davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1945-12-21
Human TRAGEDY

One reporter, in his account of
the hanging of John Amery as a
traitor. has correctly described this
episode as human tragedy"
For Amery himself there will not
be great deal of sympathy. He
was, apparently, one of those curious
individuals for whom exceptional
opportunity serves no better purpose
than to expedite their own ruin. A
son of Leopold s. Amery, close friend
of Winston Churchill and Britains
former Secretary Of State for India,
John had every chance to distin-
guish himself. But almost from the
beginning he was the "black sheep"
dabbler in shady deals who left his
native country in 1887, at the age OF
twenty-five, to live on she French
Riviera. He was still there when
the Germans arrived three years
later. and although he had never
seemed to have any interest in poll
tics he threw In his lot with the
Nazis and became one OF their prop
agandists.
For that he was tried as a traitor
and hanged. Probably this wretched
young mamie was in his thirty
third year when the trap was sprung
deserved his fate. although 1t is to
his credit that he confessed his guilt
in tardy effort to save his family
from humiliation, and that he went
to his death like a man. But it is not
because John Amery, in his last days,
revealed some decent instincts that
this affair properly may be called a
human tragedy.
The really tragic figures in this
scene are the mother and father who
could not save their son from the
gallows, and who must live the rest
of their days with memories that
will torture their minds and tear at
their hearts. The news reports tell US
that they visited their son In the Jail
on his last night. Mercifully, the
reports do not describe the scene.
But every mother and every father
--evea those who lost sons OF their
own In the fight against the evil
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1945-12-21

Lord Keynes, whatever opinion we
may hold of his earlier economic views,
bravely faced tough ordeal before the
House of Lords in explaining the results
OF his financial mission. The loan, he
said, provides certainty for America and
elasticity for Britain. He was sorry, he
continued, and always would be that he
negotiated only loan, when he wanted
grant. But" confessed the noble
Lord. "a point comes in matter Of
this kind when one has to take mo- for
an answer" The mo" to which he
referred was offered with tact but in
flexible purpose by our Assistant Secre-
tary Of State William L. Clayton. Great
credit goes to this Texan for his skill
and flrmness during the long negotia-
lions In Washington.
The strangest part Of It all Is the fact
that 1t was Lord Keynes himself, 1T
Breton Woods, who thoroughly sold
Americans the idea Of lending. In q
sense, Lord Keynes experienced what
John Maynard Keynes pointed out, rs
years ago, in his description Of Woodrow
wilson's procedure at Versailles. He
said that when Mr.. Wilson began talking
about League Of Nations, he was not
certain that he could promote the idea.
But when Clemenceau and Lloyd George
cyntcally encouraged our idealistic Pres
ident, because they wanted not the
league, but other perquisites, they sold"
Mr.. Wilson so thoroughly that, later on,
they found 1t impossible to "unsell" him.
This is hard and infexible streak in
the American character In international
dealings. Once convinced that our way
to save the world is holy, just and neces-
sary, we will 60 to the end. We are slow
in starting, but we finish with terrific
force.
The Breton Woods plan was first
suspected over here as means for tap
ping our Treasury in behalf of foreign
nations. But we came around to it
with such unanimity and determination
that We are literally forcing 1t on Its
creators.
The loan accepted by dubious House
Of Lords Is certainly as attractive Is
anything short Of gift could be: No
interest at all for five years; after that,
per cent, which is the point described.
by Lord Keynes as "the renters happy
DEATH" Then, II in any year the Brit
ish are not enjoying standard Of liy-
ing equal to that Of prewar years, there
can be waiver" and payment later.
DR.. Ernest Stern, writing In the London
Banker, expresses q doubt that British
exports may ever reach expectations. In
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1945-12-21
On the Record
By Dorothy Thompson

