Evening star., 1938-07-27

tor, has been source Of sincere
satisfaction not only here but, accord
ing to oflicial advices to the State
Department, in all the other countries
OF the American continent.
In the meantime another interna-
tional controversy, in which the
United States itself is one Of the par
ties concerned, has come prominently
to the fore; and this. too, Secretary
Hull has suggested be submitted to
arbitration. This is the question OF
lands in Mexico belonging to citizens
OF the United States and which have
been appropriated by the Mexican
government. The seizure Of these
separate farm and agrarian proper
ties was spread over a period OF years
and has been cause of lengthy de-
bate between the two countries during
a considerable part of this time. No
final adjudication ever having been
made in these cases, Secretary Hull
proposed in a note handed to the
Mexican Ambassador here last week
that the question of compensation for
these lands be referred to arbitration
for final settlement, in accordance
with general treaty of arbitration
signed at Washington in 1929.
1talys threatening attitude toward
her Jewish population, in the opinion
of officials here, may further COM
plicate the already vexatious refugee
problem resulting from Germany's
restrictive measures and for which
an international committee is trying
to find solution. While they have
not yet received any official advices
indicating how far the Italian govern
ment may 60 in the application of
oppressive or punitive action against
this small minority of the population,
they feel that any measures Of this
sort are bound to have a harmful
effect, particularly at the present time,
and make it more difficult to arrive at
some satisfactory settlement of the
question On account Of the COM
paratively small number OF Jews in
Italy. it is pointed out that from this
standpoint it may not be matter Of
ominous portent, but it is felt that
the psychological effect may be a def
mite hinderance to the carrying for
ward of the program initiated by
President Roosevelt and further ad-
vanced by the recent international
conference at Evian, France. With
no race hatred toward the Jews ever
having manifested itself in Italy, news
OF the step which the Italian govern
ment seems to be prepared to take
was received in diplomatic and official
circles here with considerable surprise
Recent records in the field of avia-
ton. particularly those OF trans
oceanic character, emphasized in the
minds OF United States postal officials
here the rapidly growing use which Is
being made of the international air.
mail service. They pointed to the con-
stantly increasing number of letters
being received from abroad for air
mail delivery in this country, and to
the similar use Americans are making
of foreign service Business concerns,
as we'll as individuals, are taking adj
vantage month by month, it was
stated, of this speedier means of COM
munication, and this growth is ex-
pected to continue unabated.
With the Government of the United
States being represented officially, or
through the delegation of representa-
tives from various organizations, to
attend international gatherings of
scientific. educational. philanthropic
or other character. it is the confirmed
opinion in official circles here that
all Of these international get-to-
gethers' are eminently worth while.
This applies, they maintain, not only
to results actually accomplished, but
also to the better understanding and
the friendships engendered at these
meetings.