Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-08-29

Crest Rritain,-I told last week
If the failure of negotiations between
tho executive committee OF the coal
r,,ners and the central committee OF
the mining association towners). On
Thursday the miners committee met
a committee of the government; IKE
wise with no result whatever >,
A certain tendency in some iocan-
Ties to dribble back to work III Tue
mines. pursuant to local agreements,
appears to have been fairy cnecheu
nv nicketing and by fervent appears
from the miners officials for soil
daritv. Some clashes between polce
and picketers are reported; not very
serious, apparently.
II is impossible to learn the precise
truth of the matter. but apparently
sufficient relief is being provided out
of the local rates to prevent actudI
hunger anywhere in the mining as
tricts. 1t would seem, on the otner
hand. that, whereas this rele1 was
wont to be rather liberal, II Is no"
being curtailed within the limits or
strict necessity, except perhaps. as
re- the children. MOScoW'S contrlpu-
ton is but drop in the bucket the
union funds are very low; credit Is
not obtainable at the local stores;
scarcely anywhere is there margin
for comfort or amusement; and IN
evitably, as the weeks roll on Uhe
strike is in eighteenth week.. the
deprivation of all that gives color TO
life gets more and more on the nerves.
France.-Of Poincare's continued
gallant fight to reduce the cost OF nv
ing and stabilize the franc we get
few details, but those few are reassur-
ing.
The franc continues steady. ON
August 90 it's quotation on New YORK
exchange was 2.S4% cents: on August
81 II was 2.S6. with only trif1ing fiuc-
tuation in the interVla.
The three latest weekly returns OF
the Bank of France have indicated
progressive improvement. During
the critical period Of June 20 August
5 the banks note circulation increas-
ed by 3,114,5OO,000 francs: since Au-
gust 5 there has been a reduction or
2.112.OOO. 900 francs. The explanation
of the latter is partly in renewal of
defense bonds, partly in increase OF
tax collections. The revenue from
indirect taxation and monopol1es In
July established a striking new record;
3137 ,000. 900 francs, as against the
previously IOuLHIy iISi VI -'-'"'""0'
600. Finally, after about year OF
unfavorable trade balances, the July
foreign trade balance was favorable
one. Unfortunately this Improvement
of the trade balance has to be dis
counted upon consideration of the
francs behavior; it has allusory
features.
Generally speaking. the industrial
prosperity is, as every one should
know, largely illusory. Poincare is
moving to make it genuine.
* x x X
Spain.-The demand of the Span
ish government that the Tangier zone
be included in the Spanish protec-
torate of Morocco met ice at London
and Paris. Moreover. to the general
surprise it has failed to elicit a pledge
of support from Rome. Rome ap
pears to be something less than luke
warm to the idea. 1t would seem
that the intention of such Spanish
move was not even limited in the ne
gotiations consummated by the recent
ly concluded Italo-Spa nish treaty.
That treaty, according to the Fascist
journals. provides in general terms
for close cooperation between Spain
and Italy respecting North Africa.
Perhaps one is justified in discovering
in the comment by the Fascist Jour-
nails just a hint Of Spanish sharp
practice in the move, coupled with
application to Rome for
support thereof.
The coincidence is universally re-
marked, with appropriate knowing
winks, of the Spanish claim re Mo-
rocco with the crisis of the Spanish
campaign for a permanent seat on the
league council. Scarcely may Spain
expect to make good both claims, and
curiosity is rife as TO which she Is
really driving for. Does she propose
to use the Tangier claim as a bargain
ing point in the effort for a permanent
council seat, or vice versa? 1t is quite
possible that she will fall between the
two stools. and again it Is conceiv-
able that she will find her advantage
In the urly-burly she has kicked up.
It seems extremely unlikely that
either Britain or France will consent
to abandonment of the international
status of Tangier. the character of
which was originally determined by
the famous Algeciras treaty and was
modified by recent con-
vention Ito which, it should be re-
marked, the United States has refused
1t would appear that
Britain and France are so far hos
pitable to Spanish REPRESENTATIONS %