The phrase economic bill of rights"
has a magical quality like liberal" and
progressive" just attach one of these
words to measure and critics back
down as though before a fetish. But
clutches conservatism may mean in
some cases the last stand of liberty and
common sense.
Few liberals" are likely to reveal the
illiberality Of part Of the proposed Fed
eral health scheme. Some of it is ex-
cellent. A widespread hospital con-
struction program is urgently necessary
and for that Government can make the
economic grant of credit. The national
science research proposals are all right,
If 1t is possible to keep the direction
in the hands of competent medical
scientists and not political car. Public
health services for maternal and infant
care can well be extended through Fed
eral grants in aid, and cash insurance
against illness as part of unemployment
compensation is reasonable.
But the main part of the proposed
measures-universal compulsory Fed
eral insurance against illness Of every
wage and salary Garner by tax Of
per cent on his income up to $500 will.
II past experience elsewhere is a guide,
mean vast overpayment for inferior
services; that the poor pay for the rich,
and not the other way around; and that
income that should 60 for illness pre-.
vention in the form Of nutrition, cloth.
ing and. shelter will be forcibly ex.
tracted to pay for the results of depriva-
ton. The only people who Will profit
will be the new ranks Of bureaucrats,
two FOR every physician, supported by
the peoples contributions The expend-
iture for ink will exceed that for iodine.
On the matter Of state medical care
through enforced contributions there Is
plenty Of evidence. Like Communism
and Naziism, it is a German invention
arising aeutsAof Bismarcks concept of
the providential state that would for
ever prevent revolt by tying the very
existence Of the people into it.
The state cannot create ANYTHING.
Wealth is created by producers-indus.
trial workers, management and farmers.
State assurances are q means whereby
the state skins of their incomes and
gives part back in services, many of
which the people are better able to
provide for themselves as individuals
in cooperative groups.
Under the administrations plan every
one vino works would. during the life
time of his earning power, pay per
cent Of his income up to $500. An
employe with an income of $4,000 per
year would pay $780, One with an in
come of $500 would pay $144. Every
body working would contribute-per-
haps three or four of the same family.
Any employe with an income above
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1945-12-21
The Nations and Trade

In inviting fourteen countries to
meet in Europe, probably in the
spring, to prepare the way for a
United Nations summer conference
on international commerce and en-
ployment, the State Department has
taken an essential first step toward
effectuating its proposals for the
promotion of sound world economy
through freer world trade.
The invited countries, including
Britain and Russia, represent every
type of trading system, and some
measure of preliminary agreement
among them will be necessary if the
conference of the United Nations as
a whole is to achieve satisfactory
results. 1t is more than probable that
there will be no easy meeting of
minds, but the need for some COM
mon approach to the problem has
such a bearing on the fortunes of
every nation that all must recognize
that the fullest possible cooperation
will be mutually advantageous.
AS the State Department declared
a few days ago in explaining its
proposals, there are four things that
inhibit world trade-restrictions i'm
posed by governments, the restric-
tons of private combines and
cartels, fear of disorder in the
markets for primary commodities,
and irregularity in production and
employment. To cope with these,
the State Department would have
the United Nations-at the confer
ence projected for next summer
work out special agreements and
create an international trade or
ganization within the UNo.
In the departments words, as far
as freer commerce is concerned,
"What is needed is a broad and yet
detailed agreement, among many
nations, dealing at one time with
many different sorts of - restric-
tions upon trade, reducing all Of them
at once on balanced and equitable
basis, and stating rules and prin-
ciples within which the restrictions
permitted to remain should be adj
ministered." Similarly, international
policy needs to be harmonized as
regards the primary commodity
markets and the maintenance of
production and employment.
It Is much easier, of course, to set
forth these desirable ends than to
attain them. But some progress
toward them can surely be made If
1t is universally recognized, as the
State Department declares, that the
fundamental choice now before the
world is whether countries will
struggle against each other for
~
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1945-12-21

thing which John Arnery espoused--
will synpathize with the anguish
which must have been the lot Of
these parents as they spent the last
hours with son who was to die, not
to help save his country, but because
he had tried to betray 1t. Surely, for
a father and a mother, there could
be no greater tragedy than this.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1945-12-21
Letters to The Star
Says the Problem of Palestine
May Be Solved in Christ

