TO-DAY'S NEWS.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 17634, 11 December 1922, Page 6

TO-DAY'S NEWS.

_4 LOCAL AND GENERAL. The General Election. Tho result of the poll for the Oamaru seat is still in doubt. Jhe Licensing Poll. The Prohibition Party is very dissatisfied with the conditions under which last week's licensing poll was taken. Amateur Athletics. Excellent sport was witnessed at the Canterbury Amateur Athletic Club's spring meeting. FOREIGN. France and the Bhineland. ilr Lloyd George, in the first of a serios of articles on Imperial and international problems, deals with the menace to European peace of France's policy in regard to the Rhine provinces of Germany. He stresses the fact that Britain offered to guarantee France against unprovoked aggression, and asserts that France rejected the offer because it did not commit Britain to a military convention. Reparation Problem. M. Poincare and Signor Mussolini . have arrived in London to attend tho Conference to discuss the reparation problem. Executions in Dublin. £ory O'Connor and Liam Mellowe* were sentonced to death by a courtmartial and executed in Dublin on Friday. Tho official announcement said the executions were a reprisal for the assassination of Mr Sean Hales, and a solemn warning to those engaged in the conspiracy of assassination against the representatives of the Irish people. After a bitter debate in the Dail the Government's action was approved. 1 American Foreign Policy. In his messago to Congress, President Harding declared that America had not shirked, and would not shirk, her international obligations, but the Government would not engage in treaties, armed alliances, or any commitment where : either a Council or Assembly of leagued nations might chart America's course. Problem of the Straits. Messages from Lausanne indicate that there are good prospects of. agreement .between the Allies and Turkey regarding the problem of the Straits. Prohibition in U.S.A. In his message to Congress, President Harding called on the nation to uphold the Prohibition ■ amendment declaring that the conditions relating to the enforcement of the law savoured of a national scandal. Naval Armaments. , A repprt from the American Am.bassador at Tokyo outlines wliat Japan is- doing to comply with the Washington Naval Treaty. The United States Navy* Department announces the consolidation of tho Atlantic and Pacific Fleets under a single command. American Politics., In his message to Congress, President Harding outlined tho most extensive legislative programme submitted for many years. . Aviation. Interestipg possibilities in the development of aviation are forecasted by the uso of pilotless aero- * planes assisted by 'jsuper-gales" t at great heights. JGmpire Wireless Chain. '} Plans h'aye been prepared and a site selected for the '"construction in ) Britain, of a wireless station to communicate with the Dominions.