davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1945-12-20
The Problem Of Spain

A number Of recent events, viewed
In combination, indicate that the
Spanish problem may be entering q
new phase. AS envisaged in the
Foreign Omces of Britain, France
and the United States. the nub OF
this problem consists in getting rid
Of the present Franco regime with
out precipitating new civil war in
Spain and producing volcanic roper
cussions elsewhere in a convalescent
world unable to endure them.
The downfall Of the Axis with
which the Franco regime was in
volved left 1t virtually isolated and
exposed to the dislike felt toward
1t by all the victorious powers.
Those dislikes, however, varied in
intensity and were subject to GER
tain notifications. Francois un-
qualified and implacable enemy is
Soviet Russia, which urges his over
throw by any means and his re-
placement by republican regime,
the more radical the better. But
this extreme thesis does not find
favor with either the American or
British governments, though it is
supported by Communist and rad
ical circles in both countries. Brit
ish diplomacy takes an especially
cautious view which has not basi-
cally changed with the shift from
. Tory to . Labor cabinet. It would
probably prefer a moderate COM
promise whereby Franco and his en-
tourage would give way to q liberal
monarchy under Don Juan, son ot
the late King Alfonso. The interim
French government. an unstable
coalition, wavers between Commu-
mist pressure for strong action
against Franco and aversion to
possible revolutionary upheayal
beyond the Pyrenees. The State De-
partment has several bones to pick
with Franco, notably the propa-
ganda. Of his Falangist agents ir
sLatin America. II shows It's dis
pleasures by gestures like the with
drawal Of Ambassador Norman Ar.
nour and an informal conversation
with the leading republican exile
Juan Negrin. Yet there are no in.
dications Of immediate further &C.
ton, though II is considering tn,
current note OF the French govern
ment proposing Joint consultation
With Britain and the United State
concerning their relations with tn,
Franco regime.
Perhaps the next development
may arise out Of the present con
vegntions In Moscow between tn
Evening star., 1945-12-20
The Principle Is Sound

Under the formula devised by the
Investigators for the Senate District
Appropriations Subcommittee. the
Federal payment, for the next fiscal
year would amount to 10 percent of
local tax revenues. The percentage
would change thereafter only with
the increase or decrease OF Federal
property holdings, although the
amount appropriated each year
would rise or fall rs local tax reve-
nues increased or decreased. One
advantage Of the formula is thus to
link the amount Of the Federal pay
ment with the local taxpayers
dollar.
The principle represented in this
plan demands that the 10 per cent
be applied to total local tax reve-
nues, not merely to the local tax
revenues paid into the general fund
as distinct from those paid into the
water or the highway fund. AS the
investigators point out, the Federal
Government now derives 100 per
cent gratuity," at the expense Of the
local taxpayer, in services it receives
from the water and the highway de-
partments. It receives an outright gift
OF $717,543 . year in free water, with
out contributing cent to the Water
Department. It receives an outright
gift, more difficult to measure pre-
cisely, in benefits from the street
and highway system, to which it
contributes nothing in gasoline taxes
or motor vehicle fees or front foot
assessments. It would be a contra
diction of the basic principle of the
formula for the Federal Government
to share only the costs represented
in expenditures from the general
fund and to contribute nothing
toward water and highway depart
ment expenditures.
Chairman Coffee of the House
Subcommittee on District Appropri-
atoms agrees with the principle OF
the formula, his only criticism be-
ing that 1t does not 60 far enough.
Certainly the current. ftgure of 10
per cent, representing the Federal
Governments financial obligation in
support OF the American Capital, is
a small proportion, giving the bene-
fit Of every doubt to the Federal
Government rather than to the local
taxpayer. Small though 1t is, 1t rep
'resents at least an honest effort TO
return to the practice of measuring
the Federal obligation In some defi-
mite relationship to the local tax
payers obligation.
In this respect 1t is fair and should
commend itself to the men in both
houses Of Congress who are seeking
to improve their government of
washington.
Evening star., 1945-12-20
The Political Mill
By Gould Lincoln

