Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1921-06-04
EVENTS OF A WEEK.

~sATURDAY N JUNE 4. 1891.
EVENTS OF A WEEK.
Germany has at last begun to make real payments
on account Of the reparations claims Of the Allies. Just
before June !, the end Of the period Of grace granted to
her. she completed the payment of one billion marks,
the sum which she was required to pay BY that date, and
while the first payment is a long way from completing
the settlement Of the debt: the unqualified acceptance
by Germany Of the terms imposed on her, and this very
considerable payment according to contract are accept
ed as an indication Of a decided change in the German
program, and one of the elements which has stood in
the way OF world settlement and world reconstruction
has been removed. ~
X u X
II the slesan troubles had occurred under other
circumstances they would have been much more dis
quoting than we have a right to consider them now.
With Germany still backing and filling on the subjcc, Of
reparadons, constantly holding out the prospect Of agree
ment. and constantly falling to agree, the presence in
Upper silesia of considerable bodies of armed Germans,
and the conflicts between these and, Polish troops, and
in one or two instances. with French, would have war
ranted the belief that Germany. while holding the Allies
inactive BY a process of dickerins. was Undertaking an
important military movement in central Europe, with
the purpose Of again establishing herself by force of arms
as an important military power.
That Interpretation is not consistent with her ac-
ceptance Of the reparations terms, her payment of the
first tnsalment on time, and the provision which she is
making by the readjustnent Of her basis Of taxation to
raise the remainder Of the funds needed. Her present
attitude in this respect warrants the hope that. whatever
8P0OAASa AoH 1A0y q CnLo1L dAu0Q u 1S ~
s,e purpose Of the German government to leave the set
dement, OF the silesian question to the supreme council
and the League of Nations, and to take no action which
VAL tend to provoke hostilihes. There seems, also, TO
be m understanding that the Poles have been quietly
warned that they, too. must avoid complicatins the sit
uation by further military measures.
4 X 4, X +
The United states government Is not participants
actively In any of the negotiations which are in prog
ress for the settlement Of the war situation In Europe.
Nevertheless, she Is represented by observers" on the
three great bodies which have this work in charge, and
II goes without saying that. while the onaciai duty Of
the three American representatives is to keep the home
govrnnnent informed, their presence will afford to the
European statesmen An opportunity to inform them
selves Is to. thu American point Of view on many I'm
portaat subjectA
4 4 + +
Memorial day was observed throughout the country
in the customary manner, and, as has been the case
ever since the United States became an. active partici-
pant In the world war, the younger soldiers shared with
those OF former wars In the commemorative exercises.
One result OF our recent war activities has been to Eive
to this day, which has been peculiarly, an American
memorial day, a larger international significance. In
the cemeteries of France and Flanders, where the bodies
Of American soldiers lie buried, on the fields where they
gave up their lives. and in scores of foreign cities. where
the memory of American achievement is fresh and CRATE
full, the day was observed with fitting exercises, and it
seems not unlikely that this custom. now we'll established,
Will be followed in the future until it Is adopted by other
peoples as well, and there will be, through its observance.
one more bond to unite the nations in brotherhood.
X + X X 4
sd Inc eenALe mas passed the navy DILL, WIN the bof2h
disarmament amendment included. Other amendments,
such rs one requesting the president to suspend naval
conjunction activities for six months, pending the re-
suit OF disarmament negotiations, were rejected. but the
friends of reduced armament believe that they have won
an important point in the adoption Ct the amendment
calling TOR a conference by the statesmen of the three
great naval nations for the purpose of making plans for
reduction. The senate representatives on the conference
committee are expected to go the limit In the effort to
have the amendment retained. What the attitude Of the
house group will be has not been indicated.
y X Y X +
The railway labor board has announced its deeiston
in the wage settlement question which has been before
1t for Some time. The decision is that, taking effect July
L, the wages Of railway employees shall be reduced an
average Of about IL per cent. The findings list the sew
eral classes OF service and the degree of reduction decid-
cd on for each. The rate varies considerably. but the
general average is about IL Per cent. Abrosation of
the national agreements as to service Is also decided on
and the swnrkins conditions on the various roads will be
governed BY rules made locally - before the war
+ + X ts4
No Official statement has been made either for the
employees or for the managers, but informally it Ia.
beea sAted that the labor union leaders feel that the
wage decision is 2 victory for them. as the manager.
ASAed . rs per cent reduction. ana are siven only hall
u thAk. This Ii taken to mean Acceptance Of the deci.
Ion BY thes-enployss. Thus far the naanaEers havs
nnaatltsanSd silence.
SHORTLY following the wage dectaon. and doubles
inSsNne nasasuYe beesuss OF 1t, President Harding called
thte sntassnce + number Of the railway hAads and wen,
90 - satustion with them. Emphasis
- ~ tAportaace Of good transportation service =
slle1ssfs ra4aa. The president appesied to tho maaaseri
- oe-eDA1dm In the EFFORT to reduce rates ana Inn
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