Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-01-06
BY HENRY w. BUM.

THE BRITISH EMPIRE-American
friends of the Prince of Wales" have
ANONYMOUSLY made a contribution of
$4,000 to the lord mayors fund Tor
relief of unemployed coal miners. The
lord mayors fund has now reached the
total of $1,95o,000. 1t will be recalled
that the government has promised 10
duplicate private contributions pound
for pound.
General elections were recently held
in Southern Rhodesia for the second
time since that region became self
governing British colony. The area OF
the colony is $4,000 square miles
(about three times that of New York
State). In 1926 the population was
estimated at about 10000; 10000
Africans, 10000 whites, more than 80
per cent of the latter being OF British
stock. Prior to 1928 the British South
African Co, under a charter, exercised
sovereign rights over the region, sub
iect to partial control by the British
colonial office The annexation to the
British crown took place on September
IL, 1923, as the result of popular
referendum, the chartered company re-
ceiving just compensation. At the same
referendum the Southern Rhodesians
rejected an invitation to join the Union
of South Africa as a province, misliklng
the separatist tendencies in the union.
The relations between the whites and
blacks appear to be satisfactory; re-
serves are provided for the latter, and
the high commissioner for South Africa,
representing the imperial government
exercises a supervisory control over their
interests.
Gold is the leading item Of export;
the record years export thereof being
that of 1916, valued at about $40 000,-
600. Coal is produced and all is con-
sumed in the colony. The colony pro-
chrome iron, and has very valuable
asbestos deposits. The chief crops are
maize and tobacco, the latter having
| good export market.
There seems to be good promise for
cotton culture. Great areas are suit
able for paSturage, and export of cattle,
already considerable, should become
notable. There Is a favorable balance
of FOREIGN trade and budget surplus.
One hears of brisk continuance of
Soviet propaganda aimed at stirring up
revolutionary activities among the
blacks of South Africa
| X X X X
| GERMANY.-The report of Mr.. Par
ker Gilbert, agent general for repara-
| tons payments, on operation under the
Dawes plan during the fourth Dawes
i year, ended August 81, 1923, gives cold
comfort to the German who had hoped
to find in it support for the claim that
the reparations annuity of the standard
Dawes year is beyond German capacity
to pay" and that the commission which
is about to overhaul the scheme of
4 psar rnf cIn h.
burden accordingly The fourth Dawes
year was the last of the TRANSITION
years." the current Dawes year being
the first standard Dawes year, the an
nuity rising this year to $4,000 900
marks, as against the previous 1885,
| 100000.
Germany celebrated the New Year
Sumptuously, paying especial honor to
! the American bacchus, whose cult is
now securely established in the father
land; in simpler language, Germany
has enthusiastically adopted the cock
| tail.
ITALY.-A special commission an
pointed to examine school text books
reports that all histories and biographies
in use In Italian schools should go into
the discard. 1t seems that they con-
tain false presentations of the pre-
Fascismo world and fail adequately to
expound the achievements of Fascismo,
the biographies, for example, giving in
correct data as to "the populations and
minoritieS along the frontiers" There
fore, the minister of public instruction
has been directed to prepare new text
books setting forth the truth, and
especially giving Fascismo its due
Moreover, the higher institutions of
learning are to get shake-up. New
Fascist chairs of politics and history are
to be established.
All over the world preparations are
being made for the celebration next
year of the 2,000th anniversary of the
birth of Virgil; born near Mantua Oc-
: tober Is, 10 BIC. The farmers should
SQaEtieipate heartily :1n the Gslsb gatlens,