davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1947-01-01

The question of whether or not an
action is "unilateral" does not, 1t seems
to me, dispose of any matter satisfac-
torily. Many actions have been taken
In the last months by united decision
of the great powers which will not
bear the test of reference to any
standards of reason or justice. But we
have become accustomed to welcoming
with joy any program that represents
agreement" among the Big Three or
Four, no matter how preposterous 1t
may be, from the viewpoint of equity,
morality, or common sense, or how In
ducive to further troubles and retro
active remorse.
One such agreement was made secret
ly, as we now know, at Yalta, between
Stain, Roosevelt, and Churchill, as
compensation for the U. S. S. r. enter
ing the Japanese war when Germany
was defeated. Just why any bribe
should have been offered Stain to do
what he intended to do anyhow, since
1t was obviously to Soviet interests to
participate in the Far Eastern settle
ment, is ncomprehensible.
However, with that generosity" which
characterizes the disposition to give
away other peoples property, 1t was
agreed that the u S. S. r. should have
special privileges in Manchuria-which
we held since 1881 to belong to China
and extraterritorial rights in the
Port of Dairen, though we favored the
abandonment of extraterritorial rights
in China, and so acted, for ourselves.
Just as there were no Czech repre-
sentatives at the Munich conference
which disposed of that country to the
mutual satisfaction of the Big Three
of those days, so there was no Chinese
representative at Yalta. Indeed, it was
part of the agreement that the Chinese
government should not even be in
formed of the deal until Soviet troops
were on Manchurian soil.
Now an American naval vessel, un-
armed, has been chased out of Dairen
port. and I, for one, cannot register
moral indignation when one partner in
a shady deal is betrayed by another.
1t was to be expected.
u X
None of the agreements made at
Yalta has been kept by the Russians,
if words have any meaning. but neither
have they been sustained except by
ourselves According to Yalta, the pre-
sent government of Poland is purely
provisional, awaiting the "free and un-
trammeled" elections scheduled for next
month. But this government has al
ready been accorded all the rights Of
complete sovereignty; it sits in the U. N.
as though it were fully representative.
The reports to our State Department
from our Embassy in Warsaw offer no
hope whatever that the forthcoming
election will comply with President
Roosevelt's stipulations. In district
after district the only opposition party,
the Peasant Party headed by Mr.
Mikola jczvk, has been dissolved
Evening star., 1947-01-01
First Hurdle Crossed

Although there was never any
doubt that they had the power to
get what they wanted, the so-called
Big Four" in the new Republican
Senate must be well satisfied with
the apparent ease and smoothness
with which that body has been or
ganized along lines very much to
their liking.
The heralded revolt by a dissi-
dent minority materialized after a
fashion, but it proved to be sadly
lacking in vitality and it fizzled out
on a note of good humor. AS Sen
ator Tobey of New Hampshire, one
of the dissenters, put it: shots
were fired, but when they hit that
old armor plate they just rico
cheted." Some further difficulties
may be expected in the final as
signment of committee chairman
ships, but the indications are that
the situation is well in hand and
that there will be no break in the
COP ranks at this stage of the
game.
AS matters stand, Senator VAN
denberg will be president pro tenn
pore of the Senate and chairman Of
the Foreign Relations Committee.
Senator Taft has firm grip on the
craftsmanship of the Republican
Steering Committee and will also
head the Committee on Education
and Labor. Next in line come Sen
ator White, assured of being ma
jority leader and top bidder for the
craftsmanship of the important In
terstate Commerce Committee, and
Senator Wherry, majority whip.
Obviously, the key figures in this
lineup are Senators Taft and VAN
denberg, and If the next Republi-
can presidential candidate is to
come from the Senate they are in
the favored spots. The Michigan
Senator will stand or fall on the
course taken by foreign affairs.
There is not the slightest doubt
that his political stature has been
greatly enhanced by the role he
has played up to this time, and
he will be a man to be reckoned
with If he maintains the pace that
he has been setting and If interna-
tional relations are uppermost in
the public mind In 1948.
As of this time, however, 1t would
seem that the most promising posts
have gone to Senator Taft Of Ohio.
AS chairman of the Republican
Steering Committee he will be pri-
marily responsible for shaping party
policy, and as head Of the Commit
tee on Education and Labor he will
play the key role in working out the
Evening star., 1947-01-01
Foreign Fears About America
Bv Ray,u ond Moley

