davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1946-04-24
A Hopeful sign

Action of the Senate Finance Com
mittee in voting, with administration
approval, to reduce the public debt
ceiling from 800 billions of dollars to
275 billions is the first sign that the
rocketing debt limits of the war peri
cd have about reached the peak of
their trajectory. The general upward
curve of Federal debt limits that be-
gan in the depression years assumed
a near-vertical course during World
War II and attained attitudes so un-
precedented as to be almost beyond
the comprehension of the average
citizen, if not of many economists.
Congress began to lift the lid on the
debt higher and higher as the threat
of war required greater and greater
expenditures for national defense.
In 1910 the limit was raised to $40
000,0OO,000; in 1941 to S65,OOO, ,OOO,-
600, in 1912 to S125 O0O,OOO0OO, in
1943 to $4,000, 100000, in 1914 to
$3.50, 0OOOOO,O00, and in 1945 to it's
present limit of OO0,OOO,OOO.
With the actual debt now stand
ing at $274,O0O, ,0O0,O 900 in round num-
bers. the pushing of the lid down.
ward to S275 900, 100000 would have
the salutary psychological effect of
discouraging new spending projects
and encouraging retrenchment all
along the line, lest the statutory debt
ceiling be reached. That Secretary
of the Treasury VinSon should have
agreed to the reduction is regarded
as indicative of a determination by
the administration to try to hold the
line on present spending and, per-
haps, to draw the line tighter and
tighter in postwar economy pro-
gram. The reduced limit would
mean that the Government could
borrow only $7OO,0OOO 900 without spe-
cial authority of Congress, thus con-
stituting a checkrein on unbridled
administrative spending.
The proposed lowering of the debt
limit represents victory for Senator
Byrd, Democrat, of Virginia, and
others who, like him, have fought
year after year for more economy in
gofernment. Now that the neces-
sity for astronomical war appropria-
tions Is over, Senator Byrd intends
to renew his vigorous campaign for
elimination of waste and extrava-
gance in the Federal agencies, All
in all, the Federal fiscal outlook is
beginning to improve.
Evening star., 1946-04-24

stark realism was an essential factor in
diplomatic negotiations. Mr.. Cohen Is
still playing an important role in the
formulation Of Americas foreign poll
cies, but his theoretical approach is now
frequently discarded.
The other technicians who are ac-
companying the Secretary of State are
trained experts and observers. Charles
Bohlen, for instance, accompanied Mr..
Roosevelt to the Teheran and Yalta
Conferences, where he served as more
than translator during the intimate
conversations between the late President
and Prime Minister Stain. He is an
expert" on Russia, whose language he
has mastered, and for some time has
been in charge Of the Russian desk in
the State Department. MIR. Bohlen has
no policy" of his own. He adjusts him.
self to trends" and confines himself to
giving the Secretary of State the benefit
Of his knowledge.
The rest of the assistants who repre-
sent experts in various fields of inter-
national affairs have the knowledge and
the knoW-how which will be of real
assistance to the Secretary of State in
the thorny negotiations with his Rus
sian, British and French colleagues.
The group which Is with Mr.. Byrnes
will be of great assistance to him in the
stormy weather he is bound to en-
counter in Paris. The position of the
other foreign ministers already is very
clear The British want to avoid any
kind of peace treaty the results of which
might constitute definite threat to
Britain's lines of communications with
the empire; the Russians will insist, with
customary stubbornness, that their
claims in the Mediterranean which
would place them athwart of the British
lines-be fully accepted, and the French
will endeavor to play both ends against
the middle.
The sessions at the Palais Luxembourg
are not likely to be quiet and smooth
At the London Conference last Septem-
ber, and more recently at the Security
Council meetings, the Russians did not
mince words and adopted new ap-
proach to diplomatic questions which
old-line officials considered most un-
diplomatic.
The banning Of all official contact with
the press, according to reliable reports,
was a prerequisite condition imposed
by the Moscow Foreign Office. But the
Russians apparently did" not count on
the addition Of two United States Sena-
tors, both members Of the Foreign Re-
lations Committee and both due for re-
election this fall, to Mr.. Byrnes dele
cation.
Evening star., 1946-04-24
Jopun's Cabinet Quits

