THE HONGKONG DAILY PRESS, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 24TH, 1926
CABLE AND WIRELESS
NEWS.
THROUGH BUYER'S AGENCK.)
A BALKAN PACT, JUGO-SLAY FOREIGN MINISTER'S TOUR OF EUROPE,
GERMANY AND LEAGUE. HERR STRESEMANN ON GENEVA PROBLEMS.
BERLIN, March 22nd. The Reichstag was crowded for the debate on Geneva.
Piais, March 23rd. The Jugo-Slav Foreign Minister, M
Dr. Stresemann, in a speech, said that Ninchitch, who has recently been busy the result of Geneva was regrettable in a pilgrimage to a number of European because special interests in various coun» capitals, left Paris after what the news-trics had strongly and brutally exerted
AMERICA AND EUROPE.
NEWSPAPERS ON MR. HOUGHTON'S REPORT.
WASHINGTON, March 22nd. While official circles are still silent with regard to the nature of Mr. Houghton's report to Pres. Coolidge, the newspapers are apparently startled at the sensation created in Europe and are now endeavouring to allay European apprehensions.
The New York World suggests that Europe would do well to take wild talk about the report less seriously, and the
FAR EASTERN CABLE
NEWS.
HONGKONG AND CANTON, HOME GOVERNMENT SUPPORTS HONGKONG ATTITUDE,
(THAOCOH RÄUTER'S AQRNOY.]
LONDON, March gând. KUOMINCHUN COLLAPSE In the House of Commons, replying to Mr. S. P. Viant (Labour), Mr. Amery TIENTSIN TAKEN OVER BY
said that the Canton Government's offer ALLIES SUPPORTERS."
to mediate between the strikers and the TROOPS FALLING BACK ON
Hongkong Government was based on the NANKOW.
elnim that they were not parties to the TIENTSIN, ME
strike or boycott, but in the Hongkong by Government's view that claim was vitiate Tientsin was completely ev
leed by the fact that the Canton Govern Kuominchun troops this morm city being taken over by La Ching in's ment had taken no steps to put an end followers who had been secreted in the to the intimidation of workers or other
MERCANTILE CONTRACT. SUMMARY COURT JUDGMENT. DANISH SHIPOWNER SUCCESSFULLY SUES LOCAL FIRM.
Before Mr. Justice Wood in the Sum- mary Court on February 24th, Mr. A. F. Meller, Steamship Owner, Copenhagen, Denmark (represented by Mr. G. T Bennett) claimed. $800.83 from Mesars Thoresen & Co., Ltd., Import and Export. Merchants, Queen's Building, Hongkong. The money was alleged to have been received by defendants in excess of the aam due to them for acting as agents for plaintiff's steamship, a Sally Mearah,
Papers term "most interesting conversa themselves to the detriment of the idea New York Times also urges Europe not foreign Concessions. They are armed illegal activities of the Strike Committoo at Swatow and Amoy. Mr. T. H. Turner
hitherto been the instrument of the
tions" M. Ninchitch previously nego of the universality of the League, there- tinted with the Italiana at Rome and by bringing the League into a serious Geneva, where, according to the French crisis which revealed that the League had newspapers, the Italians sought bi-lateral tresty, supplementing the exist ing Italo-Jugo-Slav pact of friendship, bat Ninehitch desired the inclusion of France in this, and is now taking back his offer to M. Briand.
16
to get excited over inconsequential events or sayings, over here"
GOVERNMENT ·ATTACKED,
WASHINGTON, March 2nd The conflicting mass of rumour, specu-
victorious States Germany was nów confronted with the decision whether lation and comment recently aroused by after her experience at Geneva, he should prosecute the policy of joining the League on equal terms as a Great The Treaty of friendship is designed to Power. Dr. Streiemann denied that the be co-lateral, and any agreement sub-result of Geneva was the defeat of Ger sequently concluded between Belgrade many, and urged that Germany must and Rome, and it adopted, will place continue to strive to enter the Los
on equal terms with the World Powers, France in the same relationship to Jugo Slavia as with Czecho-Slovakia, with the obligation of mutual assistance.
The fact that . Ninchitch bas other irons in the fire is disclosed in an inter view at Belgrade with the Greak Foreign Minister, M. Rouphos, who homeward bound from Geneva, said the views he and
even if the League be nothing else but new diplomatic instrument for fur thoring the special interests of nations Fortunately, Germany's interests, were identical with the ideals of the League, and Germany did not intend to prosecute any kind of policy of might or the balancing of Powers. There was
по
with rifles and automatics and intend to hold the city pending the arrival of Ching Lin's troops.
