FRENCH MINISTERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20990, 29 September 1931, Page 9

FRENCH MINISTERS.

WELCOME AT BERLIN. ECONOMIC CO-OPERATION. important step taken. Bj Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright(Received September 28, m.5 p.m.) ' „ BERLIN, Sept.. iS. The French Prime Minister. M. Laval, and the Foreign Minister, M. Briand, who are making the first official French visit to Berlin for more than half a century, arrived in tho capital today. They were cordially welcomed by a huge crowd. M. Laval issued a statement to journalists declaring that the unprecedented economic crisis had alarmed* the world and emphasising the need for Franco-Ger-man co-operation. He pointed out the necessity fcr immediate action. A few hours after his arrival M. Laval had taken an important step toward a Franco-German economic agreement bv arranging the appointment of a committee whose object is to seek to lessen the competition between the French and German maritime and aerial companies, to examine the extension of the present industrial cartels, and the formation of holding companies to encourage the investment of French capital in German industry. Hie French Ministers are protected by the strongest police guard since the late Russian Tsar's lust visit. Sentries and police dogs guarded the railway line from Cologne to Berlin. Herr Hitler has warned his followers (the Nazis) not to allow themselves to be enticed into demonstrations agiunst the French Ministers by agents provocateur. He says such actions would only provide France with pretexts for political demands directed chiefly against the Nazis.

NEW LORD WALPOLE. EARL OF ORFORD'S DEATH. SUCCESSION TO BARONIES. (Received September 2S, 5.3 p.m.) LONDON, Sept. 28. The late Earl of Orford's cousin, Robert Walpole, aged 13, who succeeds to the baronies, was travelling in a caravan with his mother and sister when the news of the earl's death reached England. Prior to .coing to New Zealand the earl had handed over his estates to his young cousin, who became the possessor of 9000 acres of land. It was then estimated that if the ear! lived another three years the Treasury would lose enormous death duties through his gift to his cousin. The earl's life exceeded that period by a few weeks, The housekeeper at Wolterton Hall w.is informed by telephone of the death of the earl, and said she was sure that the new baron had not heard the news, but he would be home by caravan on Monday. Lord Walpole's father and brother were killed in the Great War. The late earl's authoress-daughter, Lady Dorothy Mills, had intended to go to New Zealand in October to visit her father. MEMORIAL SERVICE TO-DAY. MESSAGES OF SYMPATHY. A memorial service to the late Earl of Orford, who died at his home at Manure \v a on Sunday, is to be held at St. Matthew's Church this morning at 11 o'clock. The service will bo conducted by Archbishop Averill and Canon Grant Cowen. Messages of sympathy from all parts of New Zealand and England were received by the bereaved countess yesterday. The remains of the late Earl are to be taken to England for interment in the family vauifc at Wolterton Park, the family seat, near Norwich.