NEWS FROM 100 YEARS AGO : 16 August 1923

16 AUGUST 1923

Jan Smuts, the Prime Minister of South Africa, speaking at a Congress of the South African Party, said that all nations great and small needed to rally around Great Britain to avoid a global disaster.

The Belgian Government said that they were still examining the British note on war reparations and the occupation of the Ruhr Valley, but said they were taking it seriously despite the angry French response.

Calvin Coolidge, the new President of the United States, said that he would reject any proposal to cancel or reduce the amount owed by France or any other country to the United States.

Éamon de Valera, the Irish Republican leader, was arrested by Free State troops shortly after commencing an election speech in the market town of Ennis.