All shops are closed............ Considerable looting has taken place in the native city and suburba
47
The entrance to the Japanese Conces- sion is barricaded and strong guards are posted there.
newspaper reports of Mr. Houghton's alleged conversations with President Coolidge on the subject of the present trend of European politics finally reach-It is reported that the Kuominchun ed the floor of the Senate when the collapse was due to the cutting of com- Democrat, Senator Harrison, vigorously munications between Tatung and Kaigan attacked the Coolidge Administration, by Shansi-troops, which endangers the which he said had gone back to the whole Kueminchun forces in the field.
No trains are able to run between old order of secret diplomacy behind closed doors."
Feking and Tientsin to-day.
Senator Walsh raised the question of room in the League for a special group the Italian Debt concerning which he of Locarno Powers, and, Germany's aim was to materialise in the League the asked the Senate to take note of the
XUOMINCHUN'S SUCCESSFUL RETREAT.
PEKING, March 3rd. The successful retreat of the Kuomin-
M. Ninchitch bad interchanged had been harmony of all nations without dis-reports that President Coolidge had chun forces, which is taking place on all
so satisfactory be expected to see a coni- plate agreement reached between the two states, and added though at present it was premature to talk of concrete terms of a Balkan pact, he was convinced all the outstanding questions between the two states would be settled.
THE BOAT RACE.
.$
A CHANGE IN THE CAMBRIDGE CREW.
LONDON, March 23rd. Mr. J. Booth, Cambridge's number four, was today found to be suffering from measles, and his place is taken by the spare man, Mr. T." Craggs, whe stroked the Lady Margaret crew in 1998 when they won the Ladies' Plate at Henley.
[BAITISE WIRELESS SERVICE] DEEP SEA FISHING.
the
been officially informed that the whole of Europe regarded Mussolini with the
utmost distrust.”
Senator Borah referred to the recent
riminationsmann declared that the earlier departure of the German delega tion from Geneva would have been the biggest blunder imaginable politiently. He emphasised that Germany was en- tiled to withdraw her application for admission to the League if the decision impasse at Geneva and claimed that of the League's Commission on question of the extension of the Council Brasil had received the silent support resulted in a new construction of the of powerful nations in blocking Ger- League pot corresponding with German- expectations, but the German Govern- many's admission to the Council. ment desired to cooperate on equal footing with the other nations of the Lengue and safeguard German interests in peaceful competition nations. It would be stupid to abandon their aim of collaboration with other nations because the mechanism of the League had failed this time. The Ger man Government had unanimously de- cided to follow up the Locarno policy, with which the continued occupation of the second and third. Rhineland zones was incompatible.
with other
FLIGHT TO TOKYO.
BRITAIN TO ADHERE TO THREE ONE OF THE DANISH AIRMËN
MILE LIMIT.
RUGBY, March' 23rd.
In the House of Commons, Commander Kenworthy (Liberal Member for Central Hull) asked what was being done with regard to the claims of Norway, Iceland and other countries to extend the three- mile limit beyond which deep sea fishing was permitted to all nations.
Mr. Locker Lampson (Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs) said the limit of territorial waters was a matter of In ternational Law. The British Govern- ment would adhere to the rule of limite
MISSING.
COPENHAGEN, March 22nd.. The Danish airman, Lieutenant Hers-
chend, who is flying to Tokyo, has ar rived at Aleppo from Constantinople. news of his companion There is no Lieutenant Bovved of whom Lieutenant Herschend lost sight when near Eskisehr, but it is felt there is no cause for anxiety.
FOOTBALL AT HOME,
me territorial waters to three miles BESULTS OF LEAGUE, MATCHES
from the coast at low water mark and would continue to resist any claims for any extension of that limit.
OBITUARY.
GRAND
SIR BRADFORD LESLIE,
OLD MAN OF ENGINEERING."
RUGBY, March 22nd.
The death is announced of Sir Bradford Leslie, at the age of Bi years. He was the Grand Old Man" of engineering and one of the most famous. bridge builders of this and last century. His many engineering fests in India are notable. He was probably the only man who continued in his profession long enough to throw two bridges over a river as important as the Hoogley, with
an interval of fifty years, between.
It was in 1874 that Sir Bradford Leslie built the first bridge over the Hoogley.
ON MONDAY,
PROHIBITION.
PROPOSALS FOR MODIFICATIONS TO BE DISCUSSED.
WASHINGTON, March 23rd.
