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9 FEBRUARY 1925

The British Government’s Note setting out in reply to M. Clementel’s request its policy with regard to inter-Allied debts has been received by the French Government. The Note suggests the lines on which discharge of obligations between Britain and France should be effected. It is reported to have been favourably received by M. Herriot.

Following the American example, China has withdrawn from the International Opium Conference. The delegate stated that present conditions in China unfortunately made it impossible for the Chinese Government to enforce effectively its policy of prohibiting the production of opium for other than medicinal and scientific purposes, but these conditions, he added, were only temporary.

Mr. Champ, Industrial Secretary of the N.U.R., speaking at Grantham, said that while there should be no talk of strikes until all other resources of reason and argument had been exhausted, there would be no cool dropping of their demands. If extreme action were needed they would not shrink from it.

The Executive of the National Union of Railwaymen have decided to refer the whole of their programme to the Central Wages Board.

President Cosgrave, speaking at Cavan, said there was no need for pessimism regarding the future of the Free State. They were far from being bankrupt. The running of Republican candidates in the partitioned North of Ireland for the Imperial Parliament was, he considered, a political blunder of the first magnitude.

8 FEBRUARY 1925

Sources close to the British Government said that they were disappointed with the withdrawal of the American and Chinese delegations to the Geneva Opium Conference.

Sir William Joynson-Hicks, the Home Secretary, said that the Government would be introducing legislation to gain powers which would restrict the activities of the underworld and undesirable nightclubs.

7 FEBRUARY 1925

The “American delegation has withdrawn from the second Opium Conference at Geneva, stating in a memorandum that the difficulties encountered make it clear that the purpose for which the Conference was called cannot be accomplished.

The Turkish Government’s reply to the Greek Note of protest against the expulsion of Mgr. Constantine rejects the suggested reference of the dispute to the Hague Court, and insists that the question is a purely internal one.

The Duchess d’Alpuferi was fired at in Paris by one of her former tenants, a farmer named Danre, and wounded. The man was taken in custody.

A meeting of the Executive of the N.U.R., hurriedly called to consider the railway deadlock, lasted all day, without a decision being reached.

Professor Grierson, speaking at the annual dinner of the Aberdeen University Edinburgh Association–at which the principal guest was Professor Mackintosh, Aberdeen–complained that the entrance of women into the University had introduced an element of distraction.

6 FEBRUARY 1925

Objection has been taken by Britain to the presence of two Turkish experts with the Mosul Boundary Commission on the ground that they are undesirables, whose presence is resented in Mosul, and who quite recently were engaged in an attempt to stir up the local population against the mandatory Power. The Turkish Government denies the British charges.

Sir Philip Cunliffe-Lister, at Edgware, replied to Mr Runciman’s criticism of the Government’s proposals in regard to the safeguarding of industries. The Government, he said, were following the same course as a previous Liberal Administration, so that their action could not be unconstitutional.

Lord Mackenzie has been appointed chairman of a Committee set up by the Secretary for Scotland to consider the question whether it is desirable that further provision should be made as regards Scotland for appeals in criminal cases tried on indictment.

Evidence on behalf of Scottish Co-operative Societies was given before the Commission on Food Prices. It related mainly to meat and the charges to be met in its preparation.

Successful experiments have been made at Southampton with a wireless telephone service between ships and the shore which may be linked up with the General Post Office land telephone lines.

The Rotor ship Buckau left Danzig for Leith.

In trade union circles, indications point to the early development of a stubborn struggle in connection with the railway companies’ proposals to reduce wages.