London, Jan. 1.
Continuing General Smuts said that the last ten years had been spent in elaborating the status of the Dominions and securing them constitutional equality with the Mother Country and the help and good-will of British Statesmen of all parties had always been avail able.
He urged that the next ten years might be given over with the same zeal to the achievement of closer ce-operation and' real solidarity la policy.
He-made this plea' as a man who lad given some of the: best years jof his life-in fighting against the British: flag. 21 lover of Imperialism as a doctrine. But he felt that the British' Empire was an institution of a que type and was of inestimable value and that its citizens would show tittle evidence of political sagacity and foresight if they did not hand it on undimmed in vigour to their: children so that it might play an even more beneficent part in world affairs than it had already done—British Wireless through Reuter.
The Van Dyck masterpiece, "Concert des Anges," valued at about £30,000, has disappeared while out its way to London from Brussels, The West End art dealer, to whom it was consigned, was amazed on opening the packing-case to find an empty frame.
Monsieur Bechbache, the owner of the masterpiece, interviewed at Brussels by Reuter's correspondent. there, said he was heartbroken at. the mysterious loss of the picture, which, it is understood, was insured {for only.n quarter of its market value, 'M, Bechbache declared' that he Tt is: known: that the case was detained for: some days in Antwerp and that it Jay in the steamship's hold' for-a: few days in the London
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.