Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1928-01-06
FOREIGN

covered from the effects of the long
coal strike. What that conflict did 10
the country was indicated by the fact
that in January, for the first time in
many years, the real balance of trade
was against the British, the deficit
amounting to s6G,000,00O In April
the government introduced a bill to
amend rather drastically the law re-
lating 10 trade unions and strikes
The measure was supported by the
Conservatives as necessary for the de.
Tense Of the existing political and so
cial system; but it was assailed bit
terry by all the forces of Labor. who
asserted it was designed not to pro,
tect the state but to take away the
rights won by the workers and to de-
stroy the unions. After many weeks
Of violent debate the measure, con.
slderably modified, was passed. An.
other plan of the government, pro
posed in June, was to reduce the mum
Der of peers in the house of lords, and
at the same time to SO strengthen the
powers of that chamber that 1t would
be an im%pregnable defense against the
growing power of labor. This was so
strongly opposed by the Socialists and
LabOrltes that the scheme was aban-
doned for the present. In April, Chan
cellor of the Exchequer Churchill In
troduced the budget for the year, de-
signed to meet a deficit of S110, 000,-
900. Its proposals showed that, de-
spite her enormous burdens, Great
Britain's financial position was funda.
mentally sound.
When the Dali Eireann or parlia-
ment of the Irish Free State met In
June, De Valera and forty-four of his
followers were excluded because they
refused to take the oath Of allegiance
to King George. Later they changed
their minds and were sworn In. The
general elections In September gave
the government a plurality of six
votes, and President Cosgrave was re-
elected. In July Ireland was shocked
by the assassination of Kelvin O'Hig-
gins, vice president and minister of
justice. The murderers were not
caught.
Canada's Importance was consider
ably amplified by her election as a
member of the council of the League
OF Nations, Senator Raoul Dandurand
being given the seat, and by the send
ing OF IN American minister TO Ottawa
In the person of William Phillips. On
July / the Dominion celebrated the
sIxtieth anniversary Of It's birth as a
self-governing unit of the British en-
pire. Ontario abandoned prohibition,
and on June / substituted the system
of selling liquor in government stores
TO persons possessing permits. Prince
Edward Island, the smallest Of the
provinces, voted In June to remain
dry.
That France is still nervously afraid
of attacks from the East was made
plain when the superior wal council
In February announced plans for the
construction of defenses on the Ger
man and Italian frontiers calling for
the expenditure of seven billion
francs. The project will give France
the most formidable frontier defenses
in Europe. Parliament passed a bill
in March providing for naturalization
of all needful industry In time Of war.
and in April President Doumergue
signed a bill under which France will
build one cruiser. six d~estroyers. five
submarines and other war craft.
Premier Poincare, despite constant OPP
position In parliament, maintained his
prestige, and his financial measures
proved so successful that many won
dercd why he did not proceed to the
sterilization Of the franc.
Under the firm hand of Mussolini,
the Fascist state of Italy began to
function fully in 1927. Measures that.
though severe, seem wholesome were
put in force from time to time and
the country prospered, beyond denial
Of The detractors of the Duce. In
April, the premier proclaimed a Fas
cist "charter of labor" which was re-
garded AS a substitution Of the prin
cipIe of cooperation for that of com
petition, and thus a step In the abo
lition of class struggle.
Kim. Ferdinand of Rumania died on
July 20 and his grandson, the infant
Michael, was proclaimed his successor
.nder a regency. Friends Of Carol,
former crown prince and father of the
child king, stirred up a lot of excite
ment and trouble with schemes to
bring hin buck from exile and put him
y