Disarmament is the handmaiden of
peace, and 1t Is the ultimate aim of the
United Nations. However, until there Is
positive international security through a
strong international organization, dis
armament must be held In allegiance.
The atomic bomb and other weapons
Of mass destruction have jolted the
world into growing demand for an
effective ban against such weapons. 1t
Is clear that II such ban can be
achieved, q real first step looking to dis
armament will have been taken. In the
end, however, If there Is to be disarm-
ament 1t can come only when an inter-
national police force, strong enough to
enforce international law with justice
II the need arises, has been set UP.
When the United States turned its
back on the old League of Nations after
the World War, its leaders advanced the
idea Of limitation Of armaments, with
ultimate disarmament, as an alternative
plan for the maintenance Of world peace.
This country made q magnificent ges-
ture.
It called the Washington Conference
on Limitation Of Naval Armaments and
itself made the frst move, announcing
1t would, in effect, scrap the greatest
navy, built and building, IN the world
At that time. It did. not work. First,
because no strong international organ
ization for the maintenance OF peace
was set up. Second, because while this
country set an example in the abandon
rnent OF military and naval strength,
other powerful nations did not follow
suit.
After second and more terrible les
son Of world war, the nations today are
making serious effort to provide inter-
national security through the United
Nations. Until that organization has
been proved, it would be folly for this
country TO abandon its military and
naval strength. 1t Il argued, and corr
rectly 30, that this country must remain
strong In order to play its full part In
bringing about international security
through the United Nations Orsaniza-
ton.
Representative Glare Boothe Luce,
Republican, Of Connecticut, made q
constructive and intelligent contribu-
ton to the House debate while the
United Nations bill-implementing this
countrys part in the new organization
was under consideration. She wisely
put first the need Of an organization
to assure international security, con-
Evening star., 1945-12-20
Regrets Pearl Harbor Probe
By Maj. George Fielding Eliot

1t probably Is impossible to drop the
Pearl Harbor inquiry now. There are
. number Of witnesses who remain to
be heard and certainly Admiral Kimmel
and Gen. Short are entitled to their
say. But 1t would be good thing for
the country II the whole sorry business
OF this inquiry could just be quietly
discontinued.
The Pearl Harbor Committee has
done more harm than good. It has done
harm because OF the partisan spirit In
which 1t has gone about i6 work
because the Republicans have been
seeking campaign material for the next
election above all else and because the
Democrats have been so terrified of the
cry Of gag" that they have permitted
the interests and security Of the United
States to be jeopardised.
These are strong words, but they are
justified. A single example will serve
to illustrate what I mean:
Some time before Pearl Harbor,
American intelligence experts broke"
the Japanese diplomatic code. This Is
no simple matter. It involves an i'm
mense amount Of patient, painstaking
work and there is certain factor Of
luck in it, too: Elaborate equipment and
many expert brains must be used.
*&A
At what seems to have been SUBJ
sequent date, the British-who were
freely exchanging intelligence informa-
tion with us--broke at least one Of the
major German codes. They made this
information available to American In
telhgence in high confidence.
When war came, we were in posi-
ton Of great advantage. We were able
to forecast the moves Of the enemy. We
were able to inflict heavy defeats on
the Japanese in the battle Of the Coral
Sea and In the decisive battle OF Mid
way and elsewhere, because OF our fore
knowledge Of enemy intentions due 70
our possession Of his code. which en-
abled us to translate intercepted radio
messages quickly enough to use the In
formation to best advantage.
But there was some evidence that the
fact Of our possession Of enemy codes
was leaking out During the presiden-
tial campaign Of 1914. when Pearl Har-
Dor was an issue, there was increased
danger that In the hest Of partisan
debate something might be said that
would tip on the JApanase. Gen. George
g. Marshall therefore decided that II
WAS his duty 70 make 4 W onAl appeal
b the Hepublican candidate, Gov.
DsWey, asktng NJ. Dewey - - = a
Evening star., 1945-12-20

