The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1937-04-22


only unsanctioned SO far as the
parliamentary bodies of Britain,
France and the United States are
concerned, but 1t is susceptible OF
being cancelled on few hours no
tice at any time.
Mr.. Roosevelt has been thinking
seriously Of such an international
conference for a long time. 1t will
be recalled that he sent up trial
balloon last summer, during the
campaign, through the New York
Times. It was never officially con-
firmed but no State department
official or diplomat in Washington
has ever doubted that it was in
spired direct from the White House.
Wait on Spanish War
At the moment, the situation Is
waiting on the Spanish war. Present
inquiries are as to whether the gov
ernments concerned will agree to
such a conference when and II the
Spanish condagration stops shooting
sparks all around the various Eu-
ropean powder dumps.
It is likely to come very soon,
now, for though there Is not much
sign OF peace in Spain there Is a
growing belief that the danger In
volved Of its spreading to other ma
tons is growing appreciably less
with every passing day. Certain
dangerous figures have learned that
troops and weapons they thought
irresistible are not truly so. The
same figures have learned that their
possible enemies in war are more
dangerous than they had thought.
Nor does this apply solely to either
side. 1t applies to both. All Of which
has put certain European govern
ments in a much more receptive
mood to peace plan than they
were when Mr.. Roosevelt sent up
his trial balloon last summer.
Actually, also, there is very real
need in the opinion OF the Roose-
welt administration, and also in the
view of several European govern
ments, for currency sterilization.
The New Deal is concerned about
runaway price rises. It would like
very much to accomplish just the
opposite Of what 1t was trying to do
in 1888 and 1894. 1t would like to
make the dollar more valuable in
stead of less. Az evidence Of this,
it has even considered marking
down slightly the price OF gold-in
dollars. Treasury department OPP
position has prevented this.
Eggs for Russia
There would seem to be quite an
opening for chicken farms in Rus
STA, particularly in the vicinity of
Moscow. Ambassador Joseph E.
Davies has discovered that the egg
supply of every foreign embassy
and legation in the capital Of the
U. S. S. r. is supplied by diplomatic
couriers. who bring the eggs 300
miles from Warsaw, Poland. This
doesn't look so far on the map, but
it is only 787 miles from Washing
ton to Chicago, only 1888 miles from
Chicago to Atlanta, and only $40
miles from Indianapolis to Charles
ton, South Carolinal
1t might be borne In mind, in as
Stimulating this rather curious
to American farmers-lack OF egg
production in the vicinity of Mos
COW, that transportation facilities in
the United States, both railroads
and highways, are UNNECESSARILY
superior to those in Russia, SO that
actually the difficulty and time in
volved in transporting those eggs is
much greater than for comparable
distances in the United States. And
this entirely aside from the fact
that the eggs cannot be shipped in
ordinary fashion. but must be car
ried across the frontier, from about
the center of Poland to about the
center of European Russia, by a
diplomat courier exempt for ex-
animation, from hold-up and from
tariff duties.
Incidentally the American embas-
sly is the only one in the Russian
capital that is not supplied with
certain Injuries, and ,-from the
American standpoint, necessities,
by couriers. Young attaches at the
United States embassy keep writing
their friends and relatives to send
them every sort of thing, from
canned tomatoes to tooth paste,
from insect powder TO cold cream,
which, for various reasons probably
entirely in keeping with the scheme
of things in Russia, are not easily
obtainable by purchase there.
Russia No Rival
All of which, being discussed al
recent Washington dinner where
most of the guests were State de-
partment officials and their wives,
with slight sprinkling from Capitol
Hill, brought forth the declaration
of one senator, who had visited Rus.
STA, that he thought the idea thai
Russia would be a competitor oil
the United States within a few years
| ridiculous.
He made the statement after con.
siderable wonder was expressed
| that the Russian peasants, living