Evening star., 1933-10-22
CONDITIONS In 20 NATIONS
SHOW MARKED RECOVERY
Backbone of World Depression Broken
Except in Few Countries, Geneva Ex-
perts Reveal from Study of Reports.
BY ALBIN E. JOHNSON.

~ ENEVA.-The nations of the
world have definitely turned
T the long expected corner.
~ Marked improvement in eco
nomic conditions and employ
ment in nearly every country is re-
corded in reports that arrive daily at
the League of Nations and International
Labour Office. Except in some of the
so-called gold countries" thousands of
workers have been re-employed during
the past few months. AS compared
with a year ago conditions are decidedly
better in 20 out of 30 countries from
which authoritative statistics are avail
able.
Figures are usually dry and unin-
terestlng. But the reports being COM
piled by experts of the Leagues finan-
cial and economic sections give vivid
word picture of the world situation.
They reveal conclusively that the i'm
provement is neither spotty. sectional
nor seasonal. 1t is general-industria
agricultural and mining countries show
ing that the backbone of the depres-
Sion has been broken.
Substantial decrease in unemployed
workers Is reported in II countries. in
Guiding Great Britain, Germany, Italy
IN Euroupe. and Chile and Australia in
opposite corners of the globe Frances
unemployment statistics, taken from
employment exchange reports, indicate
that there are 32,577 less unemployed
now than year ago. The govern
nents figures on employment how
ever. contradict the exchanges esti-
mates on Unemployment" showing
that conditions are getting worse Other
gold countries - Sweden, Holland,
Switzerland, as we'll as Czechoslovakia,
Bulgaria, Austria. Norway and Yugo-
slavia-report conditions worse than 10
months ago, but in most cases better
than they were three months ago.
World Watching United States.
Without exaggeratio1. it can be said
that the eyes of all Europe are turned
toward the United States and the
N. R. A. Reduction of unemployment
through shorter hours and public works
mas long been advocated in Geneva
and various continental capitals. Some
countries have had the courage to put
the reforms projects into effect-and
with encouraging results. Germany.
Italy, Great Britain and Denmark have
found shorter hours conducive to ac-
celebrating employment in certain in
dustries. Czechoslovakia. on the other
hand. finds its general situation unim-
proved. although it was one of the first
countries to shorten hours of its work.
ers. There is reason to believe. how
ever, that conditions in Czechoslovakia,
which is the leading industrial country
IN Central Europe. would be much worse
had not big industrialists. such as
the Bata Shoe Works and others,
shortened working hours.
That the survey of the League Is
universal is shown by the fact that it
hlIt
lcas, Far East. Antipodes and South
Africa. Chinese figures are considered
unreliable, generally. and Japan, with
drawn into a self-imposed seclusion.
probably has private reasons for being
secretive Unofhcial information from
the Far East. however, indicates that
things are not going so well. econom-
ically, in the Flowery Kingdom. Soviet
Russia, on the other hand. is more
favorably situated than almost any
other country.
Seasonal factors are taken into ac-
count SO as to give balanced pic
months ago arc compared with those
of today The latest statistics also are
compared with the situation on the
same date a year ago, thereby avoiding
seasonal fluctuations.
So that the British and German fig
ures on unemployment are not mis-
represented tboth countries show de-
cided improvement) it must be remem-
bered that, while workers receiving un-
employment insurance are fewer. it does
not necessarily mean that all stricken
from the lists have obtained work
New legislation and administrative re-
forms have caused many to be dropped
from the lists. Also except where spe-
clfically indicated, the numbers given
refer to wholly unemployed. They are
taken from various sources, chiefly COM
pulsory unemployment insurance rec
ords, voluntary unemployment insurance
statistics. trade union returns and en-
ployment exchanges estimates.
Unemployed in Austria.
Austria reports 2e1224 unemployed,
as against 269.l79 on october l year
ago. This number of workers are draw
ing unemployment insurance benefits.
More than % per cent of the nations
workers are idle.
Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Reports indicate that there were q
458.744 unemployed workers in receipt
of insurance benefits on October L. ON
the same date year ago there were
2.946.808. Last March the number
stood at 1921 .0C0, according to COM
pulsory unemployment insurance re-
returns"
Among the British dominions, Can
ada, the Irish Free State and Aus
tralia show improvements; So "hne NE"
Zealand reports about 1000 more un-
employed now than IL months ago.
Canadian trade union reports show that
there are about $4,000 unemployed
trade unionists, as against 3o,24o in
August. 1882. Australia shows de-
cided upturn. Because OF the depres-
SONS effect on wool, wheat and agrl-
cultural products. Australia was harder
hit than any of the British commons.
Trade union reports for August. Whlcn
are the latest available, indicate that
there were l06652 idle. as compared
with 124.O68 a year prevlous-a de-
crease of around 20 per cent The Irish
Free State, likewise finds its economic
situation ameliorated. The British boy
colt, imposed for political reasons, hurt
Ireland immeasurably early this year.
hut its effects have worn of. To-Day
the Free State has 10000 less unem-
ployed than a year ago, when there
were rs, 14O idle. -.
Belgium although gold country"
Cher franc is linked with Frances)
ployment insurance statistics show that
the number of idle has decreased from
169,4l1 on September /. 1882. to 142ll9
at the present time. That figure rep
resents 1877 per cent of the country's
voluntarily insured workers, but does
not take into consideration thousands
who are not on the Official lists.
Bulgaria's situation is almost twice
rs bad as it was year ago. Unem-
ployment, according to exchanges: show
that there were 23,247 idle IN August
this year as compared with 1878 IN
August, ,. 1882 Being 1a an as51cu1husa, SaTs haen
emeliorated during the Summer months
Apparently they grew worse.
Czechoslovakia. recognized as the
greatest industrial center in mid-Eu-
rope. is in a bad way. Employment ex-
changes report 62l 600 idle workers on