davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1946-07-15
Toward World Health

The diplomatic controversies CEN
tering In the Security Council nat
urally tend to obscure other aspects
of the United Nations structure
which merit public attention. It is
often forgotten that the u N Char
ter provides for the creation of
whole set of institutions designed to
further international cooperation,
and thereby not only diminish world
friction leading to war, but also pro-
mote world advancement and secu-
rity of every kind.
One of the most interesting Of
these projected institutions is the
World Health Organization, whose
implementation is being negotiated
at the U. N. Health Assembly, now
In session at New York City. at
tended by delegates from nearly all
members of U. N.
A foundation already exists in the
former health organization of the
League OF Nations, taken over Ivy
U. N, thereby providing experienced
personnel, together with techniques
and precedents of practical signifi-
canoe However, the aim of the new
organization envisages greater scope
than in the League body, together
with regulative authority rather
than advisory or supervisory COM
petence, as was the case with the
League adjunct
This Is certainly the prevailing
sentiment among the delegates to
the current Health Assembly, spear
headed by the delegates of the
United States and Britain, who
advocate authority by the World
Health Organization to adopt regu-
lations which would be assumed to
be binding on all U. N. members
unless they specifically notified the
organization to the contrary.
Thus far only two specific obiec-
tions have been recorded. The first
of these came from the delegate of
the Ukraine, a member of the Soviet
Union. He objected that such au-
thority as that envisioned for the
World Health Organization would
impinge on the sovereign rights"
of member nations. This, of course,
is in line with the attitude of Mos
COW in all U. N. activities and must
be regarded as a reflection of the
general policy imposed by Moscow
on all members of the Soviet bloc.
The second objection came as a
surprise, since it was raised by the
Evening star., 1946-07-15
The MOlOtOv Cocktail
By Raymond oler

man machinery than can Russians A
great many Germans have been taken
to Russia. and large numbers of pris-
oners have been held, But how effec-
lively this nnanpoWer has been used Is
not clear.
Secretary Byrnes has agreed in prin-
clple With the Russian idea of unifying
Germany, but has pointed out that
Russia has already acquired a good deal
on the reparations account Koenigs-
berg, for example. is one Of the finest
ports in Europe. Such an acquisition,
as we'll as an accounting of men and
machinery taken by Russia, should be
deducted from the $4,000, 100000 claim
The truth, which is becoming clear
to Bevln, Byrnes and Molotov, is that if
Germany is unified and back at work,
all three of their countries will get far
more than could be collected in puni-
tive reparatioEs. Russia would be able
to exchange goods and get invalua BILE
technical equipment from Germany.
Britain would be relieved of the ex-
pense of large-scale occupation and
would, in turn, develop profitable trade.
The United States would be relieved
of large part of the cost of occupa-
ton and of feeding the people of
Western Germany. The French, who
are intent on security above all should
be assured by plan to establish what
Byrnes calls controls and small Sc
curity forces" Mass occupation and
further division into zones is intoler-
able
tReleased nv Associated Neusnanere Ynn
Evening star., 1946-07-15

In the days when Mr.. Roosevelt asked
for extensive sums for lease-lend, the
importance of Britain Is from the social
and political point of view rather than
the military.
The United States Government is
doing its utmost to placate the Moscow
government in the hope that some
solution may be found whereby the
Soviet and the Western economic and
social systems can live side by side.
But some of the top officials in the
Government admit frankly thai if the
Western European governments, under
the impact of hardships caused by
lack of industrial equipment, trans
portation, raw materials and foodstuffs,
were overthroWn, we would be as
menaced in our national structure as
we appeared to be In the early days of
the war, when President Roosevelt OBJ
tanned ample sums for the defense of
democratic ideals against totalitarian-
ism. Today America is regarded by
some of its policy trainers as much an
arsenal for democracy" as it was in
1910. The difference, they say Is that
instead Of providing the nations which
are willing to stand by modern democ-
racv with weapons of war We are called
to provide them with weapons for peace.
The feeling in administrator quar-
ters is that Britain will repay the
amounts she intends to borrow in this
country--if she can. She will renege
on her debts only if there is such
world catastrophe that she, together
with other nations, must go under.
In the eyes of American officials who
have supported the British loan strong
", there is no parallel between the
obligations Great Britain is willing to
undertake now and the debts of World
War I. These, many Brtons felt, were
repaid in blood and other sacrifices.
TIE new Indebtedness is being con-
tracted after the end of the war and
the British people seem willing to as
sumo the full responsibility for repay
ment of the sums to be advanced at a
very low rate of interest The political.
social and economic importance of ad-
vancng the British the sums they are
asking is such that some high officials,
including the former Secretary of the
Treasury, now Chief Justice Fred M
Vlnson, favor giving the funds instead
Of lending them. The war cost us close
to $500 900 900 900 in cash. According
to the advocates of the British loan
who are not necessarily pro-British-1
per cent additional cost might turn the
scales in the United Kingdom and
permit the continuation of the Old
liberalism and freedom in that country
Evening star., 1946-07-15
Letters to The Star
Disagrees With Plea to Ban
Streetcars in Washin2to