The Judiciary Committee of the Senate has approved the programme for a public discussion on April 5th, before à special Committee, of the proposals for modifications of the Prohibition Law. Each side will have six days in which to present its case. The "Wets" will begin the discussion.
DOHENY OIL CASE.
WASHINGTON, March 23rd. The United States Supreme Court has granted a review of the Doheny oil leste
case.
THE WING ON CASE. FURTHER HEARING YESTERDAY.
The hearing of the Wing On case in which three Chinese defendants (the second of whom, Fok Chuen Yuen, formerly sub-manager of the Man Fat an, disappeared whilst on bail), are charged with conspiracy and attempting. LONDON, March 22nd The following are results of matches to defrand the Wing On Company, Des Voeux Road, of 850,000 and 8633 interest, played to-day in the English League progressed a stage further at the Central competition:
Magistracy yesterday before Mr. R. E First Division Notts County, Lindsell and was again adjourned, until West Ham, 1.
Friday when it is expected the case for the prosecution will be closed.
Second Division-Wednesday, 2; Notte Forest, 0.
Third Division (South).-Millwall, 2;) Brighton and Hove, 0.
[ZHUTER'S AMERICAN BERVICE.] AMERICAN ARCTIC FLIGHT.
TO BE DELAYED FOR THREE
WEEKS
FAIRBANKE, March-23rd. According to present indications the This was a wooden floating bridge, which Wilkins' Polar expedition will be delayed he guaranteed for twenty-five years." bridge lasted twice as long and only for three weeks pending repairs to the recently was it replaced by another which aeroplanes. Lieut. Wilkins states that is a four-span structure 1,400 feet in
The
length. Sir Bradford Leslie worked out one machine will be ready in a few days, all the estimates and plans himself a but the repairs to the second will be held feat which, at his age, is considered to
up until new parts arrive from the United. be without parallel. --
(THROUGH REUTER'S AGENCY.].
FIRE AT SEA. OUTBREAK ON "SUMATRA MARU."
COLOMBO, March 22nd.
States.
Both machines stripped of landing gear, were lashed with a heavy snowstorm yesterday.
THE "STRAW" VOTES. The Japanese steamer Sumatra Mary, due at Cochin this morning, has fire ALL BIG CITIES OVERWHELMINGLY "aboard.
Cocain, March 22nd.
The steamer Sumatra Haru has arrived with her cargo on fire. It is not con- sidered serious and the boat has left for Colombo.
The Sumaire Mars is one of the larger traighters of the 0.8. Beet, and the left Hongkong for Karachi, Bombay, on February 6th. She was on the return trip when the fire broke out. It is not thought that she had any cargo on board for Hongkong, but, we learn that she had a considerable cargo of cotton goods consigned to Japan.]
WET
OK, March 23rd
straw" votes con-
New! The result of the ducted by two separate groups of news- Papers gave big "Wet" majorities, and roughly resulted
For Prohibition.
500,000 For repeal
1,500,000 For light wines and beer ..... 2,000,000 All the big cities were overwhelmingly
-REFUSING FARES.
TAXI-DRIVERS SUMMONED.
Before Major C. Willson at the Central Magistracy yesterday, three taxi drivers were charged with having refused hire when unemployed.
Date
A servant in the employ of Captain R. C. Davenport was sent by his manter to get a taxi, and he went to the stand ed, one of the defendants, to drive his outside the General Post Office. He ask taxi to the Naval Yard, but he refused. Two other defendunta also refused to
go.
All the defendants denied the charge, an said that witness did not try to engage them..
Defendants were fined $10 each.
TOUTING FOR HIRE.
A CHINESE CHAUFFEUR FINED.; A Chinese chauffeur was charged before Mr. Lindsell at the Central Magistracy for public hire. yesterday, with having used a private caz, A private detective gave evidence to the affect that the defendant was outside the To Yuen restaurant on Monday; and offered to drive him as far as Bonham Road for 82. He found that the car was not a public vehicle find me
Mr. Harry Kong stated in evidence that the ear belonged to a Chinese who had gone to Canton last year, and had left it in witness's charge, and we Defendant was fined $25. Inspector Grant stated that the transfer had not been notified to the Folice, and the car would not be released until the registered owner returned, from Canton.
frusts, is due partly to shortage of ammunition, expected supplies not hav ing reached Marshal Feng's "army.
The order for the general retreat was given on Saturday when Chang Chi Chiang sent out the circular telegram previously reported.
The retreat on the Machang front be gan yesterday morning, although Lu Chung Lin's forces had been thrown back a considerable distance on the previous "three days Defence measures are being taken at Yangliuching, where the strong rearguard is expected to hold on until all retreating troops have passed.
