davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1949-07-23
'sterIingoreo' and the Dollar

The decisions of the Commonwealth
Finance Ministers Conference IN LONDON
emphasize one point sometimes overlooked
in this country. 1t is that the dollar crisis
which motivated the conference is not
so]elv a British matter but includes all
countries whose currencies are linked with
the British pound sterling. Those coun-
tries include most of the British Common
wealth with the notable exception OF
Canada. which is on a dollar basis. 1t
likewise includes certain countries sucn
as Egypt, not politically parts OF the Com
monwealth but financially linked with
sterling. Taken together, this bloc is con-
veniently termed "Sterlingarea"
The salient factor in this financial con-
sortium is that Britain acts as the common
banker for foreign exchange. 1t is thus the
custodian of the so-called dollar pool,
into which all members of Sterlingarea
deposit their earnings of dollars and gold.
The sole partial exception is South Africa,
which, though linked with sterling, meets
its exchange commitments from its own
gold production and does not participate
in the dollar pool.
While hardest hit by the growing dollar
shortage, Britain is not the only member
of Sterlingarea to be adversely affected.
With a few exceptions, most of them have
been drawing on the pool in excess of their
dollar and gold contributions in order to
get goods from dollar countries which they
urgently require. 1t is this combined drain
which, in recent months, has reduced the
dollar pool below the $4,000, ,000, 900 mark
which has been considered the danger
line. Accordingly, the British government
took the logical step in calling Common
wealth financial conference to decide upon
a common policy. BY unanimous vote,
the conference decided to follow Britain's
lead in cutting dollar purchases by rs
per cent Since such purchases by the rest
of Sterlingarea last year totaled about
$1,000, ,000,0 900, this means a cut by them
of approximately $3.50, 900 900, in addition
to the $400,000000 cut already put into
effect by Britain on the same ratio. These
cuts affect Canada as well as the United
States, but the Canadian Finance Minister,
who attended the conference, concurred in
the necessity of this step, which is admit
tedly an emergency "stop-gap" measure
to tide over the crisis until the general
conference between sterling and dollar
areas slated for this coming September.
The Commonwealth Finance Conference
frankly admitted that the dollar crisis was
merely a symptom of q profound dis
Evening star., 1949-07-23

equilibrium in the structure Of world trade.
which could be rectified only by far
reaching measures adopted by dollar and
sterling countries in constructive co-opera-
ton. The conference likewise took positive
steps to enhance the dollar-earnng capacity
of the Commonwealth, notably the colonies
which are still underdeveloped. Britain
pledged itself to contribute about one bill
lion sterling roughly s25OOOO,000) toward
furthering the "ten-year plan" for colonial
development that has already been in
augurated.
This frank facing of economic realities by
the financial heads of the entire Common
wealth would seem to augur we'll for
reasonable and constructive attitude en-
their part when the larger problem Is
tackled in the autumn.
Evening star., 1949-07-23
Letters to The Star
Three Concert Goers Ask Information
About Koussetitzky Proposals

Three COncert-G GOers Ask Information
About Koussetitzky Proposals
To the Editor of The Star:
1t was with chagrin that we discovered
that the National Symphony board had
turned down the plans of Serge Kousse-
vitzky, the eminent leader of the Boston
Symphony. He proposed building a much
needed conservatory and opera house. and
also to develop a top-ranking symphony or
chestra here in Washington.
The board had thus taken it upon them
selves to deprive Washington of the potential
leadership OF the music world. The reason
given-hnancal difficulties.
Although negotiations were in progress for
over six months this was the first that the
general public had heard of any of these
talks.
The board easily might remind us of the
difficulty of raising the small budget of
100000 to merely sustain the National
Symphony. They might question Washing
tons ability to become music center How
ever, contrast the half-empty house faced by
the National Symphony during their regular
concerts this past season compared with the
full house drawn by the Philadelphia Or
chestra and other major orchestras which
visited here. Include in this, Also the enthu-
Siastic support given the concerts at the
Library of Congress, the Phillips Gallery and
the National Gallery of Art. We thus have a
potential audience to support music on a
grander scale.
We, as members of the concert going pub
lie. would like to know more of what Mr.
Koussevitzky's plans were and why we did
not hear of them until they had been aban-
doned. IT the public were made fully aware
of this exciting project, it is our opinion
that its full support would be forthcoming
KONRAD KAPLOWITZ,
NATALIE HOFFMAN,
GERALD BELL.
Evening star., 1949-07-23
Insists That Christ Preached
"Socialistic World Order"