Streetcars in Washington
To the Editor OF The Star:
E. l.. Flynns letter to The Star, ad-
vocating elimination of the streetcars in
Washington, exhibits most of the popu-
lar misconceptions concerning rail
transit
Mr.. Flynn first assumes that with
the elimination of two lanes of car
tracks, there would be an increase of
space available for traffic. But Just
where do all the buses go that will
substitute for these cars--do they evap-
crate into thin air and reappear at
each stop? After all an examination
of passengers carried and miles run
figures will show that it would require
two buses for each streetcar to handle
the passengers. How is congestion re-
duced by removing one set of vehicles
from two lanes OF street and substitute
ing therefor twice the number of We
hicles, which wander all over the street?
! leave to the readers Imagination
what Fourteenth and G. streets and F
street would look like with two buses
for each streetcar, all trying to load
passengers from a curb space no longer
than a safety zone
Mr.. Flynn mentions the evening tie
up in front OF the White House OF
course, that is deplorable. but what is
the cause? An infiexible and arbitrary
light cycle at Fifteenth street and New
York avenue controlling movements
five ways cannot possibly move both
rail and Vehicular traffic. That is why
Engineer Commissioner Young has
difficult intersections. With various
intersections tunneled out, like Dupont
Circle. Fifteenth street and New York
avenue and others responsible for most
OF the congestion in the city, traffic
both rail and vehicuar, will move.
But can you imagine MI Flynn's
solution at Fifteenth and New York
avenue? After all, Is to 30 cars sitting
in line permit autos to move freely
past them. but so to so buses-some
loading. others pulling out across two
lanes Of autos to pass a standing bus-
i
driver to contemplate.
Next Mr.. Flynn extolls the great eco
nomy of the bus. There would be. If
bus substitutes were on a one-bus for
-Street-car basis. But let us remem-
Der that with two buses for each street.
car to carry the same trafic, double
the wage costs would be required And
as for maintenance, twice the number
Of vehicles would mean more than
double maintenance, because each bus
unit requires more maintenance than
each streetcar unit The company
would be converting drivers into me-
chanics and not the other way round.
as Mr. Flynn suggests
Mr.. Flynn then mentions breakdowns
OF streetcars tying up a line. That is
the only drawback to rail service Of
any kind But in weighing the values.
it is not better to have vehicle in
service which carries the loads SO per
cent Of the time, on the chance that
it might be tied up l per cent OF the
time, than to put up with buses which
fail to carry the load SO per cent of
the time, merely to avoid infrequent
rail tieups? FleXibillty is another
watchWord Of those advocating buses
The important consideration in a
transit vehicle in a congested area is
its carrying capacity, and 1t does the
public little good 10 have a flexible
vehicle if it can't do the transit Job.
CHARLES J. MURPHY.
Evening star., 1946-07-15
Dangerous Economy

