Category: 100 Years Ago

11 JANUARY 1925

US and British leaders argued at the Inter-Allied Financial Conference in Paris about money relating to war loans from the First World War. Belgium also said that it feared that their war reparations were being whittled down and Romania rejected allegations that it had done too well out of the conflict.

A telegram from Moscow stated that revolver shots were fired at Zinovieff, the leader of the Third International and President of the Leningrad Soviet. It was thought that none of the shots had hit their target.

10 JANUARY 1925

The efforts of the German chancellor to form a cabinet have failed in the face of gathering obstacles, the last of them the attitude of the People’s party. President Ebert has been informed of the situation, and it is thought probable that he will ask Dr. Luther, the finance minister, to take up the task.

There was no full session of the inter-allied finance conference, but conversations between the heads of the principal delegations took place during the day. It is believed that satisfactory progress was made towards an Anglo-American understanding on reparation claims and towards a compromise with Belgium on the latter’s priority claim.

Marked “urgent and important,” the N.U.R. have forwarded a circular to all branches advising members not to join the proposed supplementary army reserve until satisfactory guarantees are obtained that under no circumstances will the reserve be used during a dispute between the railway companies and their employees.

A communist plot was discovered in Italy, where the police are continuing their campaign against all “subversive centres.”

9 JANUARY 1925

Private conversations took place in Paris between Mr Churchill, Colonel Logan, and M. Clementel on various questions connected with war claims. A plenary sitting of the Allied Finance Conference afterwards took place. There is hope of agreement on the main questions before the Conference.

Dr Marx has been asked by the President of the Reich to form a Government as speedily as possible. If he has difficulty in filling the posts Dr Marx will fill them with Under Secretaries.

In a letter to the Naval Committee of the House of Representatives, Mr Hughes, Secretary of State, expressed the view that the elevation of guns in American capital ships would not constitute a violation of the Washington Treaty, although such action might have an unfortunate effect in tending to promote competition in naval armaments.

In a letter to the Postmaster-General, the Union of Post Office Workers states the grounds on which it asks that a joint committee be formed to go into the new wage claim of the Union in respect of all grades of the service.

At the sitting of the Royal Commission on Food Prices the question of cold storage in Britain was raised, and it was contended that the present London rates were a great tax on the meat business.

An Egyptian who has given himself up to the police is expected to prove of considerable assistance in connection with certain lines of inquiry now being followed up for the murderers of the Sirdar.

 

 

8 JANUARY 1925

The Conference of Allied Finance Ministers was opened at Paris. Replying to a speech of welcome by M. Clementel, Mr Winston Churchill emphasised the limited and technical character of the work ahead. Important as
were the issues involved in the Conference, they were not issues comparable with those settled at many previous inter-Allied gatherings. The interest of the Conference lay in the prospect opened out in London of sure and
reasonable advance towards a better state of things in Europe. The discussion would be complicated, and the interests were conflicting; but above and beyond the special claims of any Power represented stood the need for
harmony in mood and for simplicity in method.

The German reply to the Allied Note on the evacuation of Cologne complains of the hardship of the occupation, and insists on her military weakness. The Note further declares that if the Allied Governments in their further dealing with the question of evacuation as well as of disarmament would be guided by the spirit shown at the London Conference, it would be possible to come to a speedy settlement.

A declaration of Liberal principles and aims to be submitted for approval of the forthcoming party Convention has been issued.

Sir Philip Proctor, giving evidence before the Royal Commission on Food Prices, stated that of the nation’s total consumption of meat 27 per cent. was mutton and 73 per cent. beef.

7 JANUARY 1925

The German Government, in a Note to the Allies protesting against the continued occupation of Cologne, maintains that Germany, in the main, has fulfilled her disarmament obligations. The reply rejects the allegations made by the Allies.

Winston Churchill arrived in Paris for the opening of the Allied Finance Ministers’ Conference to-day. It is hoped to reach a settlement of the war claims question, but there is reason to believe that the United States delegation is prepared to reject summarily any attempt to secure better terms than America is prepared to draft.

Zaghlul Pasha in an interview said he considered that a Republic would not only be unsuitable, but would be bad generally for Egypt. He expresses confidence in victory at the elections, the legality of which, nevertheless, he declared his intention to challenge, although it might mean going to the polls again. Sidky Pasha, Minister of the Interior, replying to the Nationalist leader’s declaration, smiled at Zaghlul’s constitutional pose. The elections, he said, were proceeding as they should proceed–free from intimidation and pressure.

Signor Mussolini’s Cabinet has been reconstructed and, with one exception, consists entirely of Fascisti.

In a collision between two trains near Beaubassin, Mauritius, several passengers were killed and some fifty passengers injured.

6 JANUARY 1925

The Allies’ Note to Germany points out that the evacuation of Cologne has been postponed because of definite breaches of the Treaty of Versailles in the matter of army organisation, military stores, conversion of munition factories, and other matters. The more important of these violations are set out in the Note.

The Conference of Allied Finance Ministers opens at Paris tomorrow. The official agenda involves the question of the allocation of the proceeds of the Ruhr occupation and that of the American claim for reparation. On the latter point, a Note has been received by Britain from the United States Government rejecting the compromise offered.

A Rome telegram states that all the organisations hostile to the Government have been dissolved. Liberal members of the Cabinet have resigned.