The resignation of the entire Jap
anese cabinet headed by Premier
Baron Shidehara is the logical con-
sequence of the general elections
held twelve days before In those
elections the three principal parties
-Progressives, Liberals and Social
lsts-were returned in approximate
ly equal strength, though none Of
them commands one-third of the
seats in the forthcoming Diet. The
reason for that is the election of a
considerable number of independent
candidates, together with a minia-
ture block of Communists.
Since Japan operates politically on
the English parliamentary system,
whereby cabinet must at all times
have behind it majority OF the
members in order to retain the Con
fldence" Of the legislature, this
means the necessity for a coalition
cabinet embracing at least two out
OF the three major parties. Curious
ly enough, the situation in the forth
coming Diet is analogous to that in
the present French Assembly, so far
as the triparty balance is concerned;
albeit, in France, a coalition gov
ernment has been arranged en-
bracing all three major parties, in a
somewhat uneasy and negative alli-
ance. 1t is, of course, possible that
a similar arrangement may occur in
Japan, though the clash of person.
alities there renders it less likely
than In France. 1t should always be
remembered that in Japan PERSONAL
tiles play an important role in its
less-matured parliamentary life.
This certainly applies to Premier
Shidehara. He belongs to the So
called Progressive party-a distinctly
inappropriate label, since 1t is the
most conservative of the trio. Baron
Shidehara aspires to succeed him
self as Premier of the new cabinet.
But to do that he must first be for
mally chosen party president by cau-
Gus of its representatives, and some
internal opposition is indicated.
The next personality problem is
that of Ichiro Hatayama, leader of
the Liberal party. His status is COM
plicated by the fact that when he
answered the questionnaire manda-
tory for all candidates under Gen.
eral MacArthur's purge" directive
to eliminate all tainted with the
ultranationalism and lingo militia
rism of the old regime, Mr.. Hata-
yama failed to mention a book he
wrote just before the war, wherein
he eXtolled the Axis and aired q
viewpoint which his enemies now
maintain disqualifies him for Office
as a Fascist" If Hatayama should
be disqualified for membership in
the Diet this would upset the inter
nal structure of the Liberal party,
at least for the time being, and thus
delay negotia tions for cabinet build
ing, so far as it Is concerned. Be-
sides, neither the Liberals nor the
Socialists seem to evince much en-
thusiasm in serving under Baron
Shidehara in minor capacities. Nu-
merically the Liberals are slightly
the most numerous group, and they
aspire to furnish the Premier them
selves.
Evening star., 1946-04-24

ingredient of which Is butter fat, a
quart OF ice cream containing in the
average commercial product only l/l0
of pound.
The farmers are not hijacking this
country. Nineteen per cent Of our peo-
pie live on farms, and they get l3 per
cent OF the income, and work harder
than any one else
Americans are not oVerSpending on
essential foods, even according to an
American standard-meat, vegetables,
cereals, milk and fruits. They are buy
Ing In dlsproportionate quantities the
most expensive foods of all, and in large
part those foods which are least health
full, in the quantities consumed, or con-
tain no nutriment to speak Of Ameri-
cans spent between five and six billions
last year for meat. But they spent
81, 100000 for tobacco On tobacco
and alcoholic beverages they spent al
most twice as much as their meat bill.
American women spent last year on
beauty parlors and cosmetics nearly
$4,000, 900 ,000-0 .805). Americans spent
billion and half dollars on movies.
Actually, the sum total of what they
spend on movies, cosmetics, beauty
treatments. alcohol, tobacco and soda
pop Is equal to so per cent of their
total food costs, including candy, coffee
and ice cream.
Furthermore, it is precisely in these
categorles that they are overcharged.
The price OF cosmetics Is ridiculous in
comparison to the cost of production
Why an American should pay go cents
for ticket to see a flve-year- old film
only can be explained by the astronomi-
cal waste and preposterous salaries paid
oy hollywood and passed on to the con-
sumer. There are movie stars who pull
In four times the salary OF the Presi-
dent OF the United States, and writer's
sitting on payrolls at 1000 a week who
couldn't earn a third OF that in anv
other form Of writing. But the people
pay. Forty-slx cents pound, the CELL
Ing price for sirloin steak (try to get it,
is preposterouS compared with the dollar
that millions of women will spend for
10 cents worth Of face powder.
And If present ceiling prices are to
be maintained on meat, what about the
restaurants who charge 81 for sl.38
worth OF steak at the market ceiling
prices?
The truth is We are an extravagant
people. We want price controls on
essential foods that cost more than the
price to produce, in order that we can
blow in our cash on stuff which is not
good for our health, on amusements,
and on glamour" which has become
the substitute for attractiveness. The
average expenditure in this country for
beauty" (not for art)-and excluding
toilet soap-averages SO a month for
every female over the age of IA.
released by the Bell Syndicate, 1ne1
Evening star., 1946-04-24
On the Record
By Dorothy Thompson

