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28 JANUARY 1925

The German reply to the last Allied Note concerning disarmament has been presented to the Allied representatives in Berlin. It states that the German Government cannot conceive how it can be accused of disregard of Articles 428 and 429 of the Versailles Treaty, and it maintains that the conditions under which evacuation of the Northern Rhine zone should have taken place on January 10 have, in fact, been carried out. “The fact of the disarmament of Germany is too evident,” the Note adds.

A note to the Chinese Foreign Office from the representatives of the Powers dwells on the Government’s responsibility for the protection of foreign lives and property during the renewed conflict around Shanghai.

An appeal for aid in a campaign against leprosy in India was launched by Lord Reading, the Viceroy, at a meeting at Delhi.

Romania’s economic and financial position in the light of the recent Paris Conference was discussed at an interview between M. Bratiano, the Romanian Foreign Minister, and Mr Churchill.

Field-Marshal Lord Grenfell, a former Sirdar of the Egyptian Army, is dead.

The death is announced of Baron Friedrich von Hügel, the distinguished philosopher and theologian.

The project of establishing in Scotland an industrial colony for the permanent care of the ‘feeble-minded’, where they could be segregated and taught useful employment, was presented at a largely attended meeting in The City Chambers, Edinburgh, presided over by the Lord Provost. Lady Leslie Mackenzie gave an outline of the proposal, which was supported in a communication from Professor Robertson and by Lord Sands and others.

27 JANUARY 1925

The interim report and recommendations of the Liberal Inquiry Committee, which have already been submitted to Mr Asquith, have now been issued. Fresh personnel in the Associations, further opportunities for women, the Young Liberals, and industrial and agricultural workers, the provision of a fighting fund, and the readjustment of the party machine, are among their recommendations.

It is now officially announced that the King has been pleased to approve that the dignity of an Earldom of the United Kingdom be conferred on the Right Hon. H. H. Asquith, K.C.

Aoropos of Mr Asquith’s choice of a title, a sketch is given of the career of Robert Harley, Earl of Oxford in the reign of Queen Anne.

Correspondence has passed between Mr Lloyd George and Lord Strachie in connection with a statement by the last-named that literature issued during the General Election by the Liberal Publications Department explaining Liberal land policy did considerable injury to Liberalism in the West of England.

A further joint Allied Note on the subject of the evacuation of the Cologne zone was handed to the German Chancellor. It was in reply to the German Note of January 6, and it asserted that Articles 128 and 429 of the Versailles Treaty appeared to be misunderstood by the Government of the Reich. A fifteen years’ occupation was fixed by the Treaty, and the Articles in question contemplated a reduction only in the event of faithful observance of the Treaty. In due course the Allies would state what still remained to be done by Germany for her obligations to be considered as having been faithfully carried out.

26 JANUARY 1925

A Peerage is to be conferred on Mr Herbert Asquith, who has intimated his desire to be known by the style and title of Earl of Oxford.

Mr A. J. Cook, general secretary of the Miners’ Federation, speaking at Doncaster, said he wanted to avoid a strike of miners alone, and he would consult the whole Trade Union movement—political, industrial, national, and international—before a move was made.

A CONFERENCE on nationalisation of the mines, convened by the Independent Labour party, was held in Glasgow, at which Mr E. Shinwell and Mr Robert Smillie were the principal speakers. The opportunity was taken to make reply to the recent statement by Sir Adam Nimmo on the position of the coal industry.

At a meeting in Edinburgh, Mr Adam Nimmo, chairman of the Lothians Coalowners’ Association, expressed the hope that if the existing wages agreement in the coal industry were to be terminated, an atmosphere would be created which would assure the success of negotiations for a new agreement.

Mr W. Dobbie, president of the N.U.R., speaking at Brighton, said that in their new programme the Union had decided that there should be no agreement for any section unless the companies were prepared to settle for all.

Some 600 delegates attended a Conference in London under the auspices of the national minority movement. A tribute was paid to Lenin, and cheers were raised for Soviet Russia.

Fifty persons were injured in an alarming accident at Glasgow Central Station. The brakes of a special train conveying passengers from a football match at Cathkin Park failed to act, and a violent collision with the buffers resulted.

25 JANUARY 1925

At the invitation of the Prime Minister, the Old Berkeley Hounds met at Chequers.

General Kuropatkin, formerly Minister of War and Russian Commander-in-Chief in the Russo-Japanese war, has died it was reported.

24 JANUARY 1925

A sitting of the French Chamber ended in great uproar. The disturbance, which lasted for a considerable time, arose out of feeling engendered by the defeat of a motion for the affichage, or public placarding, throughout France of M. Marin’s speech reflecting French sentiment on the question of war debt repayment.

A motion of no-confidence in the Braun Government resulted in a tie in the Prussian Diet, and, in accordance with provisions of the Constitution, which require that such a motion must obtain a majority of the total membership of the House, was rejected. An outburst by angry Communists followed. At the close of the sitting, according to another message, the Socialist-Democrat-Centre party coalition held a meeting, as a result of which the Braun Cabinet decided to resign.

Zahhlul Pasha, in an interview, complained of the manner in which the elections were being carried out by the present Government, alleging interference with Zaghlulists’ freedom of speech and movement.

Five fishermen were drowned as the result of the wreck of the Aberdeen trawler Ulster on the Kincardineshire coast during dense fog in the early hours of the morning.

Eight lives have been lost by the foundering of the British oil tanker Redline No. 1 in the Bristol Channel. The chief officer was the sole survivor. It is stated that the crew hailed from the Glasgow district.

Lord Balfour, addressing the recently formed Alumni Association of Edinburgh University, spoke of the increased costs of modern teaching, and appealed for funds to meet the University’s needs.

