Blog

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.