Meanwhile, additional troops have reached Fengtai, Tungchew and. Yang taun. Fengtai is the first and Tungehow the second of the rearguard positions The latter is being strengthened in order to ward of possible attempts by the Fengtien troops to cut off the Kupmin- chun Army in the region of Peking
Farther back, there are still consider able Kuominchan concentrations in the Nankow pass. Troop trains have been arriving all day long from Ticatsin.”
PEEING AND THE RETREAT.'-'
It is reported that the Kuominchun Army in the Jehol region is also falling back on Nankow direct. The stand at
whereby algne the strike and boycott in appeared for defendants. At the hearing. Canton was maintained in fagrant Turner asked for permission to call violation of the Treaty, obligations. There-evidence with regard to usage and custom fore, the Hongkong Government was of shippers in such instances. Permission unable to regard the Canton Government was granted and the evidence was given. as other than principals on whom res ponsibility for the continued boycott 125.
on March 18th.
In the Summary Court yesterday, Mr. Justice Wood delivered judgment. His Majesty's Government, said Mr. and found for plaintiff. His Lordship Amery, fully supported the attitude of kaid that the plaintiff was a shipowner the Hongkong Government and it now resident in Copenhagen, and the defend- remained for the Canton Government to ants were also shipping agent doing busi give proof of its sincerity and translateness in Hongkong, and, through their sub- from words into deeds its professed de agents, also in Swatow and Amoy. On sire to see the present situation brought March 26th the plaintiff cabled to the
to no end.
Mr. H. W. Looker suggested that the Canton Government could end the strike in a moment, if it wanted to, but that it was influenced by Russian advisers.
Mr. Amery was of opinion that that was
.80.
QUARREL LEADS TO MURDER.
SEQUEL TO CLANSMEN'S FIGHT.
How a quarrel between two clapamen who had lived on perfectly good terms with each other at the same house for a
defendants offering them the agency of 8.a Sally Mearsh at 8150. Tho defend- ant replied accepting the offer. Im pur- auance of the contract certain, duties were performed by defendants, and an amount of freight was also collected by them at Swatow. In their account rendered to the plaintiff, they also credited them-- selves with a commission on the freight collected as well as their agency fee. The plaintiff sued for the disallowance of this credit.
The contract in its terms was not ambiguous. In its plain meaning, the defendants had undertaken all the ordi- merth, and had even shared the same nary duties of an agent for a fixed re bed, led to a fight, and later to the alleged muneration 8160. Prima facid, the obliga
tion of an agent was to do everything murder of the aggressor in this fight, was rainted at the Central Magistracy yester-requisite to be done in the business of his principal, and in his absence, which day afternoon.
the principal would himself do if present. The defendants in collecting freight had done something which was within the limits of their duty so defined. On that interpretation, the defendants were entit cdto. nothing additional to the sum named in the contract.
Major 0. Willson was the presiding magistrate, when Li Hau, an earth coolie, was charged with the murder of his clans man Li Aluk, another earth toolie, at No. 4, Sun Street, first floor, Wanchai, on February 17th
From the out ine of the case given by Mr. Hazlerigg (Assistant Crown Sole
The defendants, however, had them- tor) it appeared that the deceased man and the prisoner were clansmen, and that selves from the first construed their both were employed as earth coolies at the time of the alleged murder and both obligation under the contract as subject. lived at the same coolie lodging house in to limitation. They had annexed a new. Wanchai On the morning of February
term incidental to the contract, and claim 16th, about six o'clock & dispute arcse between the two men as to who shoulded that they were right in doing so.. For make the morning tea. This quarrel led that purpose they relied on usage, and to a fight, which was started by Li Muk, they had called evidence to support their who struck the prisoner first Other neolies intervened and separated the two contention. They alleged that the word men, but Li Muk renewed hostilities and again struck prisoner. The aggressor was much bigger man, it was stated, than prisoner and got much the better of the
encounter.
Subsequently Li Muk left for his work, but prisoner remained on the floor and
was rubbed with ointment, apparently
having been somewhat injured during the
scrap.
agency" as employed in a contract of shipping agency was well understood to include certain duties connected with the entering and clearance of a vessel, but to exclude any financial operation. Inter- preted in that light, the defendants were
excluded from collecting freight
It would be enough for the defendant's Fengtai and Tangehow is likely to be
On the night, of the 16th both men. case if they could establish the existence again appeared friendly and of some duration, for these points will not be abandoned until the Kominchan in Ped to be quite trend, of the alleged usage for the ports of Army in the vicinity of Pactingfu has state of affairs continued until the night China, and the Far East only, but it was not disputed, that if this usage existed. reached here. Meanwhile, the outlying of February 17th when both men retired as usual to bed, about seven o'clock, ap- units are bastily concentrating at Peo-parently on friendly terms.
at all, it existed also in the ports of Eng- tingfa.
