Evening star., 1926-05-02
Current News Events
Summary of Important National, Foreign
and Local Affairs Specially Arranged
for the Convenience of Students.

The French debt has at last been
settled.
But there is many slir--and untii
the United States and the French
Senates ratMy the agreement II
means little. The agreement was
reached here last Thursday. and pro.
vides for the payment by France OF
Sc. SAT GA 900. including interest IN o.
annual installments, beginning III so-,
000, 900 and ending with Sl2o.ooo.ooV.
The settlement. according TO Sectetai
Mellon. represents what the Amer can
Debt Funding Commission believes Is
Frances ability to pay. The terms
are considered lenient.
Senator Smoot of Utah. memper
of the American Debt FUNDING Colh-
mission. will have the agreement
brought up in the Senate Tor corsiu
GRAFTON as soon as possible. hete'
according to observers, II Is certain
tu bring forth heated controversy De-
fore being ratified.
While the French debts terms were
being agreed upon. the senate ias'
week was busy in latifyins dept agree
ments with other countries. Inc bei
gian. Latvian. Rumanian. Czecho-
slovakian and Esthonlan lunulils
terms we're approved by the Senate
in short order.
The "wets," represented by those
who would modify the Volstead law
to permit the sale OF light wines anu
heer. and the "drys." who want to
strengthen the Volstead law and bring
about it's more rigid enforcement. nave
completed their arguments Defore tne
Senate judiciary subcommittee. The
result of their pleas will be seen III
the action that Congress takes regard
ing prohibition. 1t is believed that
there Is little chance Of modifying the
Volstead act. On the other hand,
there is strong indication that Con-
cress will do much to strengthen 1t.
and five bills have been introduced
in the Senate already with this end
in view. The vets may decide TO
concentrate their efforts now In seek
ing a nationwide referendum TO de-
terlnine the wishes of the people IN
the matter.
An amity treaty has been signed
between Germany and Russia, 10 run
for five wears. during which, according
to IFS terms. each government pledges
neutrality in the event of an attack
by a third party; they will regulate
all political and economic problems
bv mutual agreement, and both afflrm
their desire for peace. In note APP
nended to the treaty, Germany em-
phasized her belief in the League OF
Nations as an instrument Tor the
maintenance of peace. and notliled
Russia that If she joins the league
this cannot be Interpreted as an anti
Russian move.
When the text of the German-Rus-
sian treaty was made pubic In Parls
il did not create Il favorable impress
sion. Exception was taken to the
German attitude of trying to serve
two masters. Russia, on the one hand.
and the League of Nations on the
other. Article l6 of the league gov
ernment is in conflict. some critics
held. with the agreement with Russia
for neutrality should the other be at
tackled.
President Coolidge is anxious TO
steer clear OF anything that might
SAVIOR of bureaucracy, ana Tor inns
| reason he does not favor the creation
| Of an independent bureau to have
| control over radio, 1t was made known
| last week at the White House: On
the other hand. the President believes
that radio control should be placed
under existing government agencies
Claims against the Mexican govern
ment for naturalization for the muir
der of 16 American mining engineers
in 1916 were decided adversely TO the
| United States last week by DR.. Ro
drigo Octavio of Brazil. the neutral
| presiding judge of the Mexican
American Special Claims Commission
His ruling was that the Mexican gov
ernment was not liable for damages
| a
| claims against Mexico totaling mil
lions of dollars, if it is to be held as 6
precedent. The American member
| of the commission contested the de
| cision. DR.. Octavio held that Francis
| co Villa. the murderer. was a bandit
at the time of the crime and the Mex
| lean government could not be held tt
| account for his actions. The Amer
| lean member argued that the govern
! ment was responsible whether or no
| he was d bandit.
Chicago, which had drawn national
attention lately because of :he actiNi
| ties there of gang leaders, again took
| the spotlight last week III connection
with a crime, the daring of which
i mas seldom been equaled. Gang
| leaders, in an automobile. turned a
| machine gun on another automobile
occupied by an assistant states at
torney, who, because of his relentless
! pursuit of criminals was known as
| the hanging prosecutor" and killed
their man with two others. Then the
| murderers escaped. Although police
| rounded up scores of gangsters, they
have failed to find the guilty ores
| Use of a machine gun by criminal
has never been resorted to before.
Work has begun again on attempt
| ing 10 raise from the bottom Of the
sea the SOL submarine. which, after
| being rammed by a passing steamer
went down last September with 80
men aboard. The wreck of The sub
marine has been located and q feet
| of salvage ships has gathered to un
dertake the work of raising it TO the
surface. Shortly after the wreck
last Fall salvage operations had to be
! abandoned because of the heavy seas
After an investigation lasting nine
months. the National Crime Commits
| sion has concluded that there is NJ
panacea for crime, but that applica
| ton of remedies rests with individual
| States and individual citizens. Crea
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