An excellent Illustration of short
sighted economy is to be had in the
virtual abandonment by the Civil
Service Commission of character
and loyalty investigations because
OF slashed appropriations. Disclos-
ure OF this thoroughly alarming
development comes, incidentally,
just as the public is learning
through the Mead committee hear
ings of the shocking ease with which
men with shady backgrounds have
succeeded in getting on Federal
payrolls or contract award lists.
The lessons learned in the Carson
case revelations should be enough
to show the perils inherent in fall
ing to check carefully the records
of every applicant for Government
employment or Government con-
tracts.
Up until now the Civil Service
Commission has been fingerprint-
ing and investigating the thousands
of applicants who annually seek to
obtain Jobs in the Federal estab-
lishment The flngerprints were
checked by the FBI against its
extensive criminal files, and many
Crlminally minded persons have
thus been prevented from securing
positions of trust. In addition the
commission has conducted supple
mentary loyalty Investigations, with
a view to barring persons having
membership in organizations ad-
vocating overthrow of the Govern
ment by force. These inquiries
proved of great value in safeguard
ing the integrity and the security
of the Government during the war.
They are no less important in the
turbulent postwar period.
Yet, because of drastically reduced
investigation funds, the commission
during the coming year will be able
to check on no more than one out
of every 500 civil service applicants.
It will discontinue altogether the
fingerprinting of applicants, leaving
this vital work to the discretion and
limited facilities of the various de-
partments. Since only the Depart
ment of Justice, the Treasury and
possibly the War and Navy Depart
i -
the inevitable result will be that
the majority of applicants will enter
the service uninvestigated. Civil
service officials have good cause to
be disturbed over the situation
Director ]. Edgar Hoover of the FBI
has described the outlook as EN-
tirely unsatisfactory 1t is so un-
satisfactory and so dangerous that
Evening star., 1946-07-15
Our 'Growinq Pains

The picture of Washington in the
next decade, described In the latest
report of the Board of Trades Post
war Planning Committee, is not
without its disturbing aspects 1t
Is inevitable, of course, that a rapidly
developing metropolitan area like
that comprising Washington and its
neighboring communities should
I experience growing pains. That very
knowledge should operate to put the
planners of Greater Washington on
guard against preventable NAL
, formations.
The committee has rendered
, distinct public service by sounding
| a note of warning against too
{ hasty, improperly planned housing
developments in the critical period
+ of housing shortages which threat
ems to continue to plague the Capital
for some years to come The report
! points out that today there is
potential need for at least 10000
additional housing units. Predicting
q. steady rise in population for the
Greater Washington area to about
100000 inhabitants by 1850 and
1,550,000 by, 1855, the committee
foresees the need for a minimum of
I $4,000 additional dwelling units by
1850 If decent living quarters are to
be provided for the expanding popu-
lace.
The committee expresses the fear
i; Justified by the disastrous expert
ence of some other large cities
that in the rush to provide shelter
in the shortest possible time. at the
least possible cost and with the least
consumption of scarce materials,
tenement-like developments will
emerge that, in the long run, will
result in large blighted areas. Null
tiple-family housing projects have
an important place, of course, in any
overall program of housing relief,
but these require careful planning
to become permanent assets of the
community, Otherwise they can be-
come liabilities from every view
polnt-social as we'll as economic.
These are problems that properly
Gre a concern not only of the Board
Of Trade but of zoning authorities,
city planners and social workers.
The chart of Washington's future
prepared by the Board of Trade
serves the double purpose of point
Ing out the hazards and of provid-
Ing a general pattern to guide the
planners In controlling future ex-
pansion. The time to begin this
planning for controlled, orderly
development is now.
Evening star., 1946-07-15

The Molotov proposal to unity Ger
many and thus enable it to operate as
an economic unit seems generally ac-
ceptable to Messrs Bevin and Byrnes
The Soviet government, in making the
proposal. is not only following long
term self-interest but is consistent with
the policies it held three and four years
ago
In September, l943 this column COM
mented on a small news story to the
effect that one Eugene Varga had
revealed Russias prospective claims
against Germany. This man, relatively
unknown in the United States, held
then and probably still holds very
important place in Soviet policy max
ing. He said that 100000 Germans
should work 10 years to repair the
damage wrought by German armies in
Russia. An examination of his pro-
posal convinced me that this claim
represented monetary reparations of
$4,000 900 900, That is the figure now
presented by Molotov
The question came up at Yalta. and
while no figures were announced, Presi-
dent Roosevelt said it would not be bad
idea to let German workers repair
some of the damage done by German
soldiers.
Such a proposal of reparations in
kind could never work out with eXacti
tude, however. In the confused situa-
ton which has prevailed over the past
year, it is clear that the Soviet govern
ment has been improvising as it went
along 1t has seized a great deal of
German equipment, but there are au
thentic reports that full use of this
material has not been made in Russia
Much of it has been merely hauled
to Russia and dumped. Presumably.
the Soviet leaders have decided that
Germans can produce more with Ger
Evening star., 1946-07-15
An Involuntary Swap

