BRITISH AND FOREIGN

Greymouth Evening Star, 13 September 1924, Page 5

BRITISH AND FOREIGN

(Australian and N.Z. .Cable

FRENCH BANK RATE. PARIS, September 12. The bank rate has been raised to seven per cent., the highest since' 1873. . /

COMMUNIST PARTY. " LONDON, Sept. 12.. The Communist Party of Great Britiap has formed a .Colonial .Branch, which, in a -statement, (says: “This essential war against Imperialism should be co-ordinated and intensified.” . . j OPIUM TRAFFIC.. GENEVA, Septemberll. The opium, traffic is preying a diflL cult problem for the League,' and, it is alleged that some of the factions in China are encouraging its growt]a, and 1 are devoting the proceeds to the un-i' keep of „ their army. ’ . , WAR GUILT. ' BRUSSELS, Sept. 11. The Belgian Government has instructed its Minister’at Berlin to warn, the German Government' that the despatch of a.note to the in reldi fion to the non-responsitility of Germany for the war would be regarded as a deplorable action. EXCHANGE COSTS. LONDON, September 11.

Mr. David Jones, of the New Zealand Meat Board, hqs cabled to Mr. Massey in regard tp. the exchange problem, pointing out that at present it equals a heavy export tax on. the producers. The sixty-day rate is costing, about one-third of a million on meat alone annually.

JEWEL THEFTS. NEW YORK, Sipptember 11. A score of detectives. are engeged on the. Mountbatte n; jewellery robbery b,ut so tai', without a definite clue. Mrs. Gosden, wife of the piV millionaire,’was the/heaviest loser, including a black pearl ring valued at £16,000, a pigeon, blqod ruby, valued.at* £6,000 and several other valuable gems. .

ULSTER BOUNDARY.

LONDON, September 12.

Sir James Craig, in an interview, declared that Lord Birkenhead’s'' letter to Lord Balfour made nd difference whatever to his qttitude in regard to appointing a Boundary Commissioner, to represent Ulster. To appoint the Ulster representative, he said, would deprive them of the right to appeal against any decision which the Boundary Commission, if it ever was set up, might formulate.'

COLONIAL SECRETARY’S TRIP. CAPETOWN, September 12. Air J. H. Thomas arrived from the north this afternoon and sailed for England. Interviewed, he said that he considered South Africa a good country for settlers with money. There was no hope for the merely unemployed and casual labour.'He said that he intended ,to visit other Dominions, but declined to say which he would next, visit. He expected to speak on British questions the same day as he arrived in England. His secretaries would meet him at Maderia and put him an . fait with the most recent developments.

GRANTS TO EX-KAISER. • BERLIN, Sept. 11. A statement submitted to the Prussian Diet by the Finance Minister shqws that the . thirty million marks to the ex-Kaiser till May, 1920, and twenty-four thousand Dutch guilders last year also fifty thousand gold marks monthly to the ajdministration of thei .ex-Royal house for maintenance of members ot the family. , , The Ministers suggest that the Royal Palaces in Berlin, Potsdam and elsewhere be regarded as the property of the State, and that; a few estates and hunting lodges be the private property of the Hohenzollerns.

WEMBLEY EXHIBITION. LONDON, September 11. Negotiations have been progressing for some .weeks between ,the Exhibition authorities and the Australian Commissioner for a continuance of the exhibition in 1925. It is understood the authorities are prepared’ to bear a substantial portion of. any;loss incurred by Australia. It is expected the Australians’. net expenditure will not exceed thirty thousand- pounds, which probably will be recouped by means of pavilion trading. It is understood that the Exhibition Commission have recommended thal Wembley be continued during. 1925, provided the Imperial autlioritjes contribute 50 per cent, of the Australian expenses. The revised expenditure will be fixed at £90,000, £lO,OOO being devoted to advertising.