BRITISH & FOREIGN NEWS

Hokitika Guardian, 26 March 1927, Page 3

BRITISH & FOREIGN NEWS

CBY TELEGRAPH—mi PRESS ASSOCIATION.] BUTCH FEARS. AMSTERDAM. March 25. After a long debate the Dutch First Chamber has rejected the lieigo-Dutc-h treaty by 33 to If, which treaty passed the Dutch Second Chamber. The treaty gives Antwerp certain advantages on the Scheldt and authorises the construction of two canals from Antwerp to Moerdijt and Ruhrort. The debate revealed fears that this woui'd affect Rotterdam’s trade. There was also a suggestion that lit! •; i designs are aiming at free passage warships through Dutch waters in wartime, whereas it is pointed out tii ' treaty leaves matters exactly as before, and that M. Vandervelde has just abolished the small Naval squadron established by Belgium after the Armistice.

The rejection has created difficult situations for Belgium, where it is suggested the question of the Scheldt must now be raised at Geneva.

A semi-official statement at Brussels says the Dutch decision make the dcof collaboration between the two eon it tries impossible.

KAISER’S RETURN. RERUN, March 25

The question of the ex-Kaiser's return to Germany has been again raised in a startling form by a letter from tiie Prussian Premier, Herr Braun, to the Chancellor. Dr Marx, in which he points out that the exclusion of the Kaiser rests upon the law for the protection of the Republic, which wii'l expire on the 21st of duly. Herr Braun outspokenly declares that if this law is not renewed. Prussia nil! he obliged to adopt precautionary measures as, he says, •• the ex-Kaiser’s return is considered highly undesirable in the interests of the public peace and order, in view of the possible internal as wei’l as foreign political complications.’’

It is considered Herr Braun would not have written in this strain unless lie had serious reasons to believe Wilhelm really intends to return. The new German Government have not: yet made any formal lieei'aration of their intentions, though they have been repeatedly questioned on the subject.

PLANS TAKEN. OFFICER ON TRIAL. LONDON. March 21. Mr Fulton, the prosecuting counsel at the trial, said that Lieutenant-Com-mander Mayers (who was recently arrested on a charge of having in his possession plans of .submarines) was the Instructional Officer and Senior Submarine Officer at Gosport from Augs.st, 1025, till duly, 1926. In the latter capacity he had access to the stibtnarin* plans without any restriction. Mayers had failed to pass his promotion examination, and he was then given an opportunity to seek civil employment. He then joined Vickers linn. Certain plans were missed in March.

Counsel said that Captain Broaic, who was responsible for the plans, wrote to Lieut.-Commander Mayers, asking him if he knew anything about toe plans. Lieut.-Commander .Mayers had nitdresseil two letters to Petty Officer Goldsmith, who formerly was Mayors’ .secretary. Captain I’rodie secured and opened these letters. One envelop.; contained the missing plans. The other (otter instructed Goldsmith to place the plans in yn official’ envelope, and to tie some more red tape round it. and then place ihc plans in a certain drawer. It directed him next to produce them li'om the drawer, and then report their discovery. Mr Fulton added that other documents were found in Major’s office and these were being investigated. The Magistrate adjourned the case.

EAST AND WEST. LONDON. Ala rib 24. The “Daily Mail” says:—“The idea of an economic self-supporting British Empire is inipraitiii’hle, according to Hyir Rechberg. a leading German chemical industrialist, who is <m a mission to Britain, with a view to forming an Anglo. Franco-German Industrial Alii nice against the Russn-Asiatic revolutionary competition. He says that the British industries could never absorb the raw materials from overseas. The Empire must sell largely to the Continent, which will only be enabled to bliv if given a share of the Empire s market. Under the existing '.alliances the Franco-German heavy industries are steadily consolidating their interests, to the disadvantage ol the British Empire. They not only me es " tnblishing an impregnable position economically but they will lead eventually to political alliances. Herr Keelihere- s-avs his mission aims t" Wing iii* the British Empire, so as to prevent economic competition and political rivalry against the Empire.

NEW ZEALAND FINANCE. LONDON, March 20. The financial position of New Zealand was lengthily and frankly dismissed bv Air Hayes, Secretary to the Non Zealand Treasury, in the course of an interview with the “Financial Asked if the New Zealand Government intended to borrow clsewheie ti,„n in iWlon. Air Hayes said that he did not know of any such intention nor personally did he think the terms usually offered in London could he bet tcred elsewhere. Any borrowing "' the coniine year would he for productive mu poses. No New Zealand loans were maturing with 1929-30. He said the trade figures showed the people of New "i 1-111(1 made good use of their hei itlme for the security end development of "which they were so indebted to the «f»n public finances and tlio debt lodnctioi P °The' “Financial News” says editon•illv “There is no Dominion which n>been more scrupulously caretul ovm its finances tiffin New Zealand. Smkimr funds have been provided tot -d its"debts, which should lie extinguished in sixty years. The on y cause foi anxiety is the recent co lapse of t New Zealand export trade It is '}*■ tint if this continues, the -Ntu 1 K imports T .t 1* ."'“SS curtailed, and there may he tempoiai. industrial depression. ’ It adds ■ “Air Hayes does not think much harm would result from a reduction of the New Zealand revenue Irom its impose duties. AA e hope he is right.” The paper further says: ’ln case finances are so closely allied to real ’assets that we have no need to feel anxiety regarding their stability.