The current troubles of American
business are enormously over-empha-
sized in the European press. Russia Is
not the only offender.
The Swiss are supposed to be factual,
but we read in an important Swiss news
paper. Just arrived, that America Is in
great turmoil. 1t says that. because
price control has been abandoned, prices
are skyrocketing at an unbelievable rate
and serious imitation is inevitable.
Despite the plain fact that we have
a vast supply of wheat and corn, John
Stracley. Britain's Food Minister, says
he cannot be sure of getting the food
he needs from the United States because
of our labor situation.
More serious are the views Of Gunrlar
Myrdal. Trade Minister of Sweden and
one of Europe's wisest economists. Myr-
dal seems to have been completely
taken in by the cries of wolf which
emanated from Chester Bowles and
others when the OPA fight was going
on in June and July. He says the
American price level is hopelessly
headed into unlimited increases. Since
the 0WSulSll lCfCl IldQ 1Clld1iACa
relatively stable, Myrdal agreed to q
devaluation of the American dollar in
Swedish exchange. This has not been
altogether good for Sweden. since It
raised Swedish export commodities by
80 per cent, while American goods be-
came cheaper in Sweden. Sweden's I'M
ports rose, and her exports fell of to q
marked degree.
Apparently, the Swedish Government
was induced by the outcries Of OPA
adherents to expect devaluation Of the
American dollar. It is strange that .
government which is shrewd and trade
wise should believe this. For there
certainly is no disposition to tamper
with the dollar In washington. Any
idea OF devaluation Is rendered even
Evening star., 1947-01-01
New Fire DeudIine

In suspending enforcement OF new
fire safety regulations for six
months, the District Commissioners
have come to a decision which. at
least, is an improvement over their
originally announced plan to push
back the enforcement date to next
November l.
Property owners affected by the
new safety regulations. which went
into effect last March 8. had sought
a period of grace on the plea that
they could not get materials now to
make the required alterations. In
many instances, no doubt, this was
q meritorious plea. But the signifi-
cant fact Is that some owners OF
unsafe properties for years have re-
sisted efforts to compel them to
eliminate fire hazards in their build
!ngs. And the chances are that they
will not be in compliance when the
new period of grace expires on July
/ unless the Commissioners make it
clear that, this time, they mean bust
ness.
If the shortage of materials has
been valid excuse for doing moth
ing about the new regulations since
March 8, the probabilities are that
the situation is not going to change
greatly in this respect by July /.
More materials will become avail
able, but the demand for them will
be great. Unless the owners of un-
safe properties make real effort to
locate the materials they need. they
will be back at the District Building
on July / pleading for another time
extension on the renewed claim that
they cannot find the materials. To
forestall this, the Commissioners
should serve clear warning that no
further extension will be granted
Evening star., 1947-01-01

would decide to aid In the restoration of
the war-torn world But those who are
working inside diplomacy still keep their
fingers crussed and wonder how long
Russia amiable attitude viii last. They
point out that the Russian concessions
are largely superficial and that conces-
sions made on the Balkan treaties are
concessions In form rather than sub
stance.
The provisions contained in the
treaties are Of little consequence SO long
as the governments of Bulgaria, Ro-
mania and Hungary are Moscow-cre-
ated puppets headed by Moscow-ap-
pointed leaders. The same thing must
be said about Yugoslavia and Albania.
The safety clauses in the Yalta agree
ments. whereby all these countries were
to have free and unfettered elections,
have never been complied with
The principal bone Of contention in
the treaty with Italy was the question of
Trieste. Noninally the western powers
won a victory; but. in fact, nobody
knows how the newly created neutral
area. with governor appointed by the
u. N. and responsible to that body,
will work out
So long as the u S. R. remained
defiant, the puppet Marshal Tito ratified
the saber belligerently When Foreign
Minister Molotov decided that America
should be humored, the rattling ceased
almost overnight. But no one knows
what will happen in the free zone Of
Trieste after the American and British
divisions have been withdrawn. Nor
does any one know whether Yugoslavia
will take advantage Of local troubles, as
Hitler did In Danzig, and send her
troops to protect the life and property
Of the Slavs who live in the Trieste free
territory.
Peace treaties have been signed. In
all likelihood they will be ratified by the
United States Senate. But we managed
to salvage only an appearance while
Russia obtained the substance.
Even in the optimistic State Depart
ment there are still many misgivings
over the U. S. S. r. Provocations are
less frequent than in the past. The
Russian delegates at the Security Coun-
Gil abstain from voting rather than use
their veto. That is unquestionably
progress. But what Russia's attitude
will be when major matters, such as
the military evacuation Of all Europe
and the treaties with Germany and
Austria, are discussed is still a moot
question.
Evening star., 1947-01-01
This Changing World
By Constantine Broom

