GENERAL CABLES.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 December 1920, Page 8

GENERAL CABLES.

By Telegraph.—Pre.* Asan.J-CopytijM. New York, Dec. 23. It is learned authoritatively that Mr, Harding, following his conference, favors the formation of an association of nations the basis of which would be a Court to deal with judiciary questions. The first step would consist of obtaining the consent of the United States, Britain, France, Japan, and Italy, the theory being thit other nations would thereafter fall into line. Other questions would be considered by the nations' conference.

London, Dec 22. Forty-five thousand miners struck on the Rhondda coalfields as a protest against, the dismissal of 11 colliers at Treorchy because their working place 9 were unremunerative.

The Aberdeen Line state the sole reason for sending the Themistocles to ' Hamburg is to get the ship fitted as expeditiously as possible in order to relieve the hardship entailed on a thousand emigrants, who are seriously affected by her belated departure. The Welsh tinplate industry is in a state of utter stagnation and probably the majority of the works will close early in 1921 because of lack of orders owing mainly to the inability of foreign buyers to continue payment of the high prices. Cope has cabled that he expects to leave Port Stanley (Falkland Islands) on the 20th with full equipment and dogs. He hopes to land on Graham land on Christmas Day. All the party are well. News of the explorers may be expected in 18 months.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. The House of Commons had an allnight sitting, discussing the Lords' amendments to the Agriculture Bill, which consisted of 17 page.'. By 10 o'clock in the morning they had only reached the sixth page. About 20 of the Opposition and 120 ilinisterialists were present. Berlin. Dec. 23. The Hamburg-Amerika Line proposes to increase its capital by a hundred million marks, to be subscribed by other shipping companies. The shares will not be offered in the open market, in order to prevent a controlling position being secured by foreign capitalists who have been buying extensively owing to the lowness of the mark. It is reported that a number of other industrial concerns are adopting similar methods. Shanghai, Dee. 23.

Tt is report od that 2000 lives have been lost through an earthquake in the Kansu •province. The first shock occurred on the 16th and they arc still contiimim;. Several towns were demolished.— Aus.-X.Z. Cable Assn. Tokio reports that the Emperor \osliihito. who has been ill for a Ion? tune, presided.at a Privy Council for the first time for a vear. He appeared almost restored to health, and his complete recovery is expected soon. Sir' Thomas Beeehanrs creditors accepted a proposal giving them 20s in the pound. Sir Thomas Beecham stated an estate of £],.">00,000 would he available to meet the debts. Only legal difficulties stood in the way. and he hoped creditors would be paid in full in nine months' time. The Franco-British Convention fixing the boundaries of Syria and Palestine has been signed. The Palestine Foundation Fund has issued a manifesto signed by Lord Rothschild, Sir Alfred Monti, Dr. Wei/.mann, and other distinguished Jews, appealing to dews throughout the. world to subscribe £2.1,000,000 for the reconstruction of Palestine. The manifesto states that

the lofty enterprise to which Jewry stands committed in the world's eye demands the active co-operation of all Jews in the supreme efforts required. They must take the form of self-taxa-tion', steadily, persistently and systematically, inspired by the noble Jewish tradition of title. Two steamers, with four thousand of General Wrangel's troops and Crimea refugees, have arrived at Cattaro. Typhus made dreadful ravages. The sick cannot disembark, as the Servian authorities are making no hospital provision. A White Paper issued contains a statement by Sir Percy Cox that the pacification of Mesopotamia has progressed satisfactorily, and it has been possible to deciire an amnesty in the recently disturbed areas of the Middle Euphrates, where the inhabitants have resumed peaceful avocations. The Council of State lias appointed a select committee to draft a scheme for organising local forces to replace the British army of occupation. In the House of Commons, Mr. Lloyd fieorge stated that documents found on Sinn Fein leaders proved complicity in the German plot of 1918, and will be published in a few days. A select committee of the House of Commons proposes that the salary of the Premier he £BOOO. The committee adds that it is doubtful whether any man without private means could have held the Premiership in recent years. Otherwise there is no great change in Ministerial salaries.