The difficulties of the OPA lie In
American consumption habits. The
OPA is trying to keep down food prices,
while the American people are living
on a scale unique in extravaganza and
madness.
Last year, the national incom. was
s161 900, 100000. Tlairty-one billions
or approximately 10 per cent of that
was spent on food That does not seem
an exorbitant proportion of income to
expend on the prime necessity of life.
But on what kind Of food did the peo-
pie spend their money?
Over most Of the globe the staff of
life is bread: the overwhelming ma
jority of mankind lives on cereals and
a limited amount of fats. For lack of
these quarter of the world faces
famine.
But of the 81 billions spent for food.
between Ave and six billions went for
meat
All food figures include nonalcoholic
beverages Last year the American
people spent approximately $2000,-
100000 for soda pop. My estimate is
based on a round figure of 18,00O, ,0O0, 900
bottles averaging 10 cents, plus an in
estimable amount of beverages not in
cluded in available figures because they
contain less sugar than these, or sugar
substitutes.
The American people ate last year.
over 81 900 100000 worth Of ice cream:
they consumed three-quarters OF a
billion dollars worth OF coffee-count-
ed not on what they spent per cup in
restaurants, but on actual sales Of cof-
fee. They ate nearly half a billion
dollars worth Of candy. In short, with
in the 81 billions spent for food-the
10 per cent of the national income
must be counted over four billions spent
on soft drinks, coffee. commercial ice
cream and candy, or 13 per cent of the
total cost Of their food
They also swallowed 7.3 billion dollars
worth of alcoholic beverages, of which
by FAR the largest amount was whisky
In 1889, the American people spent
SIS 900 100000 on food. In 1945. they
spent 1880 900, 900 on alcohol, soft
drinks, ice cream, candy and Dffee or
more than 10 per cent of their total
food expenditures for 1899.
Now, it Is quite futile to argue that
the increased expenditures for food are
due to the Increased cost of living.
Food expenditures have gone up more
than 100 per cent, and the cost of food
has not risen more than 40 per cent
according to OPA statistics. Present
estimates are that in the current year
Americans will consume nearly $34.-
000,000,0 900 worth of food Americans
have fits if the price of butter goes above
ceiling of 81 cents per pound, but they
buy over billion dollars worth of ice
cream. which retails at from so to 10
cents quart, the chief and only costly
Evening star., 1946-04-24

politics. In former times two methods
were used in such cases-militarv power
and boycotts. Neither of these is prac-
tical now. An economic boycott would
merely intensity the hunger and suffer-
ing OF innocent people and possibly pre-
clpltate bloody revolution The U. N. is
OBVIOUSLY not ready with any form of
international military power.
Left-wing groups in the United States
are demanding that the Spanish Re-
public be acknowledged as the legiti-
mate government of Spain. There is
no such government in Spain, but there
is one in exile. This government in
exile would, according to these Ameri-
can groups, enlist the support of all
democratic" parties in Spain and some
how get into power and hold an elec-
ton. 1t is hard to see how this could
be brought about, laudable though the
objective may be.
It may be that Franco will yield to
a demand of the Council to have ac-
cess to Spain for purposes of inspec-
ton and investigation. If this is
granted, the question whether there
are Nazi centers of infection there
could be determined. If this is shown,
the position Of Franco would prob
ably be intolerable, and some form
OF republican government might come to
power. 1t is not at all certain that COM
munism would result, especially If the
western powers established helpful eco
nomic relations with the new govern
ment. Yet the dread fear of Com
munism is still keeping Franco in power.
despite his general unpopularity abroad.
Spain is the sick man Of Europe. But
the doctors are still in the dark about
the nature of the cure.
CReleased BY the Associated Newspaper, InsJ
Evening star., 1946-04-24

breathtaking, but it can be promis-
ing, too. For the kind OF program
envisioned by the AAF can lead to
rich nonmilitary developments. Fur
ther, the very fact that it borders
on fantasy and yet is realistic is
another of those aspects of the new
age that work against third world
war because, self evidently, they
could make such war unendurable
for any people anywhere. Mans
destructive capabilities, in short,
have reached such a point that this
time, constantly aware of things like
the atomic bomb and the air future
foreseen by the AAF, he may at last
work out a just peace that will be
really permanent.
Evening star., 1946-04-24
The Spanish Dilemma
By Raym ond Molev