The most important international de-
velopment in 1916 without doubt was
the apparent change In Russia's attitude
toward the United States and Great
Britain. Whether this change Of heart
was a mere strategic move on the part
of Moscow to lull the American people
into feeling of optimism or represents
Russiais realization that she could not
challenge the rest of the world despite
her strength is a matter which will be
demonstrated this year.
The beginning of 1916 found the
United States at a low diplomatic ebb.
Secretary of State Byrnes had just re-
turned from the fateful foreign minis
ter's conference at Moscow, where he
was said to have yielded to Russias
expansionist demands. The next meet
his big league colleagues occurred a
few months later, at Paris.
Public opinion In this country, mean
while, had become annoyed with what
appeared to be senseless appeasement
policy. Mr. Byrnes also had become
convinced that even limited peace
could not be obtained merely by agree
ing with the Soviets views and yielding
to their increasing demands for control
over almost every area in Europe, Asia
and Africa.
This resulted in what has been de-
scribed as tough policy toward the
U. S. S. r. 1t was shown at the meet
ings of the Big -Four at Paris and at
the consultative peace conference held
last summer in the Luxembourg Palace in
Paris. The United States, Britain and
on many occasions France held the line
for the drafting of peace treaties with
the Balkan satellites and Italy, demand
ing at least nominally fair treaties.
X
After loud expressions of indignation
from the Russians, who clamored that
an Anglo-SaXon bloc was being formed
in Europe. Foreign Minister Molotov de-
cided to change his tactics. Instead Of
using strong language at the meetings
of the Big Four, language which had
stirred Britain's Laborite Foreign Min
lister Bevin to answer in kind he be-
came mellow and friendly At the final
meetings in New York Mr.. Molotov was
actually pleasant in his intercourse with
his colleagues and approved the Paris
drafts of the peace treaties without
much more ado.
Mr.. Molotov's attitude was greeted
with applause by the American people
and gave the man in the street the i'm
preston that the Russians. after all.
Evening star., 1947-01-01
This and That
Bu Charles E. Trace,Deu

A GOOD use for an old Christmas tree
Is as q bird feeder.
Set up the tree in the yard and attach
bits of suet as decorations"
In the suet may be imbedded seeds
and grains.
Such a feeding station usually attracts
the birds Immediately, and is all the
better if it can be planted in the ground.
If 1t has no roots it still does very
we'll if planted"
If simply stuck in the earth the
ground around 1t should be given a
good watering.
A feeding station of this sort will
properly attended to and watered now
and then.
Such waterings should take place in
the middle OF the afternoon.
They will Immediately draw the birds,
since water is often harder for them
to come by in the cold than food.
Thousands of persons now feed the
birds but only hundreds think to put
out for them shallow pans Of water.
There is nothing that looks more ur1-
happy than discarded Christmas trees.
It is a good thing, then, to put them
to service in the outdoors after they
have done their duty inside.
Such feeding station as this has
the merit Of being tree, thing beloved
of all birds.
They would come to 1t anyway, but
when they find food attached to its
limbs they get double service in the
cold
Old wreaths make excellent bird har-
bors If they are afixed to tree trunks.
say In the back yard.
Real holly wreaths are especially at
tractive.
Often mockingbirds and others come
to them as they hang on front doors.
Every berry will be eaten of.
But even after the berries are gone
such wreaths and greeneries attract
birds. They seem to like to perch in
them.
1t should be stressed that such decora-
tions should not be placed on or near
regular feeding stations.
Drapery Of this sort will confuse the
wintering songsters.
After they have become used to q
certain place and table, box or other
device, no additions should be made
to it.
Birds have odd minds. At the bottom
of their intelligence is always fear. They
are closer to their "cavemen" than we
are. They resent anything new and fly
away at the least noise. It may be sup
posed that fear, under such circum-
stances, is not very deep. 1t is far
from the panic fear which now and then
assaiis the two-legged and four-legged
creatures of the outdoors. But it is fear
enough to protect them from the un-
usual.
Therefore. do not make any drastic
changes in the regular feeding places
Take no thought to improve these, but
| simply keep them stocked with food
| At some distance put water and In
another place make dust bath avail
able.
If, in addition, the old Christmas trees
and wreaths are utilized as suggested
| let 1t be in another part of the garden
Snow usually comes in January. AT
| such times put bread soaked in milk or
water In a place followed out in the
Snow. Apples cut in half may be added
Keep suet nailed to trees and dc
| not forget to brush snow and ice OF
regular feeding stations., Even when
there Is snow some thought should be
used to provide the songsters with a
pan Of water, especially In the sunshine
| In the middle OF the afternoon.
II some or all OF these suggestions
| are put into effect, washington AND
suburbs will have the best-fed birds
| In the country.
Evening star., 1947-01-01
Profoundly Mistaken
From the GLASGOW Herald.