10 the Edltor OF The Star:
Your editorial of July II, Cosmos and
Kremlin." serves to provoke serious thought
on the subject of the origin of the universe
and man, and you are to be commended for
your support of the theory of First Cause
from which the universe and man have
sprung.
But, when you refer to the opposing view
point of mechanistic universe as "the as
tronomy of Red totalitarianism you give
the impression to the man in the street. who
may not be familiar with the origins of such
theories that this mechanistic concept origi-
mated in the Soviet Union, which impress
sion is entirely erroneous, misleading and
unjust to Russia.
The idea goes back to the German philo-
sopher, Hegel, or beyond. and is accepted by
ever nationality.
Whoever may have originated this me-
chanistic theory of the universe. it was re-
iterated by Karl Marx. and has been adopted
as the philosophy of Russia.
Whose philosophy has the West accepted? 2
That of Jesus of Nazareth? If so, then the
West in all honesty must admit that Jesus
believed in the cooperative method of living
and repudiated the money system at every
opportunity.
The system Of the West is money sys-
tenn. .selflshly competitive and destructive
Of the finer qualities inherent in mans ma
ture. Were Jesus of Nazareth upon the
earth today. He undoubtedly would con-
denim it.
Your editorial claims that Russia endeav-
ors to withhold from man the truth that he
is son Of God, so that his resistance to her
domination may be destroyed.
To whose authority does the West revert in
assuming that man is a son of God? To
that of Jesus Of Nazareth? If so, Jesus
preached the Fatherhood of God and the
Brotherhood of Man. and. compatible with
this socialistic world order.
Only by making the correct choice be-
tween these two systems can men rightly
proclaim their belief in Creator God Who
Is the Father of us all.
SUE N. POSTON
Evening star., 1949-07-23
DIR. Won Alexich's Talents Appraised
BY One Who Knew Him Well
To the Editor of The Star.


The career of the late Professor George
Maria Won Alexich of Georgetown University
had elements of distinction - familiar
enough to his colleagues and students-that
call for some public tribute. The son Of
noble Austrian family. he served the Repub-
lie of Austria both in the Foreign Office and
in many posts abroad. He was the first dip
lomat in the Austrian Foreign Service to
attain the rank of Minister Plenipotentiary
at the comparatively early age of 81.
When the Nazis seized his country in
March. 1948. Prof -sor Won Alexich was at
his post at The Hague as Minister to the
Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg. He
Immediately quit the service, for he was
irreconcilably opposed to the National So
cialist creed and policy. He found sanctuary
in the United States in 1940,-and soon took
steps to become an American citizen.
Professor Won Alexichs f1uency in nine
European languages, his deep knowledge
and extensive experience in international
affairs, qualified him admirably for his post
On the Georgetown faculty. He was not con-
tent, however, to rely on his former profess
sional qualifications in his new career and
he set himself to earn the degree Of Doctor
Of Philosophy IN course. which Georgetown
proudly conferred On him last spring. He was
Evening star., 1949-07-23
Unconditional Surrender

