Evening star., 1921-06-26
BY HENRY w. BUNN.
wright. 1921, by The Washington star)


-HE following is a brief summary of
the news of the world for the seven
days ended June IS:
UPPER sILEsIA.-When I wrote my
last weeks article. for two days the cables had
given news concerning Upper Silesia. The
weird silence broken Sunday, but
throughout the week the news had been very
meager. The French government continued to
press Berlin to cause Hoefer. commander Of the
German defense corps in Upper Silesia to with
draw. as ordered by the interallied commission
At last, according to a dispatch Of the ED.
the Berlin government has undertaken to OBJ
tain Hoefer's withdrawal: commission has
left for Upper Silesia to persuade Hoefer';
the behavior Of the Poles Is vaguely indicated
put a great strain on the BRAND and Wirth gov
ernments of moderation. Fortunately for the
peace BRAND trusts Wirth. appreciates his em-
barrassments, abstains from threats; thus Of
Tending the French extremists, to be sure, but
disappointing the German fire-eaters of their
hopes.
GERMANY-No news concerning the process
Of disarmament. that all important matter
Perhaps a happy inference may be drawn from
the fact that rehabilitation Of the French class
of 1919 has been ordered to commence June rs.
The recent conversations between NJ. Loucheur.
French minister of the devastated regions. and
DR.. Rathenau German minister Of reconstruc-
ton (both gentlemen of wide and generous
views). upon details of reconstruction (espe-
cially furnishing Of German materials). have
sweetened the air. DR.. Rathenau suggested
large cooperation of French and German in
terests NJ Loucheur did not repulse this sug-
gestion, but suggested in turn that DR.. Rathenau
draw up a memorandum of practical PROPOSE
tions- In general. the French press commented
cordially upon these exchanges. though some
cynics saw France about to be done" by the
willy and insinuating boche One may actually
read in French newspapers such expressions as:
"A Franco-German reparation entente" "an era
Of reconciliation through reconstruction"
X + r
GREAT BRITAIN.-"Economy are
ruined' Is the cry in Britain, and not without
reason. Parliament seats are being won by the
opposition on that issue. But 1t Is easier to
preach than to practice The miners strike has
crippled many industries dependent on coal,
throwing hundreds Of thousands out of employ
ment. Three weeks ago there were, l under
stand. besides the 100000 miners strike.
more than 100000 unemployed and upward of
two million on part time The government un-
employment fund Is almost exhausted. There
fore the government has presented a bill which
would reduce the dole for men from 20 to
Is shillings weekly, and for women from Is to
12 shillings. while increasing the contributions
from employers and employees. But this Is
admitted to be hazardous proceeding; prob
ably only the doles have prevented serious dis
orders hitherto Then there Is the cost of the
defense corps, still kept afoot. though the army
reserve has been released. The railway deficit
mounts fearfully (the railways still being under
government controD! what will happen when.
before long, the railways revert to private con-
troll one trembles to forecast
But the desperate pass in which the govern
ment finds itself is most vividly illustrated
by its resolve to ask repeal of the agricultural
act, which act went into operation only Janu-
ary last, and from which so much was fondly
DEVELOPMENT Br1tain'S agTiCUl.
tural resources which was the aim of the act,
might justify the epithet of tight" for the
little isle, might save it from starvation in a
future war. The act guarantees minimum