M. Raditch, the leader of the recently suppressed Croat Peasant party, who is accused of intriguing with the Soviets, has been arrested at Agram.

Attention is drawn by the Federation of British Industries to the suggestion that the South African Government is considering the withdrawal of the tariff preference at present given to many classes of British goods.

New Year trade forecasts for Canada strike an optimistic note, and a marked improvement in conditions in the West is emphasised. Attention is drawn to the great increase of investments of U.S. capital in the Dominion, and to the almost negligible investment of Scottish and English capital in Canadian securities during the past year.

Launching the Young Liberals’ 1925 campaign at the National Liberal Club, London, Mr Lloyd George claimed that Liberalism had saved Germany and France from disaster, and would ultimately save Italy. There never was a period in European history where nations stood more in need of Liberalism.

5 JANUARY 1925

Benito Mussolini made a speech in the Italian Chamber which has been received with great enthusiasm in Fascist quarters. He said that the Government was strong enough to break completely what he called the Aventino sedition. Fascist demonstrations have been held in Italian cities.

The principal topic before the Cabinet to-day will be the Allied Financial Conference in Paris. While the British view is that a separate conference should be called to deal with war debts, it is not doubted that the question will receive considerable attention. The contents of M. Clementel’s memorandum to Mr Myron Herrick, the American Ambassador, have been carefully guarded, but the document, it is presumed, recites French claims to special consideration by her late Allies.

The Allied Note to Germany on the subject of the evacuation of Cologne will be handed to the German Government to-day by the British Ambassador. It is intended to publish the text tomorrow.

A Berlin telegram states that President Ebert has ordered Dr Marx to form a non-political Cabinet.

The notorious German Communist, Ruth Fischer, was arrested in Vienna.

2 JANUARY 1925

Addressing the Diplomatic Corps at a New Year reception in Berlin, Dr Marx regretted that the wishes for the New Year in connection with the London Pact had not materialised. The evacuation of Cologne had not been carried out, for reasons which Germany was unable to recognise, and bitter disappointment was felt by Germans without distinction of party at the injustice.

A friendly British Note in reply to the communication from Washington on the question of America’s participation in reparations collected under the Dawes scheme has been dispatched.

A statement issued by the Post Office says that there was a phenomenal increase this Christmas in the posting of both letters and parcels. The most serious difficulty experienced by the Post Office was due to the abnormal influx of correspondence and parcels on the 23rd and 24th, in spite of the appeals to post early in the week.

Damage estimated at £10,000 was done by a fire at Ashington, Northumberland. Shop premises were destroyed.

The death has occurred of Sir F. Carruthers Gould, the famous political cartoonist.

Notable services in the cause of education and religion are recalled by the sudden death of the Rev. R. C. Strang, who was vice-chairman of the Edinburgh Education Authority.

Giving evidence before the Commission on Food Prices, Sir Leo Chiozza Money urged the establishment of a system of Imperial purchase of supplies as a method of safeguarding the interests of the United Kingdom consumer.

1 JANUARY 1925

In the New Year’s Honours list, Viscount Jellicoe becomes an Earl, while Sir John Bradbury and Sir Henry Duke are made Barons. Principal Irvine, of St Andrews University, is among those who receive the honour of Knighthood. Sir James G. Fraser, the author of “The Golden Bough,” and Sir Ernest Rutherford, the eminent scientist, become members of the Order of Merit.

The Treasury return of national revenue and expenditure for the past nine months shows an excess of expenditure over receipts of £89,036,803. Customs decreased by over 20 millions.

Evidence on behalf of the National Association of Master Bakers, Confectioners, and Caterers was submitted to the Royal Commission which is inquiring into the prices of food, and a protest was lodged against “unjust attacks” on the baking trade.

Sir Robert Blair, addressing the Congress of the Educational Institute of Scotland, emphasised the importance of educationists keeping abreast of modern developments. In the work of teachers, he said, there was no finality. They must catch up the movement of civilisation, which was ahead of them.

It is understood that the house factors in the Clydebank and Dalmuir districts intend to prosecute those evicted tenants who were illegally reinstated in their houses, and the sympathisers who assisted in the forcible reopening of the doors sealed by the sheriff officer may likewise be reported for prosecution.

A Washington message says that President Coolidge has again made it known that not only does he hope that there will be another Limitation conference, but that he will do his utmost to bring about a meeting of the Powers in Washington this year.

31 DECEMBER 1924

The Conference of Ambassadors, at its meeting in Paris today, will have before it the draft of the preliminary Allied Note which it is proposed to address to Germany on the subject of the evacuation of Cologne. The Note will point out that the Allies are not prepared to come to a decision until the full report of the Commission of Control is available, but that in any case, evacuation is impossible on January 10.

Dr. Stresemann, in an interview, gives a denial to the allegation that the Inter-Allied Military Mission of Control met with obstruction during their work of inspection in Germany. In regard to armaments, he contends that Germany is powerless and adds that the Army and police are exactly as provided for by the Treaty.

M. Blum, leader of the French Socialists, disclosed in the Senate debate that in a recent interview between the French Finance Minister and members of the Finance Committee, it was urged that any excess of reparations Britain received over her strict due should be credited to inter-Allied debts. M. Blum added that M. Clementel felt in a position to retain this suggestion in large measure. M. Clementel, though not replying, did not deny the accuracy of the statement.