The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1945-07-21
Observations
Pan-Slavic Bloc
From Oder River
TO Pacific Seen

W dNllAO ONNh
As President Truman carries on
his nrst Big Three" meeting with
Prime Minister Churchill and Pre-
mier Stain, American and British
observers feel concern over the
turn Russia may take in the recon
struction OF Europe.
One London expert has said that
the u. S. S. R., now in the full
flush of victory, may prove 10 be a
tough minded partner OF the Unit
ed States and the United King
dom.
Some authorities foresee Russia
forming a Pan-Slavic bloc which
would extend from the Oder River
in Germany across eastern Europe
and Siberia to the Pacific Ocean.
This, II is argued, is as logical
to expect as the Pan-American
union which the United States has
built up and so strongly defended
and would fall with the regional ar
rangements permitted under the
United Nations charter.
ONE OF THE THINGS which
labor leaders will urge upon Secre-
tary Of Labor Echwellenbach is
moderniEation OF the departments
cost-of-liying index.
Labor long has maintained that
the index, used 10 reflect price
changes, needs revamping TO make
il more accurate. AS the index is
completed now, they say, II fats
to show actual rises in living costs
caused by such intangibles as the
disappearance OF low-cost goods
and quality deterioration.
Schwellenbach now is holding
private conferences with ALL
President William Green, clio
President Philip Murray and Unit
ed Mine Workers Chief John L.
Lewis OF the matter.
OPA is WORKING on a new ra-
ton book which will be used late
this year or early next year. II
will be War Ration Book No. 5 ana
the last one-oPA hopes-that will
be needed.
Ration Book is due 10 run out
OF the currently-good red and blue
food stamps this fall. Until the
new book is delivered. use probly
will be made the green stamps
still remaining in No. 4.
The new book will be distributed
at school houses as were the first
ration books ever issued in this
country. Some OF the later books
were mailed to consumers, but
this system is to be abandoned
for book No. S.
Among changes in the new book
will be an absence OF numerals CIV
ing stamps eight, FIVE, two and one
point values. Such designations no
longer are needed since all food
ration stamps now are worth 10
points regardless OF the numerals
printed on their faces.
ARCHIBALD MACLEISH, form.
err librarian of Congress, is expect
ed to leave his present post In the
State Department when Secretary
Byrnes gets back from the Pots
dam conference in Germany and
begins reorganization.
But department heads hope that
one little project he has started
will be carried on. That is the hold
ing OF small. intimate parties by
smaller state department fry VINO
have dealings with foreign powers.
OF course. big wigs in the depart
ment always have had their social
functions. but not until MasLeish
arrived was this extended to lower
level personnel and the foreign
representatives with whom they
meet.
The plan worked so we'll and haa
such excellent results that a move
is under way to make these social
functions a permanent policy.
1T LOOKS AS IF President
Truman will have to put the heat
on the Senate II he wants action
on the House-approved bill max
ing the House speaker and Sen
ate president pro tempore next in
line as president in place OF the