GENERAL CABLE NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 14930, 1 March 1912, Page 8

GENERAL CABLE NEWS.

FROM THE AUSTRALIAN PAPERS. " - ■ ANGLO-GEBMAN ENTENTE. Thk Lokal Anzeiger says that it is reported in diplomatic circles that the negotiations now in progress with a view to bringing about a- better- -understanding be-, tween Britain arid Germany, are proceeding satisfactorily, and that an agreement; has nearly been reached f oh." the points in~dispute. ' The.result of ibe": conversations, adds the paper, is . a *" '.-. more • favourable than either side had dared to hope for. To King s> George is ascribed the credit of putting-an end to the diplomatic tension. The aim of the ;. negotiations seems to be a sort of . protocol, '. giving the views "of both - parties on world politics,' which' it ' is. intended shall serve" as a' guide to future relations. It is understood that disarmament does not figure prominently in the conversations. JAPANESE IN HAWAII. "' There is a good deal of disquieting talk just now about the way in "which Honolulu is menaced by the rapid growth of the Japanese population. Official figures discloso that there are ,59,089 Japanese in : Hawaii.- Hundreds of Japanese companies all over, the islands are constantly being ; drilled in military tactics *by officers" who '■ have seen active service. In the Japanese schools also the boys and girls are ,b*ing :';compelled to undergo a course of drill,, the children being provided with wooden swords and. guns, while nothing but the language, principles, and ideas or their own race are taught. ■ ' . SUFFRAGETTES' PLANS.. ... An. onslaught on the House of Commons that is likely to eclipse all previous demonstrations of the kind is being planned by the v suffragettes. Discussing the matter with a press interviewer, Mis. Paakhurst 1 i;'said: "We shall wait and sse what the Government intends to offer. If the concessions ' are- , unsatisfactory :we are pre- • pared for vigorous action" ' There will be ill 'gathering' of women from all parts-of the country who are ready to 'sacrifice their dignity on behalf of the cause. ' We have planned something; entirely new in the way of demonstrations, but, * of course, "it must be kept secret."" ' • BOY SCOUT MOVEMENT. Responding to the. toast of his health at a boy scout dinner in.New York last week, Lieutenant-General Sir R. Baden-Powell had some interesting things to say regarding the objects of the boy scout: organisation. "It is very' important," he , told. the gathering, "that there should be no kind of soldiering in this movement. If people knew how much I hate war they would never suspect me of trying to teach war to boys. War is a thing I never want to see in a civilised country again. We are suffering from over-civilisation, "and need to give more attention to the development of boys physically, giving them more manliness than the schools do. The drilling of boys makes them: too much like ,a machine." TAFT'S ARBITRATION SCHEME. President Taft's proposal for submitting to arbitration questions involving national honour is believed in France to- he as dead as a doornail. The eyes of statesmen are opening to the fact that the recent quarrel with Italy demonstrated the uttet impracticability of the scheme. After the recent seizure of- French vessels by Italian warships, the Italian. Consulate in Paris was obliged to ask. for a special police guard, such was the blaze of indignation .that occurred when it was suggested bv Italy .that the affair should betaken hi fore the Hague Tribunal The newspapers however declared that the seizure ZTi .stain on the French flag, and that it must be Wiped out. , French, politician. admit that tfr. Roosavelt was rfghTwhX hede : dared that is. was impossible to arbitrate on questions of national honour.