Much may be forgiven to q statesman
who Is new to international affairs and
inadequately equipped with the techni.
cal language Of diplomacy. But Mr..
Molotov has held his present once for
seven years, he concluded pacts with
Ribbentrop and Matsuoka as well a.
alliances with Britain, with Czechoslo.
vakia, and other states. He can there
fore hardly plead inexperience of the
ways Of the world, and he must conse-
quently be presumed to believe that he
can best achieve his ends by attacking
individuals and offending large sections
Of opinion In countries which are not
naturally hostile either to the Soviet
Union or to the program Of disarna-
ment which 1t advocates. II that 10
20 he is profoundly mistaken in his
methods, which can only have the effect
Of antagonizing his friends and delaying
the pacification which the whole world
and not merely Russia 80 inperatiyely
needs
Evening star., 1947-01-01
Snow on the Hills

Now begins the slow pull uphill to
spring! The tempo is slow in the
heart Of winter. Earths breast Is
an armor OF frozen earth; the pulse
is faint and low. The time of rest
Is on the land and the days tick
ploddingly by as natures cycle is
fulfilled. The grays of December
give way to the slowly increasing
light of a new season. Day by day
the sun rises bit, earlier and sets
a little later. Thin, pale fingers of
light rest on the countryside as the
sun begins its long trek back to the
pole of the horizons.
In the northland it is the time of
snow on the hills. On the high
mountains there's white muff1er
on the craggy granite peaks above
the cloaks of evergreen on the lower
slopes. The lower hills where the
hardwoods lift bare trunks and
limbs in .etchinglike silhouettes
against the winter sky are deep in
snow. On the steep side-hill pas
lures and the upland mowings the
rocks and frost -bleached grasses are
buried beneath white coverlets.
On sunny cold winters day after,
a fresh fall of snow, it is good to-
stand on an upland height and
drink in the beauty of the scene.
Walls and fences are laced with
white ribbons: the evergreens slope
their shoulders beneath heavy cloaks.
The path of the winding river
through the valley is traced by the
line of alders, willows and occa-
sional elms. In the distance white
houses crouch beneath spreading
trees along the village street and a
white church spire catches the sun
like a sparkling exclamation point.
Across the valley the hills throw
back myriad jewel CLEANS to the
sun. It is scene of poignant, quiet
peace. Here in the expanse Of ma
lures loveliness the frettings of
mans tangled skeins seem far away.
When it is the time of snow on the
hills, men can look at natures
beauty and sense the eternal truth
of her lessons.
Evening star., 1947-01-01
Jonuory First

Cheerful and bright and nstn. ths
calendar
Smiles New Ysdr's greettn1s b ths
pGsSiue room.
II rain or sun, 1t smiles. ~ peoes or
UdT,
The eper Joyous bathtns bsautiss
bloom
Upon tts optinsistic leapes and dy6tn
Innumsyabie bottles Of soft drink
They and their noon-byonxsd bedar.
II sun Or rain,
They spra,l and smHe, they cseulrte,
they trttk.
The calendar is wise: ft does not sag,
"Draw q black ring around this dots,
tor Crtet
Airdsts you here" nor "notr this AusHss
ddU a7xt
Holds Jog supsmss. fnstsad. edch
pdtssted Leaf
IN tyien6sy silencs holds the yedrions
plan.
HON kirder 4 ths calendar than mani
John NIXON N.
Evening star., 1947-01-01
End of 'HostiIities'

