Evening star., 1925-10-18

news OF the world Tor the
i seven days ending Octo-
ber II:
LocarnO.-On Friday the British,
French, Italian, Belgian and German
delegates to the Locarno conference
initiated the completed Rhine security
pact and subsidiary arbitration con-
ventions between Germany and France
and Germany and Belgium, Italy and
Great Britain to be guarantors.
An arbitration treaty between Ger
many and Poland and an arbitration
treaty between Germany and Czecho-
sIovakia were also initiated by the
proper delegates, likewise two under
standings'-one between France and
Poland and one between France and
Czechoslovakia, conveying French
guarantee Of the treaties last men,
toned I forbear comment pending
publication Of the texts. 1t is expected
that all these instruments will be ap-
proved at once by the several parlia-
ments concerned. In that expectation
exchange of ratifications has been
scheduled for December l in London.
Some uneasy doubt was removed by
announcement of Italy's decision to
join Britain as guarantor. Musso-
lini himself joined the conference on
the 18th.
The stupendous Importance of this
development is sufficiently obvious. A
perusal of Brands magnificent speech
on the occasion of the initiating is rec
| commended.
The British Empire. - The Prince
of Wales, arriving back in London
| from his African and South American
| tour, received a tremendous popular
| ovation.
The strength of the Irish Free State
| army in the Spring of 1923 was $4,000.
| 1t is now 10000, composed of 27 In
| fantry battalions. with Corps of En-
gineers, artillery and airmen Q5s off,
| GERS and menD
The Free States loan of 10 million
pounds bearing interest at per cent,
offered in November. 1923, was quickly
| overSubScribed.
| 1t is a reasonable estimate that
| about 40 more millions will have to
| be borrowed to meet capital expendi.
| ture and extraordinary charges of
the next few years. Provision must
be made for liquidating the excep-
| tional charges flor property losses
and personal injuries compensation.
| etc. entailed by the Anglo-1rish war
and the subsequent rebellion, and for
| sundry schemes of national develop
ment, as urban housing (even more
backward than in Britain). drainage
afforestation. Harvesting of the Shan
non to furnish electrical energy for
industrial purposes, etc. Moreover
arrangements have to be made look
ing to annual payments toward liqui-
| dation of the Free States share of
! the pre-war debt of the United King
! dom and of war pensions as laid
| down in the London treaty Of 1921,
which created the Free State. The
amount of that share has yet to be
| fixed. the British government wait
! ing until such time as the financial
| burdens of the new dominion shall
be sensibly eased) Fifty million pounds
| Is about equal to two years revenue
| on the basis of the 1924-5 budget
/ Taxation is now very high, owing
to the extraordinary charges above
mentioned, but it should be gradually
reduced to a reasonable limit. Tran
| quillity assured, the financial future
| Of the Free State should be salts
| factory. AS to tranquility. much
| hangs on the report of the commits.
sion now at work delimiting the Free
| State-Ulster boundaries.
Sir Mahdo Rao Sindhia, Maharaja OF
! Gwalior, died recently in Paris. OF