Category: 100 Years Ago

26 DECEMBER 1925

Fighting between rival Chinese forces has taken place on a considerable scale. The troops of General Feng Yu Hsiang have entered Tientsin.

Lord Lloyd, the British High Commissioner in Egypt, speaking at a gathering of Egyptian notables, advised them to eschew party strife and to care for the working people.

Litvinoff, acting Soviet Commissar for Foreign Affairs, said in an interview that the consolidation of the existing friendly relations between the Soviet Union and Turkey was a serious step towards the consolidation of general peace. He denied that there were any secret clauses in the treaty recently concluded between the two Governments.

After three days’ discussion the fourteenth Congress of the Russian Communist party has adopted by 559 votes to 65 a resolution expressing entire approval of the lines followed by the Central Committee on home and foreign policy.

The Greek Cabinet, in order to combat Communism, has decided to make voting compulsory.

The Indian National Congress will be opened at Cawnpore to-day.

Impressive scenes were witnessed at the closing of the Holy Door by the Pope.

Pilot Officer Cecil William Woodbine was fatally injured, and Aircraftsman Arthur Thomas Groom seriously injured in an aeroplane accident near Neisha, Egypt.

A message from Charleston, U.S.A., reports a train collision in which four railway employees were killed.

New shipping launched on the Clyde during the year has consisted of 256 vessels of 524,185 tons. This shows a slight decrease from the tonnage of last year. While the output has been fairly satisfactory, the dearth of orders causes considerable anxiety as to the immediate future of the industry.

Shipbuilders on the Forth, as well as in other parts of the country, have again experienced a year of lean trade. Within the past few weeks, however, the outlook has brightened considerably. A number of important orders have been placed on the East Coast, and it is hoped that these are the forerunners of others. At present there is a brisk spell in ship repairing.

24 DECEMBER 1925

Some details of M. Doumer’s financial proposals to save the French franc are given. A pamphlet, voicing opinions of 2000 economic organisations, urges that the example of the “Geddes axe” should be followed.

A German Professor who took a prominent part in the war as commander of a gas battalion expresses the conviction that poison gas, despite the protests of “sentimentalists,” is destined to play an increasingly important part in future wars on the lines already defined and exploited by the German armies.

Four volunteer firemen were killed and five injured in a fire at Waynesburg, Pennsylvania.

In the opinion of part of the French Press, Captain Canning’s visit to Paris on behalf of Abdel Krim has been planned to prejudice the Franco-Spanish entente.

Nine lives were lost in an American coal mine fire.

At a meeting of the Chamber of Mines at Johannesburg, it was stated that owing to the prosperity of agriculture the number of natives offering themselves had substantially decreased, and that the added cost of white labour policy would be over £18,000,000 annually.

Sir James Craig, in a message to the people of Ulster, says the celebration of this Christmas festival would be incomplete if they did not feel genuinely grateful for their delivery by divine mercy from anxieties of bygone years, and for the birth of a new spirit of goodwill.

23 DECEMBER 1925

In his Speech to the Parliament of Northern Ireland the King expressed gratification regarding the recent settlement with the Irish Free State, and said he hoped it would be cemented by a spirit of goodwill and friendship.

In his speech proroguing Parliament until February 2 the King reviewed the legislation of the session, especially referring to industrial and social Acts. Hopes were expressed for peace and goodwill at home and abroad.

The Lords amendments to the Rating Bill and the Criminal Justice Bill were disposed of in the House of Commons.

Mr Baldwin had an interview in London with the Turkish Ambassador on the subject of the Iraq boundary.

In an interview in London Emir Zaid, who has been acting as Regent of Iraq, expressed the belief that the decision of the League of Nations would have an immense effect in ensuring a bright and happy future for his country.

Mr Churchill, replying to a deputation on the subject of a tax on betting, promised to examine impartially the question in all its aspects.

