BRITISH AFFAIRS

Southland Times, Issue 18697, 15 October 1919, Page 5

BRITISH AFFAIRS

LEAGUE OF NATIONS. NATIONAL CAMPAIGN OPENS, LETTER FROM THE KING. (By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) LONDON, October 13. The National Campaign in support of the League of Nations was inaugurated at a meeting in the Mansion House at which Mr Asquith was the principal speaker. A letter was read from the King emphasising that a strong and enduring League of Nations was essential in order to secure lasting peace and commending the cause to “all citizens of the Empire so that with the help of all other men of of goodwill and butress and sure defence of Peace to the glory of God and the everlasting fame of our age and country may be established.” The Premier wrote appealing to his fellow countrymen to participate in the great crusade in support of international order and goodwill. Mr Asquith moved a resolution approving of the League and endorsing the proposal that November 11 be celebrated throughout the country as League of Nations Day. He emphasised the point that the success of the great experiment rested not so much with governments as with the peoples of the world. There were a multitude of disquieting factors in the international atmosphere and the outspoken, resolute support of the peoples was necessary to carry the League through the present difficulties. Lord Robert Cecil emphasised the point that the League would continually care for the interests of peace throughout the world. It was unlike previous attempts to secure peace, which had operated in fits and starts. The road was full of combustible materials, some of which were already smouldering. These materials must be removed and replaced by sounder material in order to avoid a dangerous conflagration. Mr J. R. Clynes said that Labour would not find security by depending entirely on the international working class movement. The League would do lor the Governments and Parliaments what the international movement proposed to do amongst the rank and file of the people. THE IRISH UNREST. MORE DARING SINN FEIN RAIDS. LONDON, October 14. Received October 14, 9.45 p.m. Daring Sinn Fein raids for arms continue in southern Ireland. Parties of Sinn Feiners hold up motor cars, attack soldiers and even raid private houses, where they believe arms are to be found. Nine Sinn. Fein prisoners in Mountjoy gaol who were hunger striking are manacled in their cells. ECONOMY CAMPAIGN. DISMANTLING WAR WORK. LONDON, October 13. Received October 14, 5.5 p.m. The Government has already vacated three large West End hotels and will formally surrender the Hotel Cecil this week. The War Office is preparing to release the National Portrait Gallery and Wallace collection, which will shortly be re-opened to the public. The displaced staffs, numbering four thousand, will be accommodated in the Alexandra Palace, which was used as an Aliens camp during war-time. The Government's economy proposals include the dismantling of the huge aerodrome at East Fortune, the scrapping of an enormous electric plant and spacious underground oil reservoirs, and also the break-ing-up of the airship R29. THE RAILWAY STRIKE. AN AUSTRALIAN’S VIEW. NEW YORK, October 14. Received October 14, 9.10 p.m. Mr John Greely Jenkins, former Premier of South Australia and now British delegate to the International Trade Conference, in an interview said that the outcome of the British railway strike showed that the Government and not the strikers must be supreme. The affair, if anything, had strengthened Mr Lloyd George with the great majority of Labour. People in England were anti-Bolshevik and Red propaganda had not been given an opportunity to secure a foothold. RATES OF EXCHANGE. LONDON, October 13. Received October 14, 5.5 p.m. Rates of Exchange are: On Paris 36.1 francs; Stockholm, 17.12 kroner; Christiania, 18.15 kroner; Calcutta (rupee), 24 9-16 d; Montreal, 433 cents; New York, 4183 cents.