Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-02-13

millennial condition. The tax must
be very greatly reduced, perhaps even
abolished, If Chilean nitrate export is
to continue. Chilean nitrate produc-
ton fell off % per cent in 1926 and
within the year the aggregate quoted
value on the London Stock Exchange
of five Chilean nitrate companies de-
clined from 3,57S,000 pounds to 1884
600 pounds. 1t is estimated that the
Chilean beds could satisfy the worlds
nitrate requirements in respect of
fertilizers and explosives for the CEN
turtles ahead. Probably with the ex.
port tax Knocked off and more econom-
ical methods of extraction and treat
ment the Chilean natural products
could for a long time ahead more than
hold its own in the new competition.
X X * X
United States of America.--Our Gov
eminent has sent an identical memo
randum to the governments of Great
Britain, France, Italy and Japan sug-
costing that they empower their dele
gates at the forthcoming meeting at
Geneva of the commission which IS
making the preparations for an in
ternational disarmament conference
under League auspices "to negotiate
and conclude at an early date an
agreement further limiting naval arm
ament, experimenting the Washing
ton treaty on that subject and cover
ing the classes of vessels not covered
by that treaty"
The following paragraph of the
memorandum is of particular I'M
portance and interest:
Although hesitating at this time to
put forward rigid proposals as re-
CARDS the ratios Of naval strength to
be maintained by the different powers,
the American Government, for it's
part, is disposed to accept, in regard
to those classes of vessels not covered
by the Washington treaty, an extern
sion of the 5-5--3 ratio as regards
the United States, Great Britain and
Japan. and to leave to discussion at
Geneva the ratios of France and Italy,
taking INTO full account their special
conditions and requirements in regard
to the%types of vessels in question.
Ratios for capital ships and aircraft
carriers were established by that
treaty (which would not be affected in
any way by an agreement covering
other classes of ships"
On Friday the Senate passed, AZ
to SO. the McNary- Haugen farm relief
bill.
DIR. Charles Doolittle Walcott, secre-
tary and executive head of the Smith
sonian Institution. is dead at rs. He
was distinguished i'm several fields of
science, extraordinarily so in geology.
He was, moreover, a great admins
traitor.
X X X M
Notes.-The instruction in Portu-
gal appears to have ended in COM
plete victory for the government head
ed by President lin effect, dictator)
Carmona. The business began with q
mutiny in the army and navy, but the
movement gathered to itself a good
many civilians. About 1000 is a rea-
sonable estimate of the total casual.
ties. Considerable damage was done to
Lisbon and OportO by the shellfire of
loyal troops.
Egypt's unfavorable foreign trade
balance of last year was her first I'M
favorable balance of many years past.
Exports fell off by the value of H.
100000 Egyptian pounds, imports by
5000 pounds. Total exports were val
ued at about 100000 Egyptian
pounds, imports at about 100000.
Cause of the depression was the mon
strous slump in cotton.