that any such references were elini-
mated from Republican campaign mate
rial. He made this appeal and Mr.,
Dewey Loyalty gave the fullest co-opera-
tion in the matter. There the whole
anair should have ended-in silence,
Unfortunately for the country. 1t did
not end there. The Pearl Harbor Conn
mittee, informed of the existence OF
the Marshal1-Dewey correspondence In
sisted on publishing It. This was bad
enough in itsel. for It means that
should this country ever have an enemy
again, that enemy will not use any OF
the code methods employed by the Ger
mans or the Japanese during this war.
And it is at this point that the worst
misconduct of the Pearl Harbor inves-
tigators Is TO be found. Gen. Marshall
particularly asked that all reference to
the breaking Of German codes be
omitted from the published text Of his
letters to Mr.. Dewey because he felt
1t was q gross breach Of confidence to
publish secret information received from
the government Of q friendly power:
Al indeed 1t was. The few lines refer
ring to this matter could have been
eliminated from the text Of the letters
without In any way changing their
tenor, or their value as evidence In the
Pearl Harbor inquiry.
But unanimous consent for the elm
nation Of these few lines could not be
obtained. For this, the onuB seems to
fan on Senator Ferguson Of Michigan,
one Of the Republican members Of the
committee. The chairman. Senator
Barkley, later said that "the commit
tee accepts full responsibility fore ful
publication Of the letters
The people OF this country well may
ask when 1t was that the gentlemen
responsible for this sorry business were
entrusted with responsibility for the fa-
tlre security Of the United States.
We viii wish to exchange informa-
tion with other governments about the
Use and control Of atomic energy. Some
OF this information win be OF secret
nature. Much Of It will be Of vital inn
portance to our safety.
But what government, however
friendly, will feel free to trust us now?
How win II BE- possible To assure our
friends that what they tell B n high
confidence will not be dragged into the
glare Of publicity In some future con-
sresnional investigation d something Or
other7
uEesaA 1r.bons s,nAieass.l
Evening star., 1945-12-20

The curtain OF secrecy at the Moscow
Foreign Ministers Conference is so deep
that Secretary OF State Byrnes Is said
to be sending back to washington only
the most sketchy reports Of how the
meetings are progressing.
The reluctance OF the Secretary to keep
even the President fully posted as to
what is happening in the Soviet capital
Is explained by the fact that Commis-
sar Molotov, who Is said to be presiding
at all the meetings leach Foreign Min
lister presided In turn at the London
sessions, has demanded complete Sc
crecy from his colleagues.
The Soviet Foreign Minister evident
ly Is concerned with the reaction OF pub
lie opinion In America and Britain
should some OF the concessions he hopes
to obtain be prematurely dtsclosed.
In some quarters close to the Secre-
tary, 1t is said that Mr.. Byrnes feels
that his mission to Moscow" is about
as vital as that undertaken in Noyem-
Der, 1943, by former Secretary Of State
Hull.
Months after he returned from the
Russian capital, where the foundation
OF our policy Of yielding to all the Rus
sian political demands was laid, Mr..
Hull told some Of his inttmates that
had he not taken the long trip and OBJ
tanned an agreement-which was too
elastic for his own taste-Russia might
have gotten out of the war.
Conditions which faced Mr.. Hull in
1943 no longer exist.
But Mr.. Byrnes is said to feel that the
pacification of the world necessarily re-
quires Russia's full cooperation. Hence,
he and some Of his top advisers, such
as Counselor Benjamin Cohen and
Undersecretary Dean Acheson, feel that
the deadlock which was created after
the London Conference must be broken,
even If We have to abandon further
some OF the principles for which we
fought the war.
The American policy trainers have
placed all the peace eggs in one basket
the UNO.' Russia has never shared
the enthusiasm of the American Gov
ernment and the American people for
that organization. Russia agreed to
participate on its own terms only after
Evening star., 1945-12-20
This and That
By Charles r. Trdcepelt.
"CLOVER PARK