1t has been more than six years since
President Roosevelt, with the impulSive-
ness that was so characteristic of the man,
said that the Allied terms for the Axis
would be unconditional surrender Now
the phrase is back in the news in con-
troversial setting, and this is ample proof,
If any should be needed that even an Off
the-cuff remark by a President of the
United States can have consequences both
fateful and unforeseen.
The matter cropped up this week when
Foreign Secretary Bevin told the House Of
Commons that Mr. Roosevelt'S uncondi-
tional surrender proposal was to blame for
the economic troubles in Germany today.
Feeling that this somehow reflected dis
credtably on him, Mr.. Churchill arose to
say that the Presidents remark surprised
him as much as any one else.
That is true After their Casablanca
conference in January, 1943 Mr.. Roosevelt
and Mr.. Churchill went out on the lawn to
talk to newsmen. 1t was an informal sort
of a conference, and the President led off
by saying the democracies intended to
carry on the fight until the ability of the
Then he had an inspiration. A somewhat
garbled bit of Civil War history popped
into his mind, and he went on to say that
the Allies would compel the unconditional
surrender of their enemies. Mr.. Roosevelt
was thinking of General Lees surrender
to General Grant at Appomattox, although
the words actually were used by General
Grant in laying down terms to the Con-
federate general, Simon Bolivar Buckner,
for the surrender of Fort Donelson early
in the war.
But If the President had his history
wrong, the phrase lost none of its potency.
Eighty years before, when the Union for
tunes were at low ebb, the victory at Fort
Donelson made a national hero of "Un-
conditional Surrender" Grant. And so 1t
was after Casablanca. The first dispatches
made no particular point of the term
which the President had used but it was
not long before unconditional surrender
became the watchword of the war, and set
yet run its course.
No one can say what the end result will
be- No doubt the ramihcations of the
chance remark At Casablanca will drive up
mems blood pressures in the future just as
in the past.
There is one thing, however, which can
be set down for the record. General Buck
ner was embittered by the harsh terms
imposed at Donelson by his old West Point
classmate. But he got over that. And
when adversely overlook General Grant in
later years, General Buckner, who had
accumulated a modest fortune after the
war, went to his conqueror with an of1er
of financial assistance. Still later, when
the Union officer had fought and
lost his last battle, General Buckner was
one of those who helped carry him to the
grave.
Perhaps one more fact should be men
toned. Late in life, the Confederate
commander at Fort Donelson had son.
And Lieutenant General Simon Bolivar
Buckner, jr., commanding the Tenth
United States Army, was killed at OkinaWa
on June 18, 1945-less than three months
before the most devastating of all wars
came to an end with the unconditional
surrender of Japan.
Evening star., 1949-07-23
This and That
By Charles Z. Trace,Dell

0y LHQTtSS T.. ITQce1OeH
Which OF the 10000 species of wasps is this
building inside the window screen?
There are six Of them, now; in two weeks
the number Of cells has increased to "a.
The cells are gray, hitched by q stalk to the
side Of the window frame.
Not only has the number of cells grown.
but each individual CELL also
The wasps, too, are larger now
They have grown with their tasks, a very
fine thing.
Two cells in the bottom row have been
capped with white wax
Probably the cells have been filled with
paralyzed spiders. food for the grubs.
If these wasps belong to the Polistes group,
the grubs should hatch from the eggs shortly,
and In three weeks be ready to fly.
The first born will be females, which will
help the mother take care of the young.
All wasps are predacious. as well most
persons know
Young are fed on insects, not pollen or
nectar, as among the bees.
All will die in winter except a few fertil-
lied females.
These will find shelter from the cold in
cracks and crevices. and await the next
spring. when the round Of life will be re-
sumed.
They all seem very sullen. but should have
respect given creatures about to die.
Three or four months is not a very long
life, but since the wasps know nothing bet
ter. probably it is all right.
There are certain flies that live but one
day.
Odd little green things dance about the
bathroom light, finally fall to the porcelain
below, and squirm when a drop Of water
touches them.
Their lives are not much more than q
few hours.
IN STREET.
Dear Sir:
Il read the other day about the wasps
building their house.
Some years ago my farm porch in Ohio
had wasps building. Mud daubers, we called
them.
Accidentally. did knock the house
down, and as it fell on the cement floor It
went to pieces, and out came embryos,
showing rudimentary eyes and wings.
And in each cell were red-colored young
spiders. to me most curious.
1T was months later an article was pub
lished in a boys Sunday school paper Of
wasps and their habits, and how young
spiders were stung into q semi-stupor
ard were the food for the larvae until
Matched out.
Having lived on farm for SO years, 1t
is a pleasure to read your column.
Yours truly A. Mem"
Paralyzing spiders for grub food is one OF
natures curious provisions.
1t is the deep freeze" Of the insect world.
The stung anachrids keep beautifully.
for they are fully alive, but all their powers
are dormant.
In this way the grubs always get fresh
meat!
Yet the small spiders. much larger than
the young wasps. cannot harm the latter.
This is a fine scheme. as far as the wasps
are concerned. Other insects know it, too.
The injection of the paralyzing fluid
brings about q dormant state somewhat
similar to that induced in certain fishes
when they are dried up in mud.
Kidney and other functions are not en-
tirely halted. but are slowed down to such
a degree that the fishes can live for several
years, or until water finally brings them
back to "life" again.
In the case of the wasps, the paralysis
need not last more than three weeks. suf-
f1cient time to provide many fun meals for
the growing wasp babies.
Evening star., 1949-07-23
Prefers Barden to Thomas Bill
In Reply to Columnist