One of the European correspondents
said sadly. as he was leaving the U. N
meeting on Spain Its 1886 all over
again. Nothing was settled by the Span
lsh Civil War" This mans pessimism
may have been deepened by the fatigue
induced by long, dry session. But all
those present realized that the debates
did not reveal what was really in the
minds of every one there. Everybody
was talking about the danger of another
civil war in Spain. But everybody was
thinking about Conmunism-the Rus
sian group in pleasant anticipation of
another friendly government; the Brit
ish in dread of a Communistic Iberian
Peninsula. But all sides agree in their
distaste for Franco and his regime.
Mr.. Stettinius spoke quite frankly of
the American Governments dislike of
Franco. And he said that some new
regime must be created which will take
its place. But he shed little light on
how bloodless change Is to be brought
about.
It will not be easy to accomplish this
change. Franco can no longer depend
on German or italian troops But he
has the Moors, and they are strate-
gically well placed along the French
frontier. He has firm grip on all
Spanish military power. Political op-
position to him is widely divided. There
are many species of socialism, some
Communists. few anarchists and what
not The church has no great liking
for Franco, but is mildly supporting him
because of its fear of Communism
The Council of the u N faces an
other difficulty in meeting the Spanish
question. It realizes that 1t must ulti-
mately reach into the internal affairs
Of some states But in doing 80 1t will
enter an entirely new sphere Of world
Evening star., 1946-04-24
Federal Party Line

1t Is to be expected that union,
even a union of Federal workers,
would seek to attract new members
by attacking the working standards
Of the employer, and this despite
the fact that the employer happens
to be the Government. But when
this same union Of Federal en-
ployes attacks the employers foreign
policies, and uses as its text a theme
which could have been lifted bodily
from the Communist Daily Worker,
it is time to ask whether the en-
ployer should sanction or in any way
recognize such union.
The United Federal Workers OF
America, CIO, are meeting in At
lantic City, and have voted there to
merge with the CIO State, County
and Municipal Workers of America,
resulting in a probable total mem
bership Of something less than
100000.
This means that the new organ
ization has strength that is not
inconsequential, and lends added
significance to the charge, contained
in report submitted by the UFWA
officers, that the Truman admins
tration as we'll as Congress "is
actually carrying out a program of
aggressive imperialism in foreign
affairs and Of attacking labor and
lowering living standards at home.
Such an accusation is the rankest
sort OF nonsense, but it faithfully
echoes the Communist party line.
And if it could be assumed that it
has the Endorsement of upward of
100000 Federal, State, county and
municipal employees, there would be
no escaping the conclusion that the
Communists are indeed strongly
intrenched in this countrys gov
ernmental structure. 1t is to be
hoped that the views OF the UFWA
officers are not representative of
the views of its members, yet 1t
seems clear enough that, in any
event, this merged governmental
union will bear close watching.
Evening star., 1946-04-24
This Changing World
BY Constantine Bro,On