23 JANUARY 1925

The National Executive of the Miners’ Federation at a meeting in London agreed to meet the coal-owners next week in order to hear their views in relation to their request for a joint committee to go into the present condition of the industry and investigate possible remedies.

The claim by the locomotive engineers and firemen for the restoration of a guaranteed full day’s pay for any turn of duty on Sundays has been refused by the National Wages Board.

The members of the London Press Club entertained the Prime Minister at luncheon, when they presented him with a pipe. He as Prime Minister and they as journalists, he said, were engaged in the common work of trying to elevate the people of this country.

By 246 votes against 160, the German Reichstag adopted a motion approving the new Government’s declaration of policy.

Viscount Kato, the Japanese Prime Minister, announced in the Diet at Tokyo that a Bill for the adoption of universal suffrage is to be introduced in the present session.

In the French Chamber M. Briand, the ex-Premier, made a strong appeal to M. Herriot not to sever diplomatic relations with the Vatican.

The announcement is made that an Army Council is to be created for Egypt with a view to assuring the greatest possible efficiency in the Army and the country’s defence system.

22 JANUARY 1925

The American Senate accepted without discussion or division an amendment to the Naval Bill requesting President Coolidge to call another Armaments Limitation Conference.

What is regarded as a serious split has taken place at Geneva between Britain and America on the opium question.

Details are given of the itinerary of the Prince of Wales’s visit to West Africa, South Africa, and Rhodesia during the summer.

A Canadian Correspondent surveys the political situation in the Dominion in view of the opening of the Federal Parliament at Ottawa on February 5.

In an address delivered in London before the Japan Society, Col. the Master of Sempill, R.A.F., forecasted the establishment in the very near future of an airship service between London and Tokio, the journey to be accomplished in about four days by way of Scotland, Norway, and the northern coasts of Russia.

Speaking at a fortnightly luncheon of the National Liberal Club, Mr Lloyd George said it would be idle to say they did very well at the last election. They had expected cross winds. They encountered a tornado, and, frankly, they were prepared for neither. They were badly battered, but the vessel had not capsized.

Evidence was given before the Food Prices Commission on behalf of the Union Cold Storage Company. This company’s ramifications regarding ranching, buying, cold storing, and retail selling were explained by Lord Vestey and his brother, Sir Edmund Vestey.

21 JANUARY 1925

The Indian Legislature was opened by Lord Reading, who after dealing with the economic and financial situation of the country and with the programme for the session, defended the special measures taken by him for the suppression of terrorism in Bengal.

It has been found impossible to hold a special meeting of the Imperial Conference in London in March to discuss the Geneva Protocol, and the Colonial Office announces that an endeavour will be made by correspondence to arrive at a common conclusion on the issues involved.

The Russo-Japanese negotiations have been concluded, and a Treaty was to be signed at Peking last night.

In the German Reichstag, Herr Breitscheid, on behalf of the Socialists, attacked the new Government, and his remarks evoked angry protests from members of the Right.

Loud applause greeted an announcement by M. Herriot in the French Chamber that the King of Spain had decided not to prosecute Señor Blasco Ibanez, the novelist.

Viscount Cecil, at a sitting of the Opium Conference at Geneva, withdrew an allegation he had made that the consumption of the drug per capita was greater in America than in India.

20 JANUARY 1925

Mr Hughes, the United States Secretary of State, says that the Paris Agreement imposes no obligation, legally or morally, on the United States, and that the country remains as free from commitment to European matters as ever.

The new German Cabinet were introduced to the Reichstag by Dr Luther, the Chancellor, who stated that the laws which had been enforced as the result of the London Agreement would be loyally carried out. He protested against the non-evacuation of the Cologne zone.

The Egyptian elections have been postponed—the primary elections until February 4, and the actual election of Deputies on March 12—owing to unavoidable delay in completing the lists. Secessions from the Zaghlulist party continue. Sir Geoffrey Archer’s announcement that a Sudanese defence force is to be formed immediately meets with a mixed reception in the Egyptian Press.

Interesting archæological finds have been made by the Boston-Harvard Expedition which has been working for several years in the vicinity of the Giz Pyramids.

Two British flying officers have been killed in aeroplane accidents in Palestine and Egypt.

The Danish Society of Naval Lieutenants are protesting against the present Danish Government’s scheme for the disarmament of the country.

Five lives were lost in an explosion which occurred in Kirkstyle Colliery, Kilmarnock.

Five men and a woman were detained by the New Scotland Yard in connection with an alleged plot to blow up British warships.

19 JANUARY 1925

Trotsky’s quarrels with the Russian Communist Executive have led to his dismissal from the post of President of the Revolutionary War Council.

Mr Harvey, former American Ambassador in London, in an article in a Washington newspaper on the results of the Paris Financial Conference, says Mr Coolidge has been trapped by the intriguing diplomats of Europe.

A Paris telegram announces the death of General Lanrezac, who commanded the Fifth French Army at the Battle of Mons.

Five persons were killed and three injured in a railway accident near Dijon.

Captain John Middleton, an ex-officer of the Black Watch, was found dead from a gunshot wound in his father’s house at Baldarroch, near Murthly, Perthshire. His father, Major Middleton, who is over 70 years of age, has been taken into custody by the police in connection with the tragedy.

The Hon. Cwyneth Erica Morgan, Lord Tredegar’s daughter, has been missing for several weeks from the time she unexpectedly left the house of friends at Wimbledon with whom she had been staying.

Dr John Fraser, formerly Commissioner in Lunacy for Scotland, who met with an accident in Princes Street a week ago, died in Edinburgh yesterday. He was in his eightieth year.

The death is announced of Mr Samuel Storey, a well-known North of England newspaper owner and former M.P. for Sunderland.