TO the Editor OF The Star:
Thomas L. Stokes, in his column of July
TO- displays misguided zeal for the passage
Of the Thomas aidto-education Bill IS. 246).
So anxious is Mr.. Stokes for the passage of
an aid-to-education bill-any aid-to-educa-
tion bill-that he is led to make misleading
statements about the Thomas Bills provi-
sions.
1t Is not true, as Mr. Stokes says, that the
Thomas Bill clearly meets the issue of sepa-
ration of church and state" The bill appro-
PIRATES money which may be used by State
administrations for expenditures which vio-
late the principle of separation of church
and State. According to Mr.. Stokes himself,
If State authorizes free textbooks, as
Louisiana does, use of Federal funds would
not be barred" Although he avoids using
the word, Mr.. Stokes is here referring to the
provision of free textbooks to parochial
schools. Such a gift, whether of religious"
or mon religious textbooks, is calculated to
relieve one particular kind of private (paro-
chiaD school of burden which it should
rightfully bear No Congressman can vote
in good conscience for a bill which turns
Federal funds over to the States to be used.
in some instances, to violate the principle
of the First Amendment to the United States
Constitution.
The Senate. Mcmahon johnson Bill, and
INV uie 11ouSc rosdICy Dill Nr1H LOW,
which would directly subsidize parochial
schools even in States where the local au-
thorities are forbidden to do so, were intro
duced out of purely Machiavelian motives,
in order to make the Thomas Bill, which
would indirectly subsdize parochial schools,
look like a compromise" Actually. the
Thomas Bill is no compromised provides
windfall of public tax money to sectarian
schools Only the Barden Bill (H. r 4643)
provides public funds for public purposes.
Friends of Federal aid should support it
rather than the Thomas Bill
STANLEY LICHTENSTEIN
Evening star., 1949-07-23
When We Were Young

The center of the Uorld pas 1Dhere III
An apple tree pith fruit to spare -,
Opened generous branches to
Me and you. -
Fiue acres OF sveet cloper spread ID.
A board Uhere lazy cattle fed
or 1raded in the brook that ran ~
In counterspan. .,-.,
Beyond 1Das moods and moods again +,
Cutting the skys unclouded plane, an
And naught else in the 1Dorld but tree
And you and me. r..
o happy Dorld! o porld OF sensel *
Whose only sphere of influence 80
Was the brightest apple highest hung.
When ,De Dere young. ~
KATHLEEN SUTTON.
Evening star., 1949-07-23
Christian Principles Regarded
As Cure for Depression and War
To the Editor Of The Star:


William E. Rand and other businessmen
saw that we must use Christian principles IN
business. This is very encouraging, because
production soon will have caught up with
wartime shortages and war is getting to be
a pretty dangerous method Of relieving the
unemployment and distribution problem.
But with Christian principles used In busi-
ness, these problems. unemployment and lack
of distribution which cause our hard times
and misery, will be eliminated.
ZELPHIA w. DAVIS.
Evening star., 1949-07-23
Questions and Answers

fset By writing Ths Evening star, Washnston.
inston D. c. Please incose cents for return
Evening star., 1949-07-23

an example of fidelity of integrity to all
who knew him: and his loss is deeply felt
GERARD F.. YATES. ST.
Dean. Graduate School, Georgetown Univer-
Sity
Evening star., 1949-07-23

@. At what age does the human eye reach
its maximum size?-A. A. n
A. The human eye reaches its maximum
size at about 10 years Of age.
Evening star., 1949-07-23

Letters for publication must bear
the signature and address OF the
uriter, although it is permissible for
a Driter kno1on to The Star to use
a nom de plume. Please be briet.
Evening star., 1949-07-23
BY THE HAsKIN SERVICE

