Category: 100 Years Ago

11 APRIL 1925

The Amundsen-Ellsworth expedition, which is to attempt to reach the North Pole by aeroplane, has left Tromsoe for King’s Bay, Spitzbergen, where the expedition will be based. We publish to-day Captain Amundsen’s own story of his preparations for the great adventure.

The French Cabinet were defeated in the Senate after a debate on their financial proposals. Subsequently M. Herriot tendered the resignation of the Ministry to the President of the Republic. President Doumergue accepted the Cabinet’s resignation.

THhe decision of Field-Marshal Hindenburg to stand for the Presidency of the Reich has aroused great interest in Germany. In Rome it is declared to be an event of great international importance.

The Prince of Wales is meeting with an enthusiastic reception in the various West African towns he visits. At Coomassie he attended a Good Friday service at the English Church.

The South African railway budget presented to the House of Assembly by Mr. Malan, showed this financial year an estimated credit balance of £213,148 there had been produced a surplus of £680,707, which wiped out an accumulated deficit of £770,244.

The condition of Mr. Massey, the Premier of New Zealand, shows no improvement.

The two French explorers Tramin and Duverne, who recently crossed Africa from west to east in a small 10 h.p. motor car—a distance of 14,700 kilometres—have arrived at Marseilles.

10 APRIL 1925

The House of Commons, after discussing the industrial situation and the International Labour Conventions, rose for the Easter vacation until April 28.

M. Herriot replied in the French Chamber to criticisms of the Government’s financial policy. The Chamber accorded him a vote of confidence by a majority of 49 (291 to 242).

General Sikorski, the Polish Minister of War, said, in the course of an interview in Paris, that on the day on which a finger was laid on one inch of their national territory the whole of Poland would rise, and would fight without quarter.

Mr. Havenga, South African Minister of Finance, referring to the proposed Imperial Preference changes, said that in taking up this question they were never animated by any anti-British feeling, and that the preponderating factor was that of the interests of their own country first.

The Dutch steamer Jonge Catharina collided with the British steamer Clan Monroe in the Wielingen Channel, off Flushing. The Jonge Catharina sank, and six of her crew were drowned. Four others are reported to be missing.

The Royal yacht Victoria and Albert, with King George and Queen Mary on board, has arrived at Palermo from Syracuse.

The Prince of Wales had an enthusiastic reception when he landed at Takoradi, on the Gold Coast.

9 APRIL 1925

On the Report stage of the Agricultural Returns Bill in the House of Commons, Sir A. Sinclair moved an amendment to Clause 1, having in view a stock-taking of agricultural resources. Mr. Lloyd George, while agreeing that the amendment might be unacceptable as worded, asked the Government to consider an alteration of the clause. The Minister of Agriculture doubted whether provision could be made in the Bill for a general survey, but fell in with a suggestion of Mr. Lloyd George that “sample counties” might be selected for the purpose. He was in full sympathy with the object in view. Sir A. Sinclair withdrew his amendment. The Bill passed Report, and was read a third time.

The Prime Minister stated in the House of Commons that the Chancellor of the Exchequer would open his Budget on April 28, after the Easter holidays.

Mr Havenga, South African Minister of Finance, introducing the Budget in the House of Assembly, announced a revised rebate of £500,000 in the case of Great Britain and £50,000 in the case of the Dominions compared with the present £860,000 and £90,000, as preferential tariff adjustment. Penny postage is restored. For the first time in history the Budget was introduced in Afrikaans.

Details are given by the Colonial Office of an agreement which has been entered into between the Secretary of State for the Colonies and the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia for the purposes of development and settlement in Australia. The agreement aims at the settlement in Australia within the next ten years of 450,000 assisted migrants from the United Kingdom.

Rumours were current, after what was virtually a defeat in the Senate, that the resignation of the French Government was imminent. At a meeting of the Cabinet, however, it was decided not to resign.

8 APRIL 1925

7 APRIL 1925

Lord Ampthill called attention in the House of Lords to the case of those British officers in the public service of India to whom the Lee Commission report had made no reference, and asked whether their claims were now being considered. The Secretary for India said he had been inquiring into the matter, to see if some alleviation of the present position might not be given, and he would further investigate the matter with the Viceroy on his arrival in Britain. The Circuit Courts and Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Bill passed Committee, and was reported to the House without amendment.

A statement which she made in the House of Commons on Friday concerning Mr. Hayday, the member for West Nottingham, was unreservedly withdrawn by Lady Astor, who added that she had no intention of making any reference to the hon. member’s personal character.

The Ulster Government lost six out of sixteen seats in Belfast—three to the Independent Unionists and three to Labour. They also lost one seat in the counties. The features of the election have been the apathy of the electors and the success of the Independent Unionists, who, however, support the Government on the Boundary question and on all but local administrative matters.

Mr Austen Chamberlain, speaking at Birmingham, said fear brooded over Europe, the fear of war breaking out again, not perhaps in his time, and unless confidence and security in the international sphere could be established Europe was moving uneasily, perhaps slowly, but certainly, to a new catastrophe.

Field-Marshal Von Hindenburg has refused to stand as Nationalist candidate for the German Presidency. It is expected that Dr. Jarres will go forward as the nominee of the Right Block.