At this time there were about fifteen Land and Europe.. other coolies on the floor.
Chia Teh, Tao has agreed to carry on the Premiership while the Kusminchun retains military control of Peking.
GROANS HEARD.
On being observed, prisoner left the bed and ran downstairs into the street. He was chased by some of the cookies but was not caught
FRANK AND ABLE WITNESSES. General Sun Yuch is reported to be at Langfang, while General Ln. Chung Lin
Messra, Yates, Goggin and Berg had and staff, also Tang Chi Tao, arrived at in an upper bunk was aroused by the
About eleven o'clock a coolie, sleeping given evidence in support of the alleged Peking this morning.
Bound of groans and iaw prisoner kneel usage, and Mr. George Grimble in the All the witnesses were Tu Chung Lin is at present discussioning on the edge of the bed apparently contrary sense. with the Cabinet measures for the pre striking at his bed-mate, Li Muk Li shipping agents of established reputation servation of order in Feking during the Muk was lying on his back apparently in the Colony. They had given their trying to ward off blows but was not cry- retreat.. lib
ing out, having presumably been wounded testimony with ability and frankness, and in the throat already.
certain agreed points emerged from their evidence. The contract was of an infre- quent type, and it had been formed by a single cable between persons who had had no previous course of dealing. The witnesses stated that it was their prac tice to stipulate expressly for a commis sion payable on freights collected in ad dition to any other remuneration: D
On the evidence of Messrs. Yates, Goggin and Berg, His Lordship was satis fed that in their honest opinion the con tract contained a tacit term that addi- tíonal remuneration should be paid for. any freight collected by the agent Mr. Grimble, on the other hand, read the con tract as ad inclusive contract. He did so because he was accustomed himself to make such contracts.
FRICK ON FENG'S HEAD."
SHANGHAI, March 23rd. The Evening News states that Chang Teung Chang--has offered a million dollars for General Feng Yu Ha head.
IMPERIAL PREFERENCE,
COMMONS AND OUR ASIATIO COLONIES:
- LONDON, March 22nd,
The other man, who had apparently been attacked by prisoner, received wounds in the throat from which he died a few hours later.
·BODY REMOVED: FEAH OF IMPLICATION...
The coolics on this floor were appar ently afraid of being implicated in the murder if the body was found on the Boor, for they took the body into a scavenging lane which connected up Sun Street and Moon Street.
the police
It was in this lane that the body of In the House of Commons Mr. A. EL Muk was found the next morning by Jacobs (Cons.) suggested that with a view to extending British markets and reliev ing unemployment, Mr. Amery should do erything possible to arrange for prefer ential treatment of Eritish goods in our Asiatio Coltuies and Dependencies
Mr. Amory, in reply, pointed out that with one or two exceptions the goods im- ported into Hongkong and Malaya were not subject to import duty, and there were no Customs duties at Aden. He was not in a position to interfere with the internal administration of North Borneo and Barawak, and the Legislative Council of Ceylon a few years ago rejected a proposal to grant preference to British goods. He was not prepared to re-open the matter at present,
The prisoner was not seen or heard of again for some days, but on February 20th, he applied for a job as coole at a contractor's at Aberdeen, and was ar rested at Aberdeco by the police on February 2nd
SERIOUS WOUNDA
Dr. E. P. Minnett (Government Bac teriologist) who made a post-mortem examination said the deceased had four stab wounds, two of which were serious Death was due to hemorrhage and syn cope.
Continuing, Eis Lordship said that neither Mr. Yates nor Mr. Goggin had convinced him that any such commission in the absence of stipulation was pay
able. It had been shown that's common practice existed, but it was not universal:
The bond fider of the parties was not questioned. But he found that the onus of proving the alleged "usage" had not been discharged by the defendants. For that reason plaintiff would succeed, and" judgment with coste was given to him.
At the first hearing of the case, His Various witnesses were called and gave Lordabip ordered plaintiff to pay the evidence bearing out Mr. Hazlergsoets. He, however, revised his previous opening statement, and His Worship order, and ordered that the order of
that trial be costs in the Court"! adjourned the case for further hearing