davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1945-12-26
Control Sans Naturalization
By Ravm MoIep

The faith of the British Labor party
in the old principles of Fabian Socialism
is shown in the proposal Of the British
occupation forces to "nationalize" the
coal operations in the Ruhr. The old
Faoians, including the Webbs, George
Bernard Shaw, H. G. Wells and others,
had magic formula for all the worlds
ills. If anything went wrong, national
lzation could cure it. And so we find
the British Socialist government pro-
posing the naturalization of coal as
cure for war
The basic formula in the current
proposal is to create a sort of Ruhr
Valley Authority. (Here the British
Socialists take leaf from the New Deal
book This authority would be super
vised by the occupying powers, with
minority representation from Holland,
Belgium and little Luxembourg. The
French, who want the Ruhr themselves,
would, nevertheless, accept such a plan
as second choice.
1t is plausibly argued that, as long
as the occupying powers are, In fact,
the government of Germany, this plan
would provide control of one of the
decisive pillars of possible armament
industry
However, to nationalize coal will not
check German means to arm. Coal and
iron are so closely related economically
that their control has, in fact, for
long time been interrelated In "com-
bined iron and coal works. This COM
bination, in turn, has been interviewer
with the electric industry. Coal is not
the only source of power, and science
may find still newer ones.
But, Is has been pointed out ever
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1945-12-26
This Changing World
By Constantine Bro,vn

has that impression, but the liberal
press" in the United States has described
Mr.. Dunn as such.
expert, DR.. Vannevar Bush, who was
scheduled to accompany Mr. Byrnes,
developed a sudden illness on December
IA when the American delegation de-
parted for Moscow. The illness, how
ever, did not prevent him from attend
ing the next evening the Gridiron Club
dinner, where he appeared in the pink
of health. James B. Conant, president
Of Harvard University, replaced him.
He is believed to understand better than
DR.. Bush the necessity of sharing the
atomic bomb secret with Russia.
The British delegation Is more hetero-
geneous. Britain's interest in the Pacific
and particularly in Americas position
in Japan, is less important matter
than the security of her imperial lines
of communication which requires "spe-
cial' position in the Eastern Mediter-
ranean and the Middle and Near East.
Because Russia possesses a strong
military force in these areas, while
Britain is weak, the British diplomats
are far more uneasy than the Amer
leans. A game of power politics is being
played at the Moscow conference table
with such high stakes that blufing
may be dangerous.
There seems to be a feeling in some
diplomatic circles that under certain
considerations the British might be
willing to ease up on the question of
Japan in exchange for certain prom
ises the U. S. S. r. might give not to
interfere with her lines of communica-
ton and naval and air bases in the
Middle and Near East.
All this, of course, is only diplomatic
speculation. The only thing that is
definitely known is that Commicsar
Molotov has put his cards on the table,
not only on the matter of Northern
Iran but also in connection with Rus
sia's asserted rights in Eastern Tur-
key. The Soviet republic of Georgia,
Premier Stains native land, has placed
definite claims dating back to the 18th
century on Turkish territory and re-
ports from Moscow indicate it will be
supported by the Central Soviet gov
eminent. Moreover, the Russians in
tend, according to reliable reports to
extend the regime of the autonomous
Azerbaijan government further to the
south, probably as far as Teheran.
The situation contains the seeds of
another major conflict and since the
UNO has become a defacto organiza-
ton it should be called to discharge the
role with which it has been intrusted
by all the peace-loving nations which
nave become members. In this manner
these questions can be removed from
the sphere of private deals among the
Big Three to world organization
whose job 1t is to maintain peace.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1945-12-26