An involuntary SWap
To the Editor of The Star.
Recently while examining some old
volumes in local book shop, I ran
across a curious old work entitled The
Devils Dictionary the Collected
Works of Ambrose Bierce." the famous
American journalist who was born in
1842 and disappeared in Mexico in 1913,
never to be heard from again.
In Volume VII of this distinguished
authors collected works I turned for
definition of word that is dear to me
and here is what I found: "Washingto
nian: A Potomac tribesman who ex-
changed the privilege of governing him
self for the advantage of good govern
ment. In justice to him it should be
said that he did not want to-"
I am calling this definition to your
attention and to the attention of your
readers and suggest it be analyzed and
commented upon.
HERBERT r. GROSSMAN.
Evening star., 1946-07-15
The Touch of Gold

Where boy and girl tUith happy shout
Build castles 1Oondrous to behold,
Until the ,UaUeS storm their redonbt,
The sun god sprays the beach Nth
gold.
He turns rude ore to precious metal,
Fingers dull objects, one and one,
Till sea oats, brair, or satin petal,
R'ral the gold of Solomon.
He creeps through nets hung on old
1rdHs
Like some gold rodent seeking TODD,
Gilds pebbles, and the barnacles
That star the broken, Udpe -Dashed
Uood
Old Midas had this magic po,Der
To make things glitter like the sun.
Yet kneW defeat. Apollo's do,oer
But blesses all II smiles upon.
JOHN RICHARD MORELANp.
Evening star., 1946-07-15

Belgian delegate, who asserted that
the projected authority for the w.
H. O., revolutionizing international
law" would be Impractical.
However, these objections were
overborne by vote of 35 to in
favor of extraordinary powers for
w. H. O., only the Iranian and Iraqi
delegates siding with Belgium and
the Ukraine. One OF the most tell
ing arguments by the proponents of
extensive authority for w. H. o. was
that this would be good example
Of stronger international co-opera-
ton in a relatively uncontroversial
political field
Evening star., 1946-07-15
This Changing World
Bp Constantine Bro,pr

Like the credit OF $3.50, 900 900 ad-
vanced by the Export Import Bank to
France, the British loan is regarded by
administration leaders from the Presi-
dent down as a political rather than
an economic measure.
The credits granted France on the
eve of the election for the Constituent
Assembly are believed to have influenced
the French voters to a certain degree
and TO have turned the tide in favor
of a liberal Chamber.
In Britain the political situation is
said to be stable in appearance rather
than in fact. There is no danger of
any upheaval caused by the Communists
or the extreme leftists in that country
For the time being the working masses,
while compelled to pull in their belts
because of the lack of food and other
essentials of life are accepting the hard
ships along with the rest of the British
people. although they had hoped that
the end of the war would bring forth
major improvement in the conditions
in the United Kingdom.
The hope that British industry may
soon be in a position to start producing
peacetime goods on such a scale as to
permit importation of foodstuffs and
vital raw materials Is the main hope of
the British working classes and their
leaders in the government. Should this
fail to materialize, unbiased American
observers say that anything may happen
in Great Britain, where in the past all
major changes including the revolution
of Oliver Cromwell against Charles I.
were done in legitimate and orderly
manner.
The working classes are not vet seri-
ously dlsaffected. They still prefer the
type of liberalism which exists TODAY
in their country to the nirvana in the
u. S. S. R. and the Russian dominated
countries.
But empty stomachs and idleness are
never good counselors. While the Brit
ish people can take it when it comes to
eating less and badly it is unlikely that
they will keep the same attitude If they
are made idle by lack of raw materials
and machine toolings for the reconver-
sion of their factories. Hunger and
idleness work together to provide rebel
lions and revolutions.
These facts, which neither the British
nor the American officials have found
convenient or proper to emphasize, are
at the bottom of the insistence by the
administration on passage of the loan.
Some administration leaders still con-
slider Britain as the first line of defense
Of the United States. This time unlike
Evening star., 1946-07-15
To BuIwurk the Peace