Sharp fighting is reported between the Chinese belligerents. The troops of Feng Yu Hsiang have advanced, and Tientsin is in danger of falling. At Mukden Japanese troops are prepared forcibly to keep the contending forces six miles from the railway, and in the event of the Chinese pledges being broken, the nature of the action to be taken by the Japanese troops is left to the discretion of the respective Commanders.

Chinese pirates seized and looted the British steamer Tungchow. The captain was wounded by a shot, and the officers navigated the vessel at the point of the pistol. Europeans on board were not molested.

Captain Gordon Canning, hon. secretary of the Riff Committee in London, in an interview with a Press representative, at Marseilles, made a statement in regard to Abdel Krim’s views on peace terms with France and Spain.

22 DECEMBER 1925

The Prime Minister stated in the House of Commons that the safeguarding of a basic industry of the magnitude of the iron and steel trades would have repercussions which might be held to be in conflict with the Government’s declaration in regard to a general tariff. While in all the circumstances of the time they had decided that the application of these trades could not be granted, the Government would keep them under observation with a view to promoting their well-being should any other measures be deemed desirable.

By 239 votes to four, the Socialists taking no part in the debate or the division, the House of Commons carried the Prime Minister’s resolution expressing approval of the action taken by the British representatives at Geneva in accepting the Iraq boundary award.

In the House of Lords, the Civil Lord of the Admiralty, replying to a question regarding Rosyth, stated that when the full economies the Admiralty proposed were brought into operation it would be found that Scotland had not been unfairly dealt with as compared with England.

A cheque of £1000 has been sent by the Prince of Wales to Mr J. H. Thomas, M.P., the desire of His Royal Highness being “to share in some small degree the burdens” shouldered by the guarantors of the British Empire Exhibition.

19 DECEMBER 1925

A new housing offer to Scotland was announced in Parliament by the Prime Minister.

The Consolidated Fund Bill was read a third time in the House of Commons.

The Education (Scotland) Bill passed second reading in the House of Lords.

Ulster Special Constables, who were on strike, resolved after a three hours’ conference to accept the Cabinet’s offer.

A pastoral letter, signed by the Rev. John White, D.D., Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, drawing attention to the spread of betting and gambling, is to be read in the churches to-morrow. The letter says that the Church, at the risk of being called ultra-puritanical, must assert its strength and its authority against what is described as a very serious and growing evil.

Mr J. H. Thomas, M.P., speaking at Derby, referred to the proposed reduction in railway shopmen’s wages. He said there was no warrant for the proposal, and it would be in the best interests of the Companies if they recognised that fact and withdrew the application.

18 DECEMBER 1925

The Safeguarding of Industries (Customs Duties) passed second reading in the House of Lords.

The House of Commons discussed the Board of Education’s Circular 1371.

The Rent Restriction (Scotland) Bill and the Police Pensions Bill were withdrawn in the House of Commons.

The Prime Minister announced in the House of Commons that the Secretary for Scotland would be raised to the status of a Secretary of State, and that legislation to give effect to this would be introduced next session.

The decision taken by the Council of the League of Nations in the question of Iraq and Mosul, the frontier between Iraq and Turkey, and the British mandate in Iraq was announced in Parliament by the Prime Minister. The award, he said, involved no departure from the policy adopted and announced two and a half years ago.

Mr Lloyd George addressed a Liberal demonstration in London on the Urban Land Report. He urged the need for reform in urban land policy in order to redress the grievances from which traders suffered, to deal with the traffic problem, and to clear away slums. The job of the Liberal party was to fight the wrongs of which he had spoken. That might not be the shortest way back to the Treasury Bench, but it was a sure way back to the hearts of the people.

Princess Mary named the new battleship, H.M.S. Rodney, which was launched successfully at Birkenhead.

Sir George Gibb, a native of Aberdeen, who was in the forefront of British railway organisers and pioneers, has died in London.