Experienced diplomats in Washington
who have had important dealings with
the Russian Foreign Commissariat be-
fore the war and since believe that the
American and British Secretaries of
State are being subjected to a tight
squeeze" in Moscow.
Following their old custom, the Rus
sian policy-framers are most cordial to-
ward their honored guests whom they
dine and wine on a scale never known
or attempted in the western countries.
At these gala dinners and at the spec
tacular ballet performances the Russian
diplomats miss no opportunity to show
the people how cordial and friendly the
representatives of the Big Three are.
If this display of cordially were the
standard by which the conferences could
be judged, there is no question that the
Moscow meeting could be described as
an overwhelming success. After a num-
Der of glasses of vodka and sweet eau
casian champagne the most hard boiled
negotiator, like Commissar Molotov him
self, becomes mellow and is willing to
toast an eternal friendship among ma
tons.
But those who attended the Potsdam
and Berlin meetings-Yalta was less fes-
tive since President Roosevelt's health
compelled him to retire early and he
could not participate in many celebra-
tions-say that at the conference table
the warmth of the Russians disappears
and the Soviet negotiators are cold and
determined to drive hard bargain.
The Russians obviously mix business
with pleasure. but do not allow the
latter to influence the former.
*
Outside the fact that Secretary of
State Byrnes had been cautioned before
leaving Washington to make no commit
ments which might jeopardize our posi-
ton in Japan, little is known about how
far he is prepared to go in humoring the
Russians on the Balkans, Iran, Turkey
and the Eastern Mediterranean. He and
his advisers consider these as predomi-
nantly British problems which should be
settled in spirit of cooperation and
good will
Mr.. Byrnes has a much freer hand
than his predecessors in the State De-
partment The selection of his advisers
all men known to be friendly to Rus
STA and acceptable to Moscow-appears
to indicate that the Secretary Is deter
mined to bring some agreements, In
principle at least from the Soviet CAPT.
tai.
Men who have had good deal of ex-
perience in international conferences,
such as Assistant Secretary of State
James Dunn. who attended all the in
ternational parleys, were left behind be-
cause they were believed to be unfriendlv
TO the U. S. S. R. 1t is not known wheth-
er the Moscow Foreign Commissariat
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1945-12-26
Arthur Train

Ephriam Tut was so real a char
acter that people frequently wrote
to the editors of the magazines in
which he appeared, trying to engage
his services to fight their battles in
the courts. Like CULVER and Robin
son Crusoe, he enjoyed a popularity
which was institutional in it's char
acter. Because he was so unexcep-
tional, he was accepted as genuine
by readers who were not deceived by
the mannerisms of Sherlock Holmes.
There was nothing incredible about
the tall, angular, plug hated, frock-
coated Yankee lawyer. Certainly,
he had his share of peculiarities.
His personality was his own. The
difference between him and most
other fictional heroes of the same
general class-such as Father Brown
and Hercule Poirot-lies in the di-
rection of his being more authentic
in detail, more easily believed.
OF course, the explanation is that
Mr.. Tut was Mr.. Train as Mr.. Train
would have found it amusing to be.
The philosophy and the legal learn
ing of his alter ego were those of
the author himself Especially in
his devotion to the essential prin-
ciples of justice, Mr.. Tut expressed
Mr.. Trains mind and heart. The
background of all the Tut stories
was the experience which Mr.. Train
had had as boy in Massachusetts,,
in school in New Hampshire, at
Harvard under the great teachers
Child, Kittredge, Hill, Wendell,
Copeland and Baker-and as an
assistant district attorney and later
a private practitioner in New York.
He read deeply as we'll as widely in
precedents and procedures, watched
hundreds of celebrated trials, kept
in touch with scores of regular cor
respondents and was the recipient
OF literally thousands of interesting
communications from strangers,
some of which he used in his work.
In the field of letters as an art,
Mr.. Train meanwhile was not only
a successful writer but most distinc-
lively friend of writer's. He served
a, president of the Authors League
OF America and as treasurer and
president of the National Institute.
Conservative, cautious in his think
ing, no gambler withsfacts, kindly,
genial, he labored tirelessly at his
chosen tasks for half century. All
of the Mr. Tut material will survive.
Thus its sponsor will have lasting
monument. ..s
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1945-12-26
The New Cardinals