Q. What is the cost Of a Geiger- Mueller
counter? 1t is the instrument used in pros
pecting for uranium.-C. C.
A. Prices range generally from about
500 to $780, but some cheaper ones are
being developed.
Evening star., 1949-07-23

@. Where is the Pyramid OF the sun7
&C. v. G.
A. The Pyramid Of the Sun is not far
from Mexico City. It is the greatest of its
kind in the Western Hemisphere. -
Evening star., 1949-07-23

@. What is crusted porto. PI.
A. When argol, crude variety of cream
of tartar, forms q crust in the interior, O.
wine vats and wine bottles. the term crustet
port is applied to the wine.
Evening star., 1949-07-23

@. What portion Of total tax collection.
goes to the Federal Government?-F. L. A
A. It Is calculated that the Federal Gov.
ernment now takes about rs per cent Of al
taxes collected. leaving only rs pe- cent tc
State and local governments.
Evening star., 1949-07-23

Q. Are there any Job Opportunities Tor
college students studying botany?-E. E,
A. According to estimates of the Botanical
Society of America, by 1850 about 1913 more
botanists and 369 more plant pattologists
will be needed than were available In l946.
The new plant pathologists will be needed
for research. tw
The Nome nugget., 1949-10-14
Friday October lA. ls4s

won by only one-vote margin in the national assembly.
 Now he faces the task of naming a cabinet which can cope with the nations mounting wage-price cri- sis brought on by the devaluation of the franc. Moch replaces Henri Queqille, whose coalition cabinet split on the same issue last week, forcing him to resign.
 A Hungarian appeal court today upheld the death sentence of Las zlo Rajk, former communist for eign minister and two others con- victed of plotting to make Hun gary 9 satellite of Premier Mar shal Tito of Yugoslavia. Prison sen- tenceS for others convicted in the same plot were also confirmed.
 Western observers in Moscow said Prmier Stalin's message to the Soviet-sponsor edEastern Ger man government in Berlin is the most important Soviet pronounce ment of the German question since the war. Stalin said in his message that the Germans and Russians together could keep Flu rope peaceful by fighting as hard for peace as they fought for war l In Prague, by a unanimous show of hands, Czechoslovakia' as parliament passed two bills aimed at rigid control of churches, es- pecially the Roman Catholic church. Ths new laws become ef. fectiVe Nov. 1.
The Nome nugget., 1949-10-14
Captain Accas Of Ladd Field. Died Of Polio

ANCHORAGE, R)-An autopsy performed upon the body of Capt. George A. Accas, 28, Ladd Air Base public information officer who died there Sunday, brought tentative diagnosis of polio as the cause of his death.
 Fort Richardson medical au- thorities said that further labora- tory tests will be made at the Wal ter Reed hospital in Washington, D. C.
 Officials said they believed Ac- caS contracted polio while accom- panying the Ladd Field baseball team to the world wide air force baseball tournament at Mitchell Field, N. Y.
 The appointment was announC- ed of Capt. Charles Tyler of the 57th fighter wing military person. nel section, Elmendorf Field to succeed Accas.
 Tyler, who is now on leave, was formerly with the public informa- ton technical division of the air training command, with headquar- ters at Scott Air Force Base, III. He is expected to arrive at Ladd Field within two weeks.
The Nome nugget., 1949-10-14
Seek Civilian Board To Referee Air-Navy Row
tBY Douglas B. Cornell)

WASHINGTON, iP)-Two key Congressmen today proposed that President Truman name civilian board to referee the bitter row over defense plans which has erupted in the armed forces.
 Their suggestion closely paral- lelled one already offered Mir. Truman by the army-navy union, an organization of present and former servicemen. The lawmak- ers' proposal came on the heels of the Presidents news conference statement ystrday that he sees no need to change the fundamentals of present defense policy.
 Nevertheless, said Reps. Brooks O.-LaO and Price O.-Ill0, there is disagreement and it should be settled. The two lawmakers are members of the House armed services committee.
 They brought up the plan after listening for more than a week as the navy fired repeated charges that the fighting power of the fleet is being weakened, while the air force gets funds and favors and builds B-36's to carry out a kind of warfare that the admirals call ed wrong.
 Previously the air force had