EUROPEAN RELATIONS

Greymouth Evening Star, 17 June 1935, Page 2

EUROPEAN RELATIONS

LABOUR AND PRINCE

[by oable— press assn. —COPYRIGHT.]

LONDON, Juno 15.

“I think the Prince of Wales, after considering the matter, will realise that there are otliev forms of discipline besides shouldering a. musket and playing soldiers,” said Mi*. G. Lansbury, when at a meeting at which he referred to the speech of the Prince on June 13 to the British Legion. Mr. Lansbury said that if the Prince introduced controversial subjects, he naturally would expect that those differing from him would jolly well say so. The Prince was sufficiently a sportsman to respect opponents. “I am in favour of the abolition of the cadet corps,” he said. “The Prince says that 1 am a crank, but the crank is an important part of an engine.” . Mr. Lansbury, speaking at the Builders’ dinner, applauded the Prince’s suggestion of an ex-servicemen’s visit to Germany. He said that it would be a fine gesture if the Prince of Wales accompanied the British Leegion, and if ho subsequently went to Russia, where ho would receive as good a reception as did Mr. Anthony Eden. VISIT TO BERLIN. , RUGBY, June 14. The British Legion has received and accepted the official invitation from four principal German ex-servicemen organisations, and a delegation will proceed to Berlin on July 13, to establish friendly contact with these organisations.

NAVAL CONSTRUCTION.

LONDON, June 15

It is learned from Paris that M. Laval, Prime Minister, and M. Pietri, have been deputed to draft a reply to a communication from the British Government relating to the AngloGerman naval talk, this reply manifesting anxiety. The “Daily Telegraph’s” diplomatic correspondent, however, says that the British Government has no intention of accepting any position which would give France cause for alarm. The “Daily Telegraph’s” naval correspondent learns that the first longterm British naval programme since the Naval Defence Act, of 1889, is likely to be introduced in 1930. It is expected to provide besides annual new construction of vessels, the replacement of the obsolete vessels in every category.

ITALIAN HOLIDAY

ROME, June 16

Cabinet passed a Bill under which work will cease at 1 p.m. on Saturdays throughout Italy, where halfholidays hitherto have been unknown, but men must devote the afternoons to military training. A decree has also been issued withdrawing silver coinage and substituting notes presumably • owing to the rise in the price of silver.

CLOSING SUEZ CANAL

ROME, June 16

Gayda in “Giornale D’ltaliae” declares that if the Suez Canal and the Straits of Gibraltar could be closed by a League order to impose sanctions, they must be. internatiodalised. Any nation would consider the closing of the Suez Canal as ah explicit act of hostility deserving special consideration.