6 APRIL 1925

The Prince of Wales met with a warm welcome on the arrival of the Repulse at Bathurst, Gambia, and received loyal addresses from the Governor, the town, the Gambian chiefs, the French community at Bathurst, and the Muslims.

At Taormina, Sicily, the King and Queen, Prince George, and other members of the Royal party were entertained at luncheon at the villa of the Duca di Bronte, and later visited the famous Greek theatre.

The text of the new Anglo-German Reparation Recovery Agreement is published.

The political situation in France is developing rapidly. M. de Monzie, the new Finance Minister, places his proposals before the Cabinet to-day, and curiosity as to their nature is intensified by rumours that he is not in agreement with M. Herriot and the Socialists as to the principle of a levy on capital. Meanwhile the Government have suffered a set-back in the Seine Department Senatorial election, M. Millerand having been elected by a clear majority over the combined vote of the five candidates against him.

Field-Marshal von Hindenburg has been approached by Nationalists to oppose Dr Marx, Republican, in the German Presidential election.

The first count in Belfast of the votes cast in the Northern Ireland election shows a loss of three seats to the Government—two have gone to Independent Unionists and one to the Nationalists.

In the Belgian General Election, Communists for the first time presented candidates in all the large constituencies.

German agents are busy acquiring interests in the South African platinum fields.

5 APRIL 1925

The French reported that the German Government had secret plans to re-arm their military.

The King and Queen arrived in Sicily.

4 APRIL 1925

The French financial situation has led to a political crisis. M. Clémentel, the Finance Minister, has resigned. M. de Monzie is his successor. It is reported that the Government’s financial schemes include a capital levy.

A new agreement has been signed by Great Britain and Germany, whereby the 26 per cent. Reparations levy is abolished, and a lump sum monthly substituted.

A section of the Rehoboth tribe in South-West Africa, having for some time past set the Administration at defiance, and insisted on being regarded as above the law, and the disaffection having led to unrest among the Hereros, strong police reinforcements, together with aeroplanes, have been dispatched by General Hertzog and Mr G. R. Hofmeyr, the Administrator, on his way to Windhoek to deal with the malcontents. The authorities do not anticipate serious trouble.

M. Jean De Reszke, the famous singer, is dead.

On the motion for second reading of the Adoption of Children Bill—a private member’s measure—in the House of Commons, an undertaking was given that the Government would introduce legislation on this question during the lifetime of the present Parliament. The debate was adjourned. The Co-partnership Bill was talked out.

A sharp passage in the House of Commons between Lady Astor and Mr Hayday led to a rebuke by the Speaker and a reminder that “the noble lady is sometimes provocative.”

The Prime Minister was entertained by the directors of the Great Western Railway. Mr J. H. Thomas, who began life as an engine-cleaner on the same line, proposing one of the toasts, said there was no class to which he belonged. He refused to believe that brains or virtue were the monopoly of any section.

3 APRIL 1925

New schemes of emigration and Empire settlement were referred to in the House of Commons by the Under Secretary for the Colonies. The Home Government, he said, attached great importance to the emigration of juveniles under proper safeguards, and looked with favour on a proposal that British schoolboys should be allowed to visit Australia.

Speaking at Windsor, the Earl of Birkenhead said that the Labour party was not yet fit for the responsibility of government, and that it had most plainly demonstrated its unfitness during the months it was in power.

Speaking at Durham to the National Conservative League, whose activities he had gone to inspect, the Hon. F. S. Jackson, the Unionist organiser, said that the country was up against serious difficulties, but he was justified in feeling that if they faced the facts they would be able to recover their position and hold their own as in the past. He was not at all sure that the Chancellor of the Exchequer was not so full of ingenuity as to find something that would relieve the burden of taxation they were suffering from. They must not gamble on that; he did not know for a certainty.

Vice-Admiral Sir Walter H. Cowan, Bart., has been appointed Commanding Officer, Coast of Scotland, in succession to Vice-Admiral Sir Reginald T. Tyrwhitt. The appointment dates from 30th June 1925.

The death is announced of Vice-Admiral Sir Michael Culme-Seymour.

2 APRIL 1925

Lord Salisbury stated in the House of Lords, in reply to a question by Lord Parmoor, that the defaults in disarmament alleged against the German Government included matters for which a time limit was prescribed in Article 203 of the Treaty of Versailles. While a great deal had been done by way of disarmament in Germany, there were substantial instances of unfulfilled obligations.

A socialist demand for the abolition of the death penalty in the Army, which took the form of an amendment on the Army and Air Force Annual Bill in Committee, was rejected by 320 to 136.

Replying to Sir Samuel Chapman in the House of Commons, the Under Secretary for Home Affairs, said the First Commissioner of Works was satisfied, after considering the evidence sent to him, that the execution of the Marquess of Montrose in 1650 took place in the High Street, Edinburgh, and had given instructions that the inscription should be altered accordingly.

Viscount Grey and Mr Austen Chamberlain referred to the problems of international peace and security in speeches in London.

A Cape Town correspondent understands that the majority of the South African Cabinet favour abolition of Preference to British goods.

Jerusalem University was opened by Lord Balfour, who declared that the opening of the University marked an epoch in the history of the Jewish race.

The death-roll in the German pontoon disaster is put at 84.

A New York banking syndicate is reported to have purchased the Dodge Motors Company for 175,000,000 dollars in cash.