Gays ulS 1IoOi~ih VI nASStAhS
May Be Solved in Christ
To the Editor Of The Star:
The passing by the Senate this week,
against the expressed wishes Of the
President and the Secretary of State, Of
the Taft Wagner resolution, calling
upon the United States to use It's good
offices toward the opening Of Palestine
to free entry Of Jews, suggests serious,
possible consequence - that of entan-
Cling our foreign policy in matters which
are as much religious as political.
Embraced in the Palestine question
are three great religious bodies, each of
which looks upon Palestine as holy
ground-the Christians, the Arabs and
the jews. and Christian England, hold
ing a mandate over the traditional
homeland of the Jewish people where
the Arabs have become so powerful an
internal factor, creates situation upon
the ground of which even angels must
hesitate to tread.
Palestine today is a perfect example
Of the one condition which makes war
and atomic bombs possible, and which
always has been the greatest tragedy Of
the human family-the apparent in
ability Of its members to get along to-
gether; and that Is the first problem
Jew, Arab and Christian must solve, II
eventual bloodshed Is to be averted in
the land where Jesus came preaching
the ideals of the Kingdom of God on
earth.
Is 1t not tragic that uncontrolled
hatred should prevail in the very place
where He established the golden rule
as the gauge of human relations? The
downright reasonableness OF what He
taught seems not yet to have penetrated
the dull minds of men; but the kingdom
of right relationships which He graphi-
cally pictured in His parallels was His
answer to all hate and strife. 1t still
is the only conclusive answer in Pales-
tine today.
Senator Wagner, In urging the adop-
ton OF the resolution of which he was
co-author, declared: IF pressures being
brought against a just solution Of the
Palestine question-the pressures of oil
concessions and Arab threats-if these
pressures are enough to divert Great
Britain and America from the course OF
honor, how pitifully inadequate is the
state of our international moralityl"
The Senator had something" there
The state Of our international morality
is yet pitifully inadequate, indeed. Oil
concessions and Arab threats belong
within two related areas of human rela-
tionships wherein the moral laws of
the Kingdom of God have not prevailed
universally-the areas of politics and
economies; and which ever have been
major factors in the creation of wars
while international morality has been
but still, small voice subdued to near
inaudibility by the raucous roar of power
politics and the struggle for economic
empire. Too much Of the seed OF the
kingdom has fallen on stony ground.
The problem of Palestine goes deeper
than politics or economics: and its
answer Is found In its historic and reli-
gious background-an answer univer-
sally known, and which can be stated
In three very familiar words: Thy
Kingdom Come!" -
REV. ]. sHENToN LODGE.
Leesburg, Va. 4M%
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1945-12-21
Trees of Christmas

Slender cedar, stately, tail,
Trimmed tn icy blue and SLIDER,
Tastefully you grace a room ,Ohere some
one
Has seen in Christmas an opportunity
Merely to create thing
Symmetrical.
Or, deep bosomed pine, professionally
G-glitter,
With brilliant hues ,DeH ordered:
An iraducement, you, to pntronize
Some great mart OF trade or public
serUice--
A hGiDker crying out
Your tDdreS.
But you, plucked random from some field
And dressed IN brilliant hodge podge
H6pidzdrdly,
By little hands aDhich tuck il, epery nook
and Granny
your Severed b0ughs.
You are, for all OF me, the only one
Which can cypress
What your stately, blatant brethren
So rdirly seek
TO say.
RUDOLPH KAUFF76ANN II.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1945-12-21
Well Done

