LATE MESSAGES

Greymouth Evening Star, 23 July 1927, Page 7

LATE MESSAGES

BRUSSELS, July 22. Stephane Otto, described ns Europe’s King of Imposters, is again in the hands of the police accused of posing as a British officer. He was unmasked before finding victims. Possessing a persuasive tongue and perfect manners, Otto has had a remarkable career. Once he pretended to be the envoy of the Prince of Wales, and also an attache of the {ting of the Belgians. His greatest exploit was the decoration of the American, General Alien,' and the d’hole of his staff at Coblentz, with fake medals. The hoax was discovered only when General Allen sent a letter of thanks to the King. Otto is well known in London, where he was imprisoned. He also swindled his way through Europe, e\en borrowing money from a former Sultan in Constantinople. He was arrested in Germany early in 1927, posing as an officer of the Inter-Allied Disarmament Commission. He was born in Belgium, and served in the French Foreign Legion.

LONDON, July 22. Cabinet at a prolonged meeting heard Mr. Bridgeman’s and Lord Cecil’s report on the Geneva Conference; also the committee on Imperial Defence’s recommendations. It is understood that Cabinet unanimously approved of the line taken by the dele-' gates, who are returning to Geneva during the weekend to continue the negotiations. A number of Conservative C ommoners intimated that they will ojt support further British coicessions beyond the Anglo-Japanese compro nise. LONDON, July 22. The Canadian branch of the Empire Parliamentary Association has invited British and other Empire branches to send a delegation to Canada in September and October 1928. the visit to last from four to six weeks, and will cover all the Nine Provinces. PARIS, July 22. Guyot (the millionaire who killed a girl while motoring) has been sentenced to death.

SYDNEY, July 23. For the Bantam Championship of Australia, Cowan outpointed Thurdon in a fifteen rounds’ bout. COPENHAGEN, July 22. France eliminated Denmark from the Davis Cup, and meets the winner of the American zone in the final. Borotra and Brugnon beat Peterson and Ulrich 6/4, 6/0, 6/3. Borotra beat Petersen 6/8, 6/2, 6/1, 6/0. LONDON, July 22. In the Commons, what seemed a possible Conservative back-bench fireworks form of attack on the ■ third reading of the Finance Bill, tamely fizzled out, after a division defeating a Labour amendment. , The rejection was moved by Mr Hillet who said that when they got to the top of the mountain which Mr Churchill said they were climbing, they found themselves in Tory fog. Petherick Lawrence, in seconding, described the Budget as a thing of shreds and patches. Sir Frederic Wise thought that Mr Churchill was a wonderful writer and a great debater, but said: Some of his finance makes me cry. Let me tell him, there’s veiled insurrection among the back-benchers. (Hear hear). We feel we are not being properly used, in connection with the methods of economy we really understand.”

Mr Ronald McNeill replying, said following the apprehension especially among business men, the Finance Bill was received with surprise and relief. He hoped that by the end of • the year, the consequences of 1926 would be left behind. The Bill would be historic for its simplification of Income tax and prevention of evasion of the super tax. The Bill was read a third time by 338 to 86.