GLOVER PARK.
Dear Sir:
Last week, in the mountains Of near
by Virginia, not far from Luray, I OBJ
served . female Southern pileated wood
pecker.
"As this was my first sight of one,
would like to know II the bird is con-
sidered rare in this section.
II am sure your comments would be
OF interest to your many readers.
VERY truly yours, r. B. r."
It was the year 1929 when May
Thacher Cooke wrote, in her Birds OF
the Warrington, D. c., Region" the
following about the pileated wood
pecker:
'very rare permanent resident, con-
fined to the heavy timber; probably
only two or three pairs left in the region
Recent observations are from the
region between Plumners Island and
Great Falls. At one time 1t was COM
mon in heavy timber near Falls Church
and near Mount Vernon"
The bird Is even rarer today
The Washington region" Is taken to
mean the territory included within q
radius Of 20 miles Of the Capitol.
One may be seen occasionally here
abouts, but mostly we may save our eye
sight for smaller birds.
The pileated, next to the even rarer
ivory-billed woodpecker, is the largest
Of the woodpecker family, being about
10 inches long. He has, at various
times and In varied places, rejoiced in
such names as cock of the woods, log
cock, great black woodpecker, wood
cock, great god woodpecker, good god
woodpecker lord god woodpecker and
even wood kate.
His feathers are black, with white and
red markings. The head has a con-
spicuous crest Of bright red, described as
poppy red. The bill is longer than the
head. And the outer hind toe Is shorter
than the outer front toe, though that
is of interest only to an ornithologist.
The word "pileated" means having a
crest covering the pileus. The pneus
was an ancient skullcap of felt. From
the word ornithology adopted pileum
to mean the top Of the head Of bird
The word "pileated" is pronounced
with four syllables. py-lee-at-ed, with
the accent on the first.
The lessening In numbers Of this r.ar-
velous species was q hard blow t the
forests OF America, because he ate
beetles and ants which attacked trees.
It is believed that his vegetable food
consisted mainly Of wild fruits.
DR.. T. Gilbert Pearson, in Birds Of
America says that "as this woodpeckel
seems not % possess the faculty 81
adapting itself to the new condition,
created by civilization, 1t Is quite pos
sible that 1t will not long survive the
passing Of our primeval forests
| The writer Of these quoted word,
could not have foreseen some Of thu
lamentahle new conditions created By
civilization In bombed -out areas an6
cities blown to pieces BY atoms working
the win of -etyiHsed" man.
Evening star., 1945-12-20
Teachers Payroll Speedup

1t is encouraging to learn that
something at last is going to be done
about the repeated delays in paying
Washington's public school teachers.
An occasional payroll delay might
be excusable, but when it becomes
a habit, as it has in the case OF the
more than 5000 teachers. adequate
corrective measures are in order.
Such measures are to be undertaken
as the result of conference be-
tween the District Commissioners
and the Board of Education, who
we're prompted to act by the rising
tide of complaints received from the
teachers. These complaints pointed
out that the teachers not only were
forced to wait for their first checks
after the summer recess. making q
stretch Of lis days between their
last payday in June and their frst
payday in the fall, but have expe-
rienced pay delays regularly since
the start of the fall term. These
delays are of considerable concern
to the teachers. whose salaries are
none too high. anyway, and who
must meet their obligations on time
or suffer the consequences.
Most of the payroll difficulties
developed after adoption of the new
pay act last July, according to off,
cials. Computation Of overtime and
Of within-grade promotions has pre-
sented the auditing staff with COM
plications. Under the proposed
speedup system, the teachers pay
rolls will be made up in advance of
per diem employees, as the teachers
are on = salary basis and hence not
subject to monthly changes in pay.
Thus, the teachers checks would be
ready for distribution on the regular
paydays. The per diem employees,
of course, could not be included in
this advance-preparation plan, as
their wages vary from month to
month and the totals can be COM
puted only at the end OF the pay
period. There should be some way,
however, to expedite the necessary
computations, 80 that all Of the
schools employees may receive the
prompt payments to which they are
entitled.
Evening star., 1945-12-20
Urges Scissors Instead

TO the Editor Of The star:
do not approve Of the Health De-
partments plan to allow BARRIERS to use
clippers on children's heads II disin-
fected with the new solution found to
destroy the ringworm fungus. While
some BARRIERS would be careful to do
what was required, others would eer-
tainly use the clippers unsterilized. /
would rather have barber use scis-
sors and pay more for it. know what
chance we take with clippers because
my little boy has ringworm and after q
haircut where clippers were used close
to the scalp he developed new areas OF
infection only where the clippers were
used The barber had said he couldn't
cut the child's hair unless he used clip
pers. Please, for the children's sake,
make BARRIERS use scissors and allow
them to charge more for their time.
MRS. Y. S. E.
Evening star., 1945-12-20
Wants Law Against Strikes

To the Editor Of The Star:
There seems to be considerable. con-
fusion among our politicians about
what we should do about strikes.
But feel sure that Congress has
the authority tand 1t should use 1t
without delay to pass law to cancel
81 strikes, making striking 4 crime
punishable by imprisonment, : fine
or both. Also Congress should create 4
court to pass on all disputes between
employees and employers.
MARTIN j. SHENNERS.
Evening star., 1945-12-20
Privilege, Too
By David La,Orencs

