LATE CABLE NEWS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18872, 26 May 1923, Page 7

LATE CABLE NEWS

Press Association —By Telegraph—Copyright LONDON, May 25. , (Received May 25, at 10.50 p.m.) Lord, Birkenhead returned to London last evening and attended the Canadian : Clun dinner. In proposing the toast of tb* British Empire he saia that statecraft was never confronted with more baffling..and complex problems than the finding of hew markets and the regaining of those .lost in Europe, but if the problems were boldly and fearlessly' faced there was no reason why the Empire should not be self-sup-porting, as was the case in the United States.' - rS.

Mr Baldwin, in a message to Mrs Philipson, a candidate for the Berwick-on-Tweed seat, rendered vacant through the unseating of her husband, said; “It is clearly my duty to carry out the sound and'wise policy laid down at the general election by Mr Bonar Law. That policy was to*-, firmed by the country’s verdict. Yoyreturn will encourage me to go forward with my task.” A remarkable storv was fold to a Westminster Gazette interviewer by Mr Oliver Baldwin, son of the Prime Minister. Oliver, who is 24 years of age, is a typical public school man. He served in the Irish Guards during the war, and since then has suffered in prison starvation and almost'death in the cause of Socialism. “In September, 1920,” he said, “I went to * Armenia, as an army instructor during the Turkish Armenian war. We were beaten by the Turks in November, and the next ■ month the Bolshevists swept down. They threw me into gaol with other Socialists, I being the only non-Armenian member of the Dashnakzutun, one of the most powerful social revolutionary bodies. I was released on parole after six weeks in prison and went about seeing how Bolshevism worked. I left for Turkey in March, 1921, with a Kemalist passport, which I nowknow was onb' a trap. I was arrested at Alexandropol and sent to s prison in Kara for a month and then to another prison, where I had chains on my 1 feet and was "starved for live months. .The Bolshevists wanted mo back for execution, ; but the Turks kept me. I saw two . Communists executed outside my window. Then an exchange was made, and I. was released, I walked from Erzeroum to Trebizond. The British Labour Party has broken my heart, because, while ostensibly belonging to the Second Internationale, .it backs up the Moscow Third Internationale, which murders anyone who speaks in -defence -of public rights., I am goiug to East. Africa in September, where, • with nature, the common enemy of man, I shall be united in building up instead of pulling down.” Lycett played amazing tennis at Surbiton, where he won three hard open singles matches, though pushed in the last. He then won two rounds of the men’s doubles, and late in the evening, though very tired, was required to play a mixed doubles. There is much comment on the fact that he should be so overworked within a week of the Davis Cup tie against Belgium. The keynote of the speeches at 'the Royal Colonial Institute annual dinner at the Hotel Victoria marked the unity'of Empire. Sir G. Lagden presided, 250 guests being present. A message, ypaa read from the various dominions' branches. Sir Robert Home, toasting the United Empire, said: “The change whereby the dominions have been given a : voice in the questions of policy illustrate ■ the progress the Empire has made. As u a consequence of the war the dominions have been given a new' status. Great Britain welcomes the opinion of the dominions on any subject in .order that!;it may be discussed for the benefit of; the whole of the dominions. Australia is m the vanguard on the migration question. The whole prosperity and safety of ; the dominions depends upon a population’ : of British stock. The only real League of Nations in the world to-day is a League of Nations of the British 'Empire." ; c Mr Perlev (Canada) said it was necessary that the High Commissioners should hold office in their Governments in order that they would be empowered to rfj&et British Ministers periodically in connection with' Empire affairs. . ‘ PARIS, May 24,' (Eeceived May 25, at 10.30 p.m.) r 'Sunday’s meeting between M. Poincare, M. Theunis, and M. Jaspar is regarded by the Belgians as a preface to a wider inter-allied conference l when the Allied policy regarding Germany will be, exhaustively reviewed. —A. and N.Z. Cable. ,