In creating 80 new cardinals, the
Pope, besides setting number of
precedents, has emphasized as never
before the universally of the Roman
Catholic Church. The appointment
of Archbishops Spellman of New
York, Mooney of Detroit, Stritch of
Chicago and Glennon of st. Louis
will more than fill outstanding va
cancies. Heretofore the United States
has never had over four cardinals at
any one time, but now, with Cardinal
Dougherty of Philadelphia, it will
have five, a gain in keeping with the
fact that the number of American
Catholics has grown to no fewer
than % 100000.
Indeed, the Importance attached
by the Vatican not only to the United
States but to the Western Henri
sphere as a whole is evidenced by the
fact that the Pope has named for
the Sacred College of Cardinals
record-breaking total of IA prelates
in this part of the world, or almost
half the number on his list. From
the standpoint of symbolizing uni
versatility, however, the significance
of the appointments is not confined
to North and South America. For the
first time in history every continent
will now be represented in the Sacred
College. More than that, the Italian
membership, which for centuries has
constituted an overwhelming ma
jority, will now represent only 40 per
cent of the total of 70.
This shift in the geographical dis
tribution of red hats has been
brought about by an unusual move
on the part of Plus XII. The number
of members in the Sacred College
was fixed at 10 by Sixtus v late in
the sixteenth century, and since the
eighteenth century the custom has
been to leave several vacancies so
that in case of Pope's sudden death
his successor might be able to fill
them with his own selections. Plus,
however, who in his list of 80 has
named more cardinals at one time
than ever before in the history of the
papacy, has chosen not to be bound
by this tradition. presumably be-
cause conditions in the chul ch and
the modern world have made 1t OBJ
solete.
The long-term effects of this
change will be revealed only with
the passing Of time. But Pope Plus
clearly has In mind a desire to make
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1945-12-26
This and That
SHEPHERD STREET.

Dear Sir:
Can you identify for me bird about
the size of sparrow with chocolate
brown back, much lighter breast, fairly
long bill, and with white and brown
streak over its eye?
Your column Is as much a part Of
our house as the thermostat.
Sincerely, w. L."
Thanks for the warm compliment.
AS for the bird, it probably is the
white-throated sparrow.
This is one of the finest we have in
this vicinity
A prince Of sparrows, which (since we
welcome it heartily must make us think
better of English sparrows.
The white-throat, as it is Familiarity
called, Is slightly over 7 inches long,
with upper parts brown, streaked with
black; the underpartS, white and gray.
The bill is small, conical wings long
and pointed; tail, about the length of
wing.
This bird has been given many COM
mon names, including Peabody bird,
Canada bird, cherrybird, Canada SPAR
row, Poverty bird.
The cap he wears is adorned not only
with the black and white stripe, but
also with a bit of yellow anteriorly,
which means from the bill to above the
eyes.
In spring and fall he may be seen
scratching in the leaves, habit which
he shares with the towhee.
He u.s. indeed, one of the most scratch
ing birds of them all, making the leaves
fxJ bof fIoo f,1r &c I,a
watcher may think some animal is
there.
About the yellow on the head, note
for a long time without seeing the yell
low. This color appears only in spring,
and then requires deal of looking.
Coming in the fall, this sparrow stays
around all winter, and leaves for the
North when the warm days come.
In New England they claim it says,
"Old Sam Peabody, Peabody, Peabody"
and also advises farmer called Poverty,
Sow wheat, Poverty, Poverty, Poverty"
Listeners in other sections of the
country hear no such things. The song
is very appealing, being two quarter
notes, the second four notes higher than
the first, and these followed by series
of faster notes on the same plane.
This is the bird which seems never to
finish exactly what it has to say.
There is lament quality to the song.
The violin does it better than a piano,
but the human whistle makes the best
imitation of ALL
Since our correspondent is not very
explicit, the bird possibly might be a
Carolina wren, which also stays here
in winter.
This wren is 5h inches long, the
largest of all wrens This bird has q
white stripe through the eye, but has
no black stripe, as has the white
throated sparrow.
The tail of the Carolina wren is a
typical wren tail, and cannot possibly
be mistaken for a sparrow tail.
The bill of the wren is typical, being
long and curved downward.
Both these birds are comparatively
rare in home yards and either makes a
splendid guest for the cold season.
If there Is any doubt between the two,
the watcher should look closely for the
scratching for food of the white
throated sparrow. This trait is unmis-
taxable. and readily identifies the white
throat. The male towhee is fine fell
low, much larger. with much black and
great deal Of white, with gold-red.
He could not be mistaken for either the
sparrow or the wren.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1945-12-26
Gain at Moscow