The inclusion Of Senators Connally
and Vandenberg in the American dele
cation at the conference of the Big
Four foreign ministers is expected to
diminish the effect of the secrecy cur
tain imposed by the diplomats on re-
porters assigned to cover the Paris
meeting.
Both members Of the Senate Foreign
Relations Committee are known for their
aversion to too much secrecy" at inter-
national gatherings, and while they are
not expected to reveal to the press the
blow blow" performances of men in
the diplomatic ring, they are expected to
talk much more freely to the press than
the professionals" who are accompany
ing Secretary of State Byrnes and who
must follow instructions to be deaf and
dumb" toward the press.
So far as the American delegation is
concerned, it Is far better prepared now
to meet the troublesome problems which
will rise in Paris than it was either in
London last September or in Moscow
three months later. The technical men
are combination of lofty idealism and
practical politics.
The State Department counselor,
most trusted advisers, represents the
middle-of fthe-road appeasement policy.
In spite of the hard knocks this policy
has received in recent months he still
believes We can bring about a better
world by compromising with nations
which are out for territorial aggrandize-
ment and for subjection of nations by
display of force.
Although Mr.. Cohen is not inclined
toward compromise at any price, he
sticks to his belief that nations as such
mean little, and that we must make
every effort to take care of the people in
the world He Is not yet convinced that
peoples are even yet gathered within
boundaries which represent nations or
nationalities, and that the subjection of
one country to another is bound to affect
the peoples themselves. His purely the
oretical approach to realistic matters
has in the past affected Mr.. Byrnes'
policies to great extent.
When Mr. Byrnes was director Of War
Mobilization and Reconversion, Mr..
Cohen was his most intimate collabora-
tor. After he became Secretary OF State,
Mr.. Byrnes insisted on having Mr.
Cohen at his elbow. His former general
counsel was the only man he knew in
timately after he accepted the burden
some task of conducting American for
eign affairs. Other high officials were
but names" to him.
But as Mr.. Byrnes learned more about
the diplomatic game he realized that
Evening star., 1946-04-24
Russian Institute

DR.. Raymond b. F'OSdlck, preSldent
of the Rockefeller Foundation, in
his report for the year 1945, released
on Monday, discusses relations be-
tween the United States and the
Soviet Union in terms so notably
constructive as to deserve the at
tention of universal public. The
Second World War, as he regards its
outcome, has produced "two vast
continental systems" whose "ideol-
ogy and practice stem from
widely differing cultures and tradi-
tons" Spokesman for these dis
tinctive powers admittedly "use
many of the same words, like free
dom and democracy but their
declarations convey opposing con-
cepts." BY way of immediate result,
'here in the United States the asser-
ton is frequently made that the
Russian form of government and
western democracy are essentially
Incompatible"
Such view, however, DR.. Fosdick
rejects-if "it implies that the two
nations have no basis on which they
can cooperate in common causes"
He recalls in this connection the
tragedy Of the sixteenth century
when "our European ancestors as
serted that Professionalism and Ca
tholicism were essentially incom-
patible and drowned the
Continent in blood" The danger of
another denouement of the same
disastrous variety is too real to be
ignored. Our relations with Rus
sia are too freighted with all
sorts of possibilities to be left to the
mercy of uninformed emotion,
whether ecstatic or denunciatory."
DR.. Fosdick argues that: What is
required is determination to be
accurately informed, to see things
as they are. Certainly a wider
and deeper knowledge on our part of
Russian ideas and motivations and a
reciprocal attitude on the part of
the Soviet government" may afford
a basis of mutual understanding on
which the two nations can live to-
gether in the same world" Toward
the end thus outlined, the Rookie
feller Foundation already has con-
tributed. 1t has made a grant of
quarter million dollars to Columbia
University for the development of
The Russian Institute for the train
ing of students who will understand
Russia and the Russians and
thus prepare themselves for work of
authority and influence and for
"the direct advancement of knowl-
edge in the Russian field, through
the co-ordinated research work of
faculty and students" The cur
riculum will include courses in the
Russian language, literature, econ
omy, law, history, government,
theology.
OF course, 1t may be a long time
Evening star., 1946-04-24

before the beneficent effect of the
Institutes activities begins to be felt
among any considerable number of
members of the lay public, yet DR..
Fosdick unquestionably is correct
when he says: IF different systems
of ideas and government are going
to work harmoniously together,
there must be agencies of under
standing-agencies that are COM
petent, objective and adequate to
the task"
Evening star., 1946-04-24
The Heart Remembers

The things the heart has learned are
not forgotten.
Against the tide OF time that ebbs and
fo,Ds,
Becoming Uider. deeper pith each seq
son,
The counsel OF the hdrebeH and the
rose
Is tadeleSs as the day that 1t tpds spoken,
Is fragile yet remains unbroken.
The testimony gipen BY the marsh mist,
The shining proverbs ,pritten by the
still
Sequestered shadows In the jerny ,oood-
land,
The golden manuscript upon hui
OF bnttercups. -. These are the lasting
en,bers::
These are the things the he6rt renen,.
bers. ROSE MYRA PHILLIPS.