BRITISH EMPIRE: The Week in Parliament Mar. 17, 1923

BRITISH EMPIRE

The Week in Parliament

Stanley Baldwin, Chancellor of the Exchequer, replying to Sir John Norton-Griffiths (Conservative), said that he could not urge preferential treatment upon the United States Government for goods imported from the British Isles.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer in a written answer to a question asked in the House, stated that the Colonies are repaying loans to the Mother Country. Payments on principal have been made by the following dominions: South Africa, £381,000; Australia, £526,000; New Zealand, £141,000; British Guiana, £142,000.

A report was issued by the First Lord of the Admiralty, Lieutenant- Colonel Amery. The net naval estimates are put at £58,000,000, showing a decrease of about £8,000,000 sterling. Colonel Amery says that the estimates have been drawn up on the presumption that all countries will ratify the Washington Naval Agreement of 1921.

A bill only nine lines long was introduced in the House of Commons by a Labor member. The object is to stop criminal proceedings in the British Isles for " schism, heresy, blasphemy, blasphemous libel, or atheism."