LATE CABLES

Evening Star, Issue 18336, 25 July 1923, Page 8

LATE CABLES

“ — 1 ■ " Frees Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. NEWCASTLE MINERS. THE AGREEMENT ACCEPTED. SYDNEY, July 25. (Received July 25, at 11.5 a.m.) The miners at aggregate meetings in the Newcastle fields decided to resume work. CHINA AND AFGHANISTAN. DELHI, July 24. (Received July 25, at 11.5 a.in.) The Afghan Government has asked the Chinese Government to acknowledge its independence and to exchange Embassies. —A. and N.Z. Cable. GONSERVATORIUM OF MUSIC. SYDNEY, July 25. (Received July 25, at 11.5 a.m.) Cabinet has appointed a sub-commit-loe. to select a director for the Consorvatorium of Music from Messrs Alfred Hill, Arundel, and Orchard. INDIAN FRONTIER TRIBES. DELHI, July 24. (Received July 25, at 11.5 a.m.) Refugees have arrived in the Peshawar district in large numbers during (he last ten days. Heavy fighting is reported between the Nawab of Amb and the Rajah of Swat, in the Ghamba Valley.—A. and N.Z. Cable. IMPERIAL CONFERENCES. MR BRUCE ON EMPIRE PROBLEMS. ' MELBOURNE, July 25. (Received July 25, at 12.15 p.m.) In the House of Representatives, the Prime Minister declared that the two outstanding questions at the Imperial Conference would he foreign policy and defence. The Imperial Government in the past had forwarded the fullest information in regard to foreign affairs, but such information was always received concurrently with a public announcement. It always came when it was too late to influence the decisions. In urging (he need of closer consultation, Mr Bruce said he believed that some good would result from the appointment of a Minister in Britain for a short period, provided that he retained his Ministerial status. He also favored the creation of a small Australian secretariat within the British Foreign Office to assist in informing public opinion in Australia. Another aspect was whether the separate dominions were to be entitled to conclude separate treaties on their own account. Dealing with defence, Mr Bruce said that neither the League of Nations nor the Washington Conference had solved the defence problem for Australia. There was room for a conference of the Pacific nations to discuss the armament question. Defence was an impossible task for Australia by herself. Only by the different parts of the Empire acting together could a proper scheme of Empire defence be secured. He would tell the conference that Australia was prepared to do her part in such a scheme.

The establishment of the Singapore base was a condition precedent to the establishment of any large fleet (here; therefore the proposal must commend itself to the, people of Australia. It showed that Britain recognised that the heart of the Empire was not now in the North Sea, hut that it had shifted to the Pacific. The proposal was the carrying out of what had for long been an Australian ideal. .Mr Biuco next dealt with the importance of the development of airship and wireless services. In all these matters, he reiterated, lie would not commit Australia to one penny expense till Parliament had had a full opportunity of discussing the decisions of I lie conference.

Turning to ilie Economic Conference, Mr Brncc declared (hat the, most important subjects for discussion were overseas settlement and trade development, which were bound up with land settlement. The question was the- problem of finding markets for the Empire’s produce. Unless wc could find markets for our surplus products, it was useless to go on with migration schemes. There was no reason why we should not enter into intereinpire trade arrangements which, white not shutting the door to other nations, would help Great Britain and the Empire over a. period when the markets of the. whole world were unstable. The only way to moot the situation was- by reciprocity within the Empire, and he proposed to urge this with all his power. Upon Australia was thrown the obligation of .showing the need for preference. If Australia could not find markets in Britain she must inevitably find them .somewhere else. That meant that some other nation s goods would be- substituted for those ol Britain. That was the last thing (he Ministry desired,, because it would be most serious to Britain.

In regard to preference, lie declared that under it Empire trade within the Empire would increase the jHirchasnig power of the dominions from Britain. If a basis regarding (he Empire’s foreign policy were not reached it would it can the disintegration of the Empire. Ihe result of that would 100 disastrous, lie beh.ev.d that the Ministry was doing its best in the interests of the Common wealth. They held that Australia should defend herself, and that within ihe Empire there should be a common policy for the. whole Empire. The whole question should be approached from a.o. Australian standpoint-. The debate was adjourned. IRISH LOYALISTS. LONDON, July 24. (Received July 25, at 11.55 a.m.) In the Bouse of Lords, Lord Midlcton, on behalf of the Irish loyalists, initiated a debate. A number of peers attacked the, Imh policy of the late. Government. Lord Birkenhead vigorously defended it. The Duke of Devonshire promised that the Government would look' after the interests of the Irish loyalists. —A. and N.Z. Cable. DE VALERA’S DETERMINATION. BOX DON, July 24. (Received July 25, at 11.55 a.m.) Replying to a threat that ho would ho kept on the run, Do Valera, in a statement, said: “Living or dead, we mean to establish the right of the Irish Republicans to live and work openly for the complete liberation of our country. If the people of Clare select, me as a candidate again, I will be with them. Nothing but a bullet will stop me.’’—A. and N.Z. Cable. IN THE RUHR. LONDON, July 24. (Received July 25, at 11.55 a.m.) The ‘Daily Telegraph’s] Dusseldorfcorrespondent says : “ There is some evidence of weakening' in the passive resistance. The coal owners at one, or two points are paying the coni tax, thus enabling coal to enter unoccupied Germany. Iho greatest difficulty in the Ruhr is the paucity ol bank' notes. Numerous firms and municipalities arcs demanding authority from Berlin to print their own notes, in order to pay their workmen’s wages.”—A. and N.Z. Cable. PRINCESS ON TRIAL BERLIN, July 24. (Received July 25, at 12.55 p.m.) The greatest precautions aro being taken to ensure that Princess Holienloho shall not escape. The authorities have reason to believe that powerful friends aro everting their utmost to get her out of prison. Each time that sho is taken before the judge, she is blindfolded, to prevent her becoming acquainted with the corridors and outlets.—A. and N.Z. Cable.

MRS WARREN SENTENCED. PARIS, July 24. (Received July 25, at 11.55 a.m.) Mrs Warren, wife of the international gang leader, was charged with being her husband’s accomplice. She was .sentenced to thieo years’ imprisonment, and ordered to repay £23,000, which was stolen from Sir Walter Cockorline.—A. and N.Z. Cable. MANDATES COMMISSION. LONDON, July 24. (Received July 25, at 11.55 a.m.) Sir Joseph Conk and Sir James Allen intend to proceed to Geneva, for a. meeting of the Mandates Commission on August 2. Sir Joseph Cook will participate in Nauru and New Guinea discussions, and Sir James Allen in iho Nauru and Samoan discussions.—A. and N.Z. Gable.