From the wiliisnsport oun.
II you have childrsn N the schools,
zee to It that they bscomo megnbers Of
the Junior Red Gross. Through 1T they
can learn one Of ths best Of IN lessons
the lesson that each individuaf has Q
share In civic and humanitarian re.
spondhtlity. sssS
Evening star., 1945-12-20
Colendur

The loneliness the year has hdrbored
PefaIed and Je6thered,
Purple tristnria siDeetIy drbored,
And oak Ieapes tDeathered,
Blue ,oinOs Of April. bound beyond,
The antique art
OF emerald pipers n the ponA.
And bleeding -heart,
Shall make for me cGiexdav
That min keep
Ar6inst the ti1ne q Ddntn0 st6S
Shau coGnssl sleep.
yEIzA dILLEepu
Evening star., 1945-12-20
Questions Medical Association

To the Editor Of The star:
The American Medical Association
at It's meeting in Chicago protested
against the health bill as presented
by President Truman. But why Il this
association % afraid Of socialized
medicine7
7 personally know Of many Of the
white-coilAr class who have been in
extreme need Of surgical, medical and
dental care for years, yet their very
small salaries do not permit them to
have the care they require. They do
not want charity, but 90 steadily on
working In pain and suffering, while
the medical association and Congress
haggle over what provision should be
made to care for the health OF the
Nation. M. B. H.
Evening star., 1945-12-20

What Is really the use Of reading
the details Of q new airplane record7
It will be broken In from four to
twenty-four days, anyhow.
Evening star., 1945-12-20
Possibly

From the Omaha World-Herald.
Does your butter taste different lAtelys
Maybe its butter.
Evening star., 1945-12-20
Letters to The Star
Sees Danger as Well as Help
in the Merger Proposal

To the Editor Of The Star:
The so-called unification of the armed
services is urged by various officers in
the. War Department, The suggestion
came from Army aviation.
Every merger has It's advantages and
disadvantages The pleas for "unifica-
ton In this instance seem rather
strange. II the advantages Of unifica-
ton have so impressed its sponsors, why
don't they tell us how the War Depart
ment could be unified advantageously?
The chart Of the War Department shows
that the general chart of the Army is
duplicated by complete general staff
for the Army Air Forces. These We
hement exponents of unihcation for
the Army and the Navy are not prac-
ticing their doctrines In the War De-
partment. A little success there might
strengthen their cause. Military his
tory clearly shows that the German
Army general staff virtually ignored
considerations Of sea power In all its
planning--a remarkable fact. for 1t was
a lack of sea power that hampered Ger
many in the recent war and In World
War I. II the proposed bill is passed
and the two services are put under Army
control. sea power may be forgotten in
the next war with serious results.
1t has been stated by Marshal Won
Rundstedt that American battleships,
cruisers and destroyers effectively pre-
vented the German Army from disput-
ing the landings. Our landings would
have been broken up in Sicily and at
Salerno by German armored troops had
1t not been for the decisive and acct-
rate Navy nre which supported them.
1t was naval gun fire and aerial bombs
that made landings possible In Africa.
Europe and the Pacific.
A merger Of the War and Navy De-
partments might produce some good
results. 1t is likewise possible that such
q merger might produce very serious
bad results. Years Of experience have
shown the two services working admir-
ably together. They seem TO have pro-
duced fine results, and they apparently
have received comparatively little criti.
cism. Merge them. and instead OF Inn
provement, 1t is more than likely that
we soon will find ourselves facing dis
aster.
Great credit is due the Army for its
excellent job In this war. The Navy car
ried on . campaign which destroyed
Japanese sea power. It's fne work is
admitted BY every one. In view Of these
facts. 1t might be q serious mistake to
alter q system which works well and
which successfully his met the great
test of experience.
Progress usually goes hand in hand
with specialization. This forcibly is ex-
emplified by the history Of medicine and
Of law. BARRIERS did the primitive sur
gerry Of ancient times. There has been
50 much discovered since then that
there Is extensive specialization In med
icine. There Il too much known today
for one doctor to attempt to learn
everything and practice successfully.
The case is the same in the law. The
rule seems to apply equally well to our
Army and Navy.
hope Congress will defeat the bill
for the proposed merger.
1 GEORGE BOND COCHRAN.