The Christmas eve communicate
from Moscow makes clear that the
Foreign Ministers of the Big Three
whose meeting there now is drawing
to a close-have succeeded in sur
mounting the impasse that has
soured Anglo American Russian re-
lations and stymied the processes of
peace-making ever since the failure
of the London Conference last
October.
If the Byrnes Bevin -Molotov
meeting accomplished no more than
this, it could be described as fruitful.
For it is hopeful thing that the
Big Three have been able to work
out compromise on the procedures
to be followed in drawing up peace
treaties for Italy, Romania, Hun
gary, Bulgaria and Finland. At the
London session of the Council of
Foreign Ministers of the Big Five,
one of the chief trouble making
factors was failure to agree on
whether or not China and France
should take part in the writing of
these treaties. Russia was unwilling
to let them participate, nor could
1t bring Britain and the United
States over to it's viewpoint.
Under the compromise reached at
Moscow, however, compromise
which closely follows a proposal
made by Secretary Byrnes-the
vital work that came to a halt in
London will be Immediately resumed.
France will be invited to be a full
participant with Russia, Britain and
the United States in writing the
Italian peace, but it will have no
direct voice-nor will China-as far
as the other defeated powers are
concerned. Terms for these will be
drawn up solely by the Big Three,
and in the case Of Finland solely
by the British and Russians. This
is in keeping with the Soviet view
that only the victorious signers of
the armistices with these countries
should define the peace conditions.
1t is noteworthy, nevertheless,
that that Moscow compromise pro-
vides that after the different treaties
are drafted, they will be submitted
to a general conference.-the be
convened not later than next May
of the tWenty-one nations who
played an active and substantial role
in the war against the European
Axis. This conference, including
numerous small powers, will be able
to make recommendations. It re-
mains to be seen, of course, whether
the recommendation will carry any
weight in the final texts of the
treaties, but it is at least heartening
that the Big Three have made
provision for them.
Within a matter of hours, there
probably will be an overall official
report on the work of the Moscow
Conference, but if, it reveals no
progress on other problems troubling
Anglo=R Russian American relations,
the world still will have reason to
be encouraged by the concrete gain
achieved in breaking the peace
making stalemate. The gain by no
means solves everything, but GER
tainly it makes the international at
mosphere perceptibly brighter than
it has been in some time.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1945-12-26
Letters to The Star
A Backward Glance at Meaning
of Christmas, 1945

To the Editor OF The Star:
war Christmas has dawned upon an
anguished world, bled white with human
suffering and Gripping sacrifice. In
our hearts there is the fervent prayer
that it never will happen again-that
the Prince of Peace truly will restrain
the passions and lusts of men. Yet in
common honesty that hope grows dim
and wan as we behold the unwilling
ness of those who have not suffered
to share their abundance with the
miserable ones whose numbed fingers
valnly plead for the crumbs of our
bounty.
To many Christmas has lost its treas
ured spiritual meaning-the birth of a
concept of social justice which pro-
claims the brotherhood of all men
and the dawn of an era where a help
less infant symbolizes peace and secur-
ity on earth. We joyously feast and
lavishly bestoW our bounty among our
selves, sharing with those who have
rather than those who have not We
seem little aware of the shivering,
miserable multitudes, unsheltered, sick
and manned, gazing hungrily through
our tantalizing windows.
Yet our common faiths agree that
God is just and judges the destinies
of nations as He judges the destinies
of men. Will He look kindly upon us
as Nation when we have not done
our utmost to feed the hungry, to clothe
and shelter the naked and to minister
to the sick and miserable?
Until we unselfshly do these things
as Nation the beautiful pageantry OF
Christmas is a mockery, rather than
solemn dedication of our hearts. PRAY
God this nightmare of horror and sac
rifice has not been in vain. But it will
be unless the Yuletide means sharing
to our utmost with the miserable ones
Of the earth. AS our Christmas memo
rial to those who gave their all so
unselfishly let us as Nation share our
bounty with those who have not.
THOMAS E. MATTINGLY, MD,
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1945-12-26

the membership Of the Sacred Col
lege-which Is a kind of senate and
the most important adjunct of the
Holy Seas internationally repre-
sentative as possible. In his own
words, the Roman Catholic Church
is universal and supernatural in
character, and his creation of the
new cardinals-men chosen "for
their outstanding virtue and signal
merits" Sis designed in part to re-
fleet that character outwardly to the
whole world.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1945-12-26
Different Views Remarked