President Trumans declaration
that hostilities of World War II are
at an end represents the first step
in what probably will be a slow
process of restoring the Nation to
peacetime economic basis. 1t was
nearly three years after the 1918
armistice before the United States
formally declared World War ter
minated. That action was preceded
by a congressional resolution ending
the emergency" somewhat similar
in its effect to the presidential
proclamation just issued.
Because Congress, in carrying out
its desire to hold the reins on presi-
dental powers during the late war
period, followed no set pattern in
limiting duration of multitude of
statutes, the phraseology varies
widely and is susceptible of con-
fiicting Interpretation. A recent
study of the hundreds of wartime
laws by the Department of Justice,
however, showed that they fall gen.
orally into three categories, viz,
those which are restricted to the
period of "hostilities" or q certain
period thereafter, those which are
good during the state of "emer-
gency" and those which are valid
as long as a state of war" con-
tinues to exist.
There are fifty-one laws which
are affected by Mr.. Truman's decla-
ration that "hostilities" have ceased,
probably the most important of
which are the plant-seizure provi-
sions of the Smith -Connally Act.
However, seizures already made-as
in the cases of bituninous coal and
certain Great Lakes shipping-will
be good for six months. Outstand-
ing also will be reductions in excise
taxes and a return to peacetime
civil service personnel restrictions
for the War and Navy Departments.
The full effects of the latter move
remain to be determined.
The second and third steps in this
process of returning to normalcy
will await congressional action.
Only Congress can officially end the
state of war, although the state of
emergency was declared not by Con-
gress but by President Roosevelt in
his proclamations of 1889 and 1941.
Sixty-eight laws will be wiped out
when the state of emergency ends,
and about $50 others will 60 out the
window when a state of war no.
longer prevails.
The gradual approach to this
problem of readjusting the Nation
to a peacetime basis, as exemplified
in the Presidents proclamation, is
in line with the attitude expressed
by Senator Wiley of Wisconsin in
a report just submitted to the Sen
ate Republican Steering Committee.
He strongly advised against any
sudden, wholesale abolition of war
time control measures that might
have chaotic effects"
The net result of Mr.. Truman's
action is to throw into the lap Of
Congress the major responsibility
for studying remaining wartime acts
and fixing a timetable for their re-
peal, as future conditions warrant.
This should be a cooperative un-
dertaking between the executive
and legislative branches, however,
in the interest of avoiding the
chaotic effects" envisioned by
Senator Wiley and many others If
the task is tackled too. cursorily.
Evening star., 1947-01-01


November.
Myrdal, In speech to the Swedish
Economic Association, admitted that
the excess of imports has been such that
Sweden, one of the worlds richest
countries, Is witnessing dangerous de-
cline in its supply of foreign currency.
Hence, he pointed out that Sweden must
sharply restrict her imports, policy
which runs counter to all the fine talk
at the United Nations about more free
admit it, but it Is now obvious that it
OF depreciating the dollar In Sweden, to
similar course.
Discussions about revaluating the
franc In Switzerland have been going on.
So far, the Swiss have not made the
mistake so costly to Sweden.
In the past year almost all foreign
businessmen who have visited us have
anxiously inquired about our future
policy toward the dollar. Americans
find these fears Of further devaluation
somewhat strange, since no such inten-
tion has been apparent In our Official
family.
Even highly competent foreign OBJ
servers fail to appreciate the exaggera-
ton which characterizes our political
utterances. We knew how to put plenty
of salt on President Trumans OPA
speech last summer. It was, in retro
spect. an absurd alarm. But foreigners
take such matters more literally.
Despite our troubIes,sEe might do well
to talk more of what is right and good
about our country. And meanwhile, 1t
might be good idea for the new Con-
gress to take action once and Tor all
to assure the world that the dollar =
not going to be deprecated. A simple
legislative act Is all that b required.
fReleased ~ Associated NswsDapsfA nal
Evening star., 1947-01-01
Chooses Not to Run
From the A. Louis post-Dispateh.

Prom the St. Louis Post-Dispateh.
Mayor Kelly's decision not to be can.
didate to succeed himself undoubtedly
is due in part to his age, coupled with .
desire to rest after IA years In the Chi
cago City Hall. But 1t reflects also the
crushing Democratic defeat last Novem-
Der and the breach which it made In tns
Kelly machine in Cook County. Ed Kelly
Is 4 smart politician. He can be counted
on to set out while the getting Is good.