A BACKGROUND TO THE NEWS

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 150, 20 March 1936, Page 8

A BACKGROUND TO THE NEWS

Briand-Kellogg Pact Lord Robert Cecil has drawn altenlion to the fact that Germany Ls already bound by the Briand-Kellogg Pact never to use war as an instrument of national policy. On August 27, .1928, 15 nations, among them the most important Powers involved in the Great War, signed at Paris a Peace Pact called “The Kellogg Pact," although M. Briand. French Foreign Secretary, was author and proposer of the fundamental idea embodied, Twenty nations, among them Russia, adhered to the pact after its formal signature. Within the next few weeks approximately CO nations pledged themselves in the most solemn manner not to resort to war. Since then Japan has made what to all intents and purposes was war on China when she set up the puppet State of Manchukuo; Bolivia and Paraguay have waged war over the Gran Chaco; Italy and Abyssinia are at present engaged in a war. All the above nations signed the Briaud-Kel-logg Paet. Further, the above-named States were members of the League of Nations. Also, Japan was a signatory of the Nine-Power Treaty (signed by Great Britain, the United States of America, France, Italy, Japan, Belgium, China. Holland and Portugal) to preserve the territorial integrity of China; Italy had an agreement with Abyssinia to submit every question in dispute to arbitration, and in no ease to resort to war. Thus, treaty-break-ing is not confined to Gennauj ; many of her judges in the present crisis in Europe have, at one time or another, condoned treaty-breaking where it was not possible, or convenient, to oppose it.

Germany’s Constitution.

It is 'expected that the Nazis in Germany will secure a 100 per cent, vote at the election. At the outbreak of the war in 1914 Germany was a Confederate League, bearing the name •‘German Empire.” under the hereditary presidency of the King of Prussia, holding the title of “German Emperor.” On November 9. 1918, the German Emperor abdicated, and the Government of the country was taken over by the Council of the People's Commissioners in Berlin. In January, 1919, elections were held to a National Assembly, men and women of adult age voting. Ender the new Constitution of August 11. 1919, the federal legislature consisted of a Reichstag representing the whole nation and elected by the votes of men and women, with proportional representation, and a Reichsrat, representing the separate States. Ministers were dependent on the support of Parliamentary majorities. The people had the right of the initiative aud the referendum. Between 1918 and 1932 the Social-Democrats and the CatholicCentre parties were the principal ruling parties, the Conservative-National-ist parties and the Communists being in opposition. In September. 1930, the Nationalist Socialist Party (Hitlerite) gained its first successes in the Reichstag, and in July, 1932. won 230 seats. In January, 1933, Herr Hitler became Chancellor, and the elections in 1933 aud 1934 further consolidated his position,. In this latter year also the States’ sovereignty was transferred to the Empire; thus, for the first time in her history Germany became a completely unified State. President von Hindenburg died on August 2. 1934. ami the presidential office was fused with the Chancellorship, Herr Hitler taking the title of Leader (Fuhrer). Order of St. Patrick.

The King has appointed the Duke of York to bo a Knight of the Order of St. Patrick. This order was instituted by King George 111 on February 5. 1783. It consists of the Sovereign and 22 knights. It was formed on the model of the Order of the Gorier, and named after the Irish patron saint. The motto, “Quls separabit.” was’ assigned to it by the Kin- in order to cement the harmony which he is said to have been axious to foster between England and Ireland. The insignia are the star of the cross of St. Patrick ou a field argent, charged will, three Imperial crowns within a circle of azure, containing the motto above noticed, the whole encircled by rays <>r silver; an oval badge of gold surroundcd with a wreath of shamrock, suspended to the collar; a collar of gold, composed of alternate red and white roses and harps tied together with a knot of gold; light blue ribbon oyer the right shoulder; mantle of skv-blue Irish tabinet, lined with white si k and.,fastened by a cordon of blue sill-’ and gold. Assmannshausen.

Assniannshauseii, u lienee General Goering started on a speaking tour of the Rhineland, is a village in the district of Wiesbaden, on the Rhine, two miles from Rudesheim, in the Prussian Rhine province. It has a population of about 1500. It has been celebrated for its wine since 1108. Dorthmund. where General Goering also spoke, is the most important town in Westphalia, Its population exceeding o2».000 people. It is the centre of a great mining district, and has numerous foundries. Buffalo.

Buffalo, which has suffered 24 inches of snow, is situated at the eastern extremity of Lake Erie and the head of the Niagara River, The twelfth largest city in the United States, Buffalo is 423 miles by radway north-west of New York. Il is the meeting-place of IS railway lines, and is the port of transhipment fur the Lake Erie and Erie Canal steamship services. Harbour improvements have cost about £500,000; the water frontage is nearly 20 miles; and the wbarves extend more than nine miles; lU.w; siiips enter the harbour yearly. One or the chief industrial and commercial centres of the United States, it is one of the principal grain and Hour markets of the world. Joseph Dart erected the first grain elevator at l-uftal in 1543, and the city Is largely occupied in the receipt, storage and d J stnbu i t of grain, Hour, live stock, iron. coal, steel and lumber, its horse-market iy tbe largest in America. The annual value of ils foreign trade :nen about £11.000.000, exports r rt’ ■; about four-fifths. Among the lo.idmindustrial establishments are foundries * >v New York. President McKinley was assassinated al Buffalo on September 0 1901. An International Peace Bridge connects Buffalo with Fort Erie Canada. The present population of Buffalo is about 000,000