In the Scottish Temperance Act polls in the Lanarkshire parishes, the “dry” areas of Cambuslang and Rutherglen and the limitation area of Stonehouse became “wet.” Further limitation was carried in Avondale.

The Committee appointed by the Ministry of Labour to inquire into certain legal, financial, and economic aspects of the Scottish shale industry met in Glasgow, when a plea for a spirit of friendly co-operation was voiced by the Chairman.

Giving evidence before the Coal Commission, Lord Gainford said that the suspicion that the coke industry was bleeding the coal mining industry through the transfer price for coal was artificially created. If coking coal were put on the open market, it would fetch a much lower price.

17 DECEMBER 1925

A Geneva telegram announces that Mosul up to the Brussels Line has been awarded to Iraq. The decision was made known at a public meeting of the Council of the League of Nations.

Berlin police arrested two men who are alleged to be involved in a plot to assassinate Herr Stresemann, the Foreign Minister.

The new French Finance Minister is M. Paul Doumer.

Earl Buxton raised discussion in the House of Lords with regard to the suppression of slave raiding, and slave trading. The policy of slaughter as the main weapon in the fight against foot-and-mouth disease was defended by the Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture, Lord Bledisloe.

The Safeguarding of Industries (Customs Duties) Bill passed third reading in the House of Commons. The question of Government assistance to necessitous areas was debated on the motion for adjournment. The report and third reading stages of the Education (Scotland) Bill were agreed to.

An official announcement states that pamphlets have been distributed, presumably through Communist activities, in ships and shore establishments, designed to stir up discontent on naval pay by untrue statements.

The strike of the “A” Special Constabulary in Ulster continues. It has been arranged that the Inspector-General shall meet the deputation from a representative body of the strikers on Friday.

Princess Mary started the work on the new Mersey tunnel by turning on the pneumatic drills. It is estimated that the work will cost five million pounds, of which the Government will provide half.

Drastic cuts are announced in emigrant rates to Canada. These apply particularly to people of agricultural experience going on the land.

16 DECEMBER 1925

Lord Somers replied in the House of Lords for the Minister of Education to an attack by Earl De La Warr and other members on the proposals of Circular 1371. The Criminal Justice Bill passed report. Clause 40, which imposes penalties upon drunken motorists, being amended to provide for automatic disqualification from holding licence to drive for twelve months after conviction.

The Safeguarding of Industries (Customs Duties) Bill passed Committee stage in the House of Commons, and was reported without amendment. Several measures, including the Weights and Measures Amendment Bill, were withdrawn.

The Parliamentary Labour party has resolved that the services of every member should be fully utilised on the floor of the House of Commons in fighting the capitalistic policy of the Government and compelling it to produce constructive measures for coping with the problem of unemployment.

The decision of the Council of the League of Nations in the Mosul dispute will be formally announced to-day. It is understood that the Council has decided unanimously in favour of the Brussels Line as the frontier.

M. Loucheur, the French Minister of Finance, has resigned.

Evidence was given before the Coal Commission by the Duke of Northumberland; Mr J. J. M’Murdo, on behalf of the Scottish Mineral Owners’ Association; and Mr J. A. S. Millar, W.S., for the Scottish Mineral Owners’ Committee.

The Ministry of Labour have intervened in the railway shopmen’s dispute in England.

The bulk of the “A” division of the Ulster Special Constabulary are on strike. They have issued a list of demands, which includes £200 for each man, with the threat that if this is not conceded no arms, ammunition, equipment or barracks will be handed over.

Among the reasons given to the Food Council for the shortage in the wheat harvest, and the consequent rise in price, were disappointing harvests in Canada, Russia, Australia, and the Argentine, chiefly the last named.

The Prince of Wales, Princess Mary, and other members of the Royal Family were at the annual meeting in London of the League of Mercy. Bringing a message from Their Majesties, the King and Queen, the Prince of Wales paid a tribute to the year’s work, and dealt with the Empire aspect of the League’s activities.