The Wide World.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLIV, Issue 22, 1 June 1910, Page 8

The Wide World.

CABLE NEWS IN BRIEF.

IMPERIAL.

THE death and obsequies of Edward VII. have continued to dominate the Imperial situation, and the truce which followed tho accession of King George V. remains unbroken. There has been some talk of compromise till the new King can bring a more ripened-judg-ment to the Councils of State, but' the leaders on neither side have said anything which could be construed into overtures of peace. Mr. Asquith has resumed his interrupted holiday in the Middle Sea, and Mr. Balfour has kept his own counsels. The “Times” has supported the suggestion for a compromise, remarking that every right-minded person would prefer at any time a pacific solution of political questions far less important than a revolutionary change in an ancient Constitution, but how much more so now that the Crown had just passed from the most popular and trusted of all Sovereigns into the hands of a comparatively young and necessarily inexperienced successor. It was impossible to place the responsibility upon King George’s shoulders which King Edward might have borne. There were grounds for hoping that sane counsels would prevail. Other newspapers remark a more conciliatory spirit on both sides. Mr. Redmond does not think compromise possible, nor does Mr. Keir Hardie, the Labour leader, who, in a rather bitter speech in Wales, hoped the suggestion that had been made to indefinitely postpone the resumption of the fight in which Parliament was engaged would find neither sympathy nor support on either side. The battle must be fought through at the earliest possible moment. Mr. Hardie entered a protest against the glorification of militarism displayed at the Royal funeral, to the exclusion of tho Civil side of government. He objected to the enthronement' of a fighting zna n. The King issued a message to the peoples beyond the seas on Monday, in the course of which he said that, called upon to follow 7 in his father’s footsteps, it would be his earnest endeavour to uphold constitutional government', to safeguard in all their fulness the liberties enjoyed throughout the Dominions, and to maintain, upon the foundation of freedom. justice, and peace, the great heritage of the united British Empire. Mr. Redmond paid his promised visit to Cork on Monday, with the anticipated result of street fighting between the United Irish and All For Ireland League. Beyond a few broken heads no serious damage was occasioned by the riots. Tho £40,000 required for Captain Scott's expedition to Antarctica has been collected, and the Terranova sails shortly. After calling at the Cape and Australia, she will come on to Lyttelton to make final preparations for the great attempt. The King of Spain’s life was endangered on his return to Madrid from King Edward’s funeral, ‘a chance change of plans saving him from the bomb of an assassin, who was waiting for him at the railway station, but whose bomb exploded prematurely. The anarchist, a South American, committed suicide upon arrest. The Channel was crossed for a second time by aeroplane on Sunday, Count Jaques de Lesseps Hying across in a Bleriot monoplane in half an hour. The new Japanese tariff will be a serious blow to British trade. The rates on many articles have been doubled, and in several instances trebled, and a large majority of those articles are chiefly imported from Britain. Tho increastm rates when enforced will compel many British firms trading with Japan to abandon their business there. More rioting has taken place in Cork. Many houses were wrecked and one man Was killed. FOREIGN AFFAIRS. No hope is entertained for the lost French submarine I’luviose. All attempts • t rescue have failed. The recent riot's in China are said to be due in part to tho terror of tho Chinese at the *pp<aranee of the comeU

COMMONWEALTH.

In a recent speech, Mr. Fisher said the Labour party had never doubted the ability of the British fleet to protect Australia, but no nation would ever become great which deputed its defence to other people. Australians must undertake the task themselves. The keel of the Dreadnought cruiser is to be laid next month, and the Paramatta, the first destroyer of the fleet, will run her trials in a few weeks. The Commonwealth shipping agents have decided to increase the freight rates on frozen meat to five-eighths of a penny per lb from August. The increase will not affect the New Zealand rates. The Federal Government proposes to subsidise a cable service for Press purposes.