NewSpapermen In general nurse
professional If impersonal grudge
toward any man or group of men
placed in position to influence or
impede a free flow of news.
During the war the War Depart
ment's Bureau of Public Relations
was held suspect many times, taking
the blame for the absurdities COM
mitted by some Of the officers as
signed to public relations jobs and
suffering, more than once, the accu-
sation Of covering up legitimate
news. As the head of this bureau,
Major General Alexander D. Surles
took his share Of this particular sort
Of rap.
But to newspapermen who came
to know him during his four years
in one Of the toughest spots to which
a senior officer of the Army could
be assigned, few OF them, indeed
failed to appreciate his difficulties
and to admire the way he did his
job. Quiet. friendly and approach
able, with a real conception of news
values and an understanding of the
newspaperman's point of view, Gen
eral Surles was more anxious to help
than to hinder. He was as quick to
acknowledge a mistaken policy as
he was firm in protecting the legiti-
mate interests of the War Depart
ment and the Army in relations with
the public. Men trusted him because
OF his obvious sincerity and because
they knew that he was giving his
best in carrying out the assignment
though he would have given a right
arm to be with his beloved First
Armored Division.
The test of his ability to run his
job to the satisfaction of his su-
periors and to get along with the
various media of public information
lay in the fact that he held his post
throughout the war and now that
he has been relieved by Lieutenant
General j. Lawton Collins, he leaves
with more friends among news
papermen than he had in the be-
ginning. ALEX" Surles will be re-
membered with real affection by his
friendly enemy Of war times, the
press.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1945-12-21
Ability to Pay'

HDiitty ~ IOy
The Presidents statement on the
ability to-pay issue in the General
Motors strike-a statement which
evidently surprised and embarrassed
his own fact-finding commission
has semblance of even-handedness
which is more apparent than real.
What Mr.. Truman has done is to
put himself squarely behind the con-
tention of the United Automobile
Workers that the fact-finding COM
mission should examine the books of
General Motors and give appropriate
consideration to the question of the
company's ability to pay in passing
on the unions wage demand. The
President also said that the COM
mission should examine the unions
books if that seemed desirable. This
is rather meaningless gesture,
however, for. the matter of the
unions finances has nothing what
ever to do with the question before
the commission.
There is an even more important
aspect of this matter. When he
first announced his plan to appoint
a fact-finding commission in this
case, the President called upon the
company to open its books to the
commission members and also called
upon the members of the union ito
return to work Immediately" The
company baked at opening It's books
and the union members refused to
return to work. Now the President
reiterates half of his original re-
quest. He says again that the COM
pany should open its books. But
he says nothing about the failure of
the men to return to work. What
ever the superficial appearance Of a
proposal such as this, it is not even
handed, and it will suffer accord
ingly.
There is also a question whether,
in proceeding of this kind, the
records ought to be opened. The
President says that the detailed in
formation obtained from the COM
pany's books Should not be made
public" But that is not mandatory,
and is far cry from the protection
which General Motors would have
If Congress had enacted the legisla-
ton requested by Mr.. Truman,
accompanied by an express prohibi-
ton against divulging the informa-
ton obtained from the books Of the
company.
On balance, 1t seems that the
President has committed himself
rather hastily to what is, under any
condition, revolutionary proposal.
It should be noted that Walter P.
Reuther. speaking for the union, told
the fact-finding commission yester-
day that, in his judgment, it was
none Of the commissions concern If
the unions demand was unreason-
able. He added that the union
would not take less than a 80 per
cent pay increase even II 1t were
proved that the loss in postwar take
home" pay was less than that figure.
For, said Mr.. Reuther, I'VE want
General Motors to make a 80 per
cent contribution to take up the loss
in national purchasing power If not
to maintain wages of its employees"
II the National Government Is
going to underwrite such a proposal
as that. the policy should be pro-
claimed, after careful consideration,
by Congress. 1t should not be done
through the medium of what seems
to have been rather hastily drafted
statement by the President.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1945-12-21
The Test Is Speed
From the London Sunday Empire News.

