A BRONCHIAL ATTACK.

(By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.}

LONDON, May 22. Queen Alexandra has been suffering from a severe bronchial attack, which is now subsiding. Her vision is impaired owing to a blood vessel of the eye breaking during a violent attack of coughing. PERSIAN OIL,

BRITISH SUPPLIES ASSURED.

LONDON, May 20. The Sunday Express states that the contract by which the Anglo-Persian Company will market its output through the Royal Dutch and Shell Companies expires in 1922. Thereafter the Anglo-Persian Company, owing to far-seeing management, will be able to supply the British Empire with its entire requirements of petrol and by 1924 compete in all the world’s markets against :;he Royal Dutch, Shell and Standard Oil Companies. This explains the Royal Dutch efforts to secure the Mesopotamian oilfields, whereby it hopes to force the Anglo-Persian Company to renew the existing contract. OIL-BURNING LINERS. OLYMPIC AND AQUITANIA CONVERTED. LONDON, May 23. (Received May 24, 8.-50 p.m.) The liners Olympic and Aquitania have been transformed into oil burners, thus reducing the crews by 300 each and correspondingly increasing the passenger space. • SEDITIOUS CONSPIRACY. NEW ZEALAND EX SERVICE MAN IMPRISONED. LONDON, May 22. Harold Burgess, an ex-New Zealand service man, has been sentenced to six months’ imprisonment with hard labour. Burgess was arrested in a police raid on the Fleet street offices of the Workers’ Dreadnought, of which he was manager, anti charged with seditious conspiracy in connection with the Army.

LORD SHOLTO DOUGLAS, GRANTED A DIVORCE! (The Times.) LONDON, May 21. The Divorce Court granted a decree to Lord Sholto Douglas on the grounds of his wife’s misconduct. The case was undefended. Mr F. I'. Palmer, a London artist, was cited as co-respondent. The parties were married in California under the name of Montgomery in order to avoid publicity. Lord Sholto Douglas gave evidence that r'ne marriage was unhappy owing to the in•cmpcr'ince of his wife who was formerly an actress.