To the Editor of The Star:
What largely renders freedom of the
press free" in America Is many news
papers persistently sustained liberality
of editorship within its own household
and in which respect The Stars policy
is categoric. This was strikingly marked
by the papers December Is content.
On that date there appeared an edi-
torial headed While Rome Burns" with
one of Lowell Mellett's columns on the
page opposite. Both writings pertained
to the same thing, but the writer's re-
acted to different standpoints.
The editorial was about the strikes
of organized labor which threaten to
tear our economy apart. Apparently
much perturbed by this recognition "of
a condition in industry which is Sc
riolisly threatening our reconversion
program and which threatens us with
industrial paralysis The Star chit ID
Congress severely because of its refusal
to enact now "a mild remedy" law whic a
President II imam called for with IL
simple reques . that he might proceed
to restore order in industry. In this
attitude of Congress towards national
well-being Tho Star finds situation
analogous to fhat when Emperor Nerd
fiddled while his Rome burned. Hence.
the editorial caption
Mr. Mellett, however, was perturbed
by the delay by. Congress in appro-
priatang our share Of the money which
is to finance the relief and succor of
stricken, destitute peoples across the
seas through the UNRRA, and Of his
constraining charitableneSs there can
be no doubt. He is on ground solid
enough, too. We are Christian people,
and charity is Christianity's cardinal
attribute. But, as The Stars While
Rome Burned editorial quite appro-
priately stressed, by implication at
least, Charity begins at home!'
RIENZI B. LEMUS.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1945-12-26
Wants Mr.. Hoover in UNRRA

To the Editor Of The Star:
There has been, and is, but one per-
son in America unquestionably (because
Enthusiastically qualified to handle the
UNRRA, and that man was and is for
mer President Herbert Clark Hoover.
Mr.. Roosevelt, who made the purely
and consciously partisan appointment
of Herbert Lehman, knew the right
thing to do. But partisanship pre-
vailed, hence the egregious mess made
of the job. Everybody else knew the
same thing. It is about the last task
in the world to which an inexperienced
partisan should have been appointed
in payment of purely partisan political
debts. Human life and health in whole
sale lots are placed in jeopardy to play
party politics. Such positions should
be filled as prayerfully and as con-
scientiously as possible.
No one, unless it is Herbert Lehman,
ever for moment believed he was ap-
pointed on his merits No one, except
possibly Mr.. Lehman, had for a moment
the opinion that he was the best man
us, unless egotism blinded him, and
knew in his heart that he was usurp-
ing the place Of a natural in admin
istering the greatest job of human re-
lief ever undertaken by any one person.
He would have had to be more con-
scious and judicial minded than the ad-
ministration that appointed him, to have
declined the job and written to his
chief: Il thank you for the honor and
the friendly gesture. But you know, as
we'll as I, who belongs in that position,
and I, with the rest of America, will
heartily applaud your naming former
President Herbert Hoover to the Job
What dirty handling that man
Hoover had (until President Truman
made a decent gesture toward him)
and what a sport he has been!
STRICKLAND GILLIAN.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1945-12-26
Prayer by q Small Boys
Mother

Dear, gentle Mary on Whose breast
The infant Jesus slept,
Who pondered strange and Wondrous
things
And still thy counsel kept;
Gtpc me the patient yisdom of
An understanding heart,
Let me grotD calm before / seek
Some lesson to impart;;
Let me take time from busy days
To share tcith my small son
His dreams and aspirations az
You surely must hare done;
Let me be mindful as seek
To mold his plastic ,uil;:
That early training fitted Christ
70 climb that lonely hill.
Whey WILDER.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1945-12-26

It's wonderful world we live in.
Consider, for instance, the case of
the missionary who safely spent
half a century among the alleged
savages of Central Africa, and then,
returning to his home in Chicago
at the age of 80 was set upon
wounded, tied hand and foot and
left to die by three supposedly civil
lied burglars.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1945-12-26
Or q Box of Candy?

From the st. Louis Post-Dispatch
A woman who says her husband went
out for beer is years ago and never
came back is suing for divorce. Well,
all right. but won't she feel pretty silly
II she's no sooner got the decree than
he gets back with the beer?