Now that the House has approved
the British loan and passed it on to
the President for his signature, the
international economic outlook is
perceptibly brighter than it was dur
ing the long months of congressional
hesitancy over this far-reaching
measure
In the last hours of debate, several
members of the House espoused the
loan solely on the ground that it
would serve to strengthen the West
against the spread of communism
from Russia. Actually, however, al
though its political or theological
implications may prove to be impor-
tant, its primary objective is by no
means designed to build kind of
quarantine against any country. On
the contrary, its chief purpose is to
promote the building of a sound
economic base for the peace and to
help make that peace one in which
the living standards of every nation
may be increased through a freer
flow of international trade
Such a peace, however, could not
be hoped for without British Coop
Grafton. Britain ranks with the
United States as the most impor-
tant OF commercial powers and its
participation is therefore indispens-
able to any effort to achieve eco
nomic betterment on an inter-
national scale. But owing to it's
War-caused financial difficulties it
could not participate without Ameri-
can help. without that it could do
nothing but tighten up its wartime
trading restrictions and establish
rigid new state controls to hold It's
own-a position bound to lead to
retaliatory measures by our own and
other countries and thus create the
prospect of world divided into bit
terly competing blocs plagued by
frictions imperiling peace.
1t was with this in mind that
British and American experts de-
voted three months of painstaking
effort to negotiating the loan.
Loan is In fact an inadequate
word for it. It's official title
Trade and Financial Agreement -
being a more accurate description
Under it. In exchange for our
line of credit the British have
obligated themselves to abolish
or greatly modify the restrictive de-
vices they were forced to adopt dur
ing the war. They have obligated
themselves, too, to work with us in
continuing program through
such agencies as the World Bank
and Monetary Fund, from which
they might otherwise have had to
withdraw-of economic cooperation
calculated to stimulate and expand
international commerce.
Since this is the basic purpose of
the loan-to establish the peace on
healthy economic foundations-it
would be mistake to think of it as
something designed to work against
the Russians. 1t is likely to do that
only If the Soviet Union itself
chooses to play lone hand in the
world OF trade. Otherwise, given a
Moscow decision to take part in the
Breton Woods arrangements and to
cooperate fully in similar agencies
OF the United Nations, the measure
now before the President will oper-
ate to the good not only of Britain
and America, but of Russia as we'll
and Of all countries everywhere.
Evening star., 1946-07-15
Thanks to Apartment Managers

thanks to Apartment Managers
To the Editor Of The Star:
I recently have spent some time In
Washington looking for an apartment
for my husband and myself
The courtesy extended to me by the
many apartment house managers so i'm
pressed me that am writing this letter
to call attention to this group . group
harassed by the thousands seeking
homes in Washington. yet who gave me
their time, their encouragement, SYM
pathy and best wishes, surely are de-
serving of honorable mention.
Although. without exception, they had
no apartments to offer and all had long
waiting lists, they extended their cour-
tesy most patiently.
We still have no apartment but I have
only sincere admiration for those who
turned me away-so nicely.
New York. HELEN T. COREY.
Evening star., 1946-07-15

Why bother to complain that Rus
sia is not democratic because It's
citizens can vote for only one party,
as long as that one party is one more
than Washingtonians are allowed to
vote for2
Evening star., 1946-07-15
OId-Foshioned and How!

From the New Orleans Tmes-Picayune.
There are more antiques around Bos-
ton than meets the eye. For instance
the city charter, which provides no
method for removing the Mayor even
though he Is convicted of crime.
Evening star., 1946-07-15
Not Even His Points!

From the New York World Telegram.
The time seems to be nearing uf
not already here) in international di-
plomacy when United States envoy
will have nothing left to give up.
Evening star., 1946-07-15

Congress should act before adjourn
ment to rectify matters through a
grant of adequate funds to the
commission.
Detroit evening times., 1946-01-25

Cod home city water. toilet on large
plot 60s25O $500 NyeG you imme-
oiate possession CROsSMAk Tele-
graph snc Goddard. Deaf O3o7 ~
Whyns pp2O