The story Is told - Of f2,00o,-
100000 worth of surplus war goods
which will-ultimately--be sold to the
British public. Huge quantities Of or
binary goods In civilian use are Grams
ming government warehouses. The
sale Of this surplus viii help to ease
the immediate scarcity. But the test
Of the disposal policy win be the speed
with which the goods are made avail
able to the public. The government
should see that prejudice against conn
petitive methods does not lead to un-
necessary delay.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1945-12-21

kaido, the northernmost Japanese island.
This request was rejected Neither
President Truman nor the Joint Chiefs
Of Staff which are advising him on such
matters could agree with the Russian
demand. From the military point of
view, the work Of the Russian political
agents who always accompany the
armies OF occupation could seriously in
terfere with the occupation Of Japan
which is progressing so successfully
under the leadership Of Gen. Macarthur.
Directives explaining the views of our
Commander in Chief and Of his mill
tary and naval advisers were sent to
the supreme commander on several &C.
casions. The most recent directive is
said to have been transmitted to him
on the eve of Secretary OF State Byrnes'
departure for Moscow.
Thus, when the Soviet military rep
resentatiye at Gen. MacArthurs head.
quarters suggested that q Russian army
be permitted to land on Hokkaido, he
was told that an army is not q token"
force and that no more than one Rus
sion division would be allowed to enter
Japan. As for its landing on Hokkaido,
. this was out Of the question since 1t was
up to the supreme commander to desig-
nate the locations of the token con-
tingent.
~
Although the progress of the con-
versations among the foreign ministers
In Moscow is not known here because
of the stringent censorship imposed on
all reports from the Russian capital, it
Is known that the question of Russia S
share in the control of Japan is one Of
the most important ones being discussed.
1t is conjectured in Washington high
quarters that the request placed before
Gen. Macarthur by the Russian mill
tary representative was not a routine
matter. but was prompted by Moscow
for rolitfcal y1ootivas
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1945-12-21

wealth and power, or work together
for security and mutual advantage"
The forthcoming preliminary and
general meetings on trade and en-
ployment can do much to insure
that the right choice will be made,
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1945-12-21

The giraffe is said to be the only
animal that can see behind it with
out turning its head. Therein 1t
differs from the Republican party,
which seems unable to do it either
WAY
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1945-12-21

Names are important. Some of
them represent great art of a sort.
Think how much smoother, how
much more musical, Pearl Harbor
sounds than Squawkahawk Bay.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1945-12-21

People learn by experience. Maybe
those crowds we saw In the stores
beginning on VI day were people
doing their Christmas shopping
early.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1945-12-21
Criticizes School Strike

To the Editor Of The Star:
The recent spectacle of a parent.
teacher association voting a strike by
pupils, picketing q public school build
ing and keeping their children from
school in violation of law, is, undoubted-
ly, the all-time low in any method Of
teaching or demonstrating good Amer
ican citizenship.
1t Is unbelievable that parent-teach-
er association, organized to assist teach
ers in Installing in pupils the prin-
ciples of right living and good citizen.
ship including high regard for law
and order, would lend its support and
assistance to such proposition, much
less actually propose 1t. To say that 1t
may contribute to the. delinquency Of
some children to have them out Of
school for part Of the day is a very
lame excuse when compared to the ef-
feet of parents encouraging their chill
dren by example to disregard the laws
Of the land.
A course of study in good citizenship,
compulsory for parents, would appear
to be in order. A PARENT,
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1945-12-21

1t seems to be about time for the
dreaded Black Dragon Society to
change Its name to the Amalga-
mated Association of Angleworms.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1945-12-21
They MIGHT Have FORGOTTEN

From the South Bend Tribune.
The two Michigan men fined for NOV
ing . two-story house into the wrong
municipality might have done worse.
At least they remembered where they
put s.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1945-12-21
Might Be All RIGHT!

From the st. Louis Post. Dispatch.
The Republican platform at Chicago
has fixed the party's position pretty
definitely at little to the right of right.