Tag: 100 Years Ago

31 JANUARY 1925

The Prince of Wales attended a dinner in London hosted by the Pilgrims in honour of Mr. Kellogg, the retiring United States Ambassador. In his response to a toast, Mr. Kellogg emphasised that the greatest step towards peace would be to eliminate the root causes of war, specifically racial hatreds and national jealousies.

Upon presenting his credentials to President Coolidge, M. Daeschner, the new French Ambassador to the United States, suggested that the wartime cooperation between the two nations should continue in the settlement of material debts and debts of gratitude. This direct mention of a sensitive subject at such an event was seen by diplomatic circles as highly significant.

The German Chancellor, addressing a gathering of journalists in Berlin, expressed his dissatisfaction with the Allies’ handling of Germany. He argued that after recently resolving a major issue at the Conference table, they had treated Germany like a convicted prisoner, leaving the nation uninformed of its alleged crimes and the evidence against it.

Zaghlul Pasha, as President of the Wafd, sent a telegram to Mr. Austen Chamberlain to protest recent British actions in Sudan. He asserted that these actions suggested Britain’s intention to separate Sudan from Egypt.

Mr. Asquith and Mr. Lloyd George delivered speeches at a Liberal demonstration in Albert Hall. Mr. Asquith focused on opposing Socialism and Communism and defending Free Trade. Mr. Lloyd George argued that the Unionist party was attempting to reclaim the powers that the Liberal party had taken from the House of Lords.

At the second day’s session of the Liberal Convention in London, Major Donaldson stated that Scotland had a form of local option with certain embellishments. He described the Scottish Temperance Act as a product of complex political manoeuvring, noting that, as it stood, 4,500 electors could effectively overrule 5,500.

30 JANUARY 1925

Mr. Baldwin, speaking at a victory celebration banquet in London, stated that there was an element in the Unionist party who had been content to sit quietly and let others do the work. He emphasised that victory could only be sustained if the party showed itself fully committed to its cause, as eager to expound it as any of its two opponents.

At the first day’s session of the Liberal Convention in London, Mr. Lloyd George declared that Mr. Asquith and he had had no differences of opinion regarding policy, and least of all had they had any personal differences.

By a vote of 541 to 32, the French Chamber decided that M. Herriot’s speech on Wednesday, which outlined the Government’s policy regarding Germany, should be placarded all over France. Before this decision, M. Herriot had to satisfy the Socialists concerning certain passages of the speech, giving a formal assurance that his speech was in absolute conformity with the policy of security and peace he had previously advocated and would continue to practice. A Berlin telegram reported that M. Herriot’s speech had caused a sensation in German political and official circles, where it was described as “aggressive.”

Negotiations for the settlement of the strike of the men in the service of the Office of Works failed.

A statement by the National Allied Building Trades Employers drew attention to the “avowed intention of two of the leading operative unions to secede from the National Wages and Conditions Council, and also from the National Federation of Building Trades Operatives.” The employers viewed the matter seriously, adding that they would require all bodies adherent to the Operatives’ Federation at the time of the settlement last autumn to honour the engagements entered into.

29 JANUARY 1925

At a reception given by Viscountess Grey in London, the Prime Minister, speaking on the League of Nations, said he had never been influenced by what public speakers said on any side in politics, and he would not be diverted from his course by any remarks that might be made in any party on the subject of the League of Nations.

Winston Churchill, speaking at Chingford, said they must endeavour to practise good housekeeping in their national affairs, but after three years of political confusion it would take a long time to get the expenditure of the country into a normal condition.

In a letter to the recently inaugurated economic supplement of the Temps, the object of which is to foster French trade, but particularly trade with the British Empire, Mr Churchill welcomes the new journalistic venture in the interests of a more facile solution of the many thorny economic problems that still confront the world and impede the restoration of the exchanges.

A memorial tablet to “one million dead of the British Empire who fell in the Great War” was unveiled in Le Mans Cathedral by General Sir Horace Smith-Dorrien.

In connection with the investigation into the murder of the Sirdar, further arrests have been made, including that of Mahmoud Ismail, an official at the Egyptian Ministry of Pious Foundations, and the rearrest of Dr Chafik Mansur, a notorious agitator, who was released in December, evidence implicating him not being forthcoming then, and is now a Wafd candidate for a Cairo constituency.

An influential Indian deputation which waited upon the Viceroy urged the immediate necessity of obtaining the Union Government’s assent to Mr Thomas’s Pietermaritzburg suggestion of a conference to re-examine the Indian question in South Africa in a spirit of tolerance and to find a solution.

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.