Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-07-18
CRICKET DEADLOCK
ST|RS ALL BRITAIN
Debt Settlement and Heat
Wave Aid ii DispIacing
Coal Before Public.
BY 4. q. GARDINER.
EngIaad's Greatest Liberal Editor
ri Rndln nianafch q The Sfar.

Special Radlo Dispatch TO The Star
LONDON, July 1.-THE heat wave,
the test match with Australia IN
cricket and the French debt settle
mes1t have served this week to vary
the monotony Of thes interminable
discussion OF the internlinable coal
strike
It is difficult to convey to Aneri.
cans, who remain, imperturbably in.
different to- the destinations q
cricket, the extraordinary dominion
that this game exercises over the
mind or the British public. and the
intensity OF interest In the struggle
| to recover from Australia the SUI
preInacy which that country has
maintained for 10 years.
The match at Leeds was the third
in the series Of five games. and, like
the preceding matches. ended In e
draw, with its sequel of an avalanche
Of discussion as to what steps will
be necessary to bring these prolonged
encounters to definite conclusion.
French Settlement.
In the midst of this popular frenzy
OF irrelevance, the visit here of FL
nance Minister Cailla,ix OF France
brought within sight the conclusion
OF the protracted negotiations with
regard to the French debt.
Over here it is felt that Chancellor
of the Exchequer Churchill has not
erred on the side OF severity. On an
enormous capital debt Of CAT ,000, 900
annuity Of 12,50O,000 pounds. The
British government has foregone the
right to place French bonds on the
market, and the French insistence on
the necessity for modification of the
terms, should PREPARATION payments
fail, while not admitted In the actual
agreement, virtually is conceded in q
covering letter.
Englishmen who have to raise some
100000 pounds yearly to meet the
interest alone on the money lent to
France may well look ruefully at
such terms in the settlement, but
at least feel that they have earned
the right to a respite from accuse
lions of avarice from the other side
of the Channel. 1t is difflcult, how
ever, to believe such q respite will
be granted.
Profound skepticism is felt here
with regard to the future of the
franc. Although the technical prob
lem of sterilization is not at all diff
cult, there is no evidence as yet of
real determination to deal with it.
The fact that with the gold reserve
Of the Bank OF France equal, at pres
ent rates Of exchange. to more than
80 per cent of the note issue, Ii is
still proposed to stabilize the franc
with the help Of credits from abroad
is felt to indicate desire to avoid
facing the issue, which augurs III for
the success of the measures cortem.
plated.
Deadlock IN Coal War.
The struggle in the coal mines
continues undated. So far as ii is
possible to see at present, there is
no sign that the passage of the eight
hour law evoked any response among
the strikers. Here and there small
bodies of men are reported to have
returned to work, but In the main
they have remained Arm, and the
deadlock is as severe as ever.
Meanwhile there have been two
events which may lead to develop
ments later. Early in the week the
Archbishop of Canterbury, acting
through the Industrial Christian
Fellowship, annroached the miners
executives and laid before them
plans for a settlement which are said
to have made q favorable impression.
Even more important, Thursday,
Tor the first time since the calling off
of the general strike, a meeting took
place between the Trades Union
Council and the miners. The officiaI
statement OF the proceedings was
vague, and accounts Of what actually
took place vary greatly; but Ii Is
known that many members OF the
Trades Union Council are now seri-
ously alarmed at the effects of con-
| tinuance Of the strike on fits funds
and membership, and 1t is felt that
once having established q contact, it
is not likely to leave any stone un-
turned in the search for q basis of
resumption Of negotiations.
Lady Astor Again.
Lady Aston is never long out of
the picture. Her activities and the
interest Of the press In her lively
personality make her one OF the most
constant sources of public entertain
lment. This week she has been charged
with trifling with the sanctities Of
the House Of Commons. She took d
large party Of American visitors into
the chamber when the house was not
sitting, and the press reported that the
visitors carried on q mock discussion
with Lady Astor filing the speaker
chair.
a question was raised In the house
Wednesday, but the speaker said he
had made inquiries and found the
press statements exaggerated, no one
having occupied the speakers chair,
and nothing In the nature Of q mock
debate having been held. But he sig.
nificantly reminded the members Of
| the regulations. Lady Astor asked
permission to explain, but on the
speaker's suggestion she allowed the
matter to drop.