davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1949-09-04
The Politics of the Crisis
For British Readers
Not to be Read in America

!. For a generation past the British people
have been paying far too little attention to
their competitive position in the world. 1t
is true that the causes of most of the changes
lie in external events. But there has been a
tendency to suffer them passively rather
than to react vigorously. Now the bitter
fruits of a generations indifference to the
ratio between imports and exports have
ripened.
g In general, the doctrines of the Left.
with their teaching that the ordinary man
can make less effort to produce and yet
consume more have, in the hands Of both
parties, contributed to a situation in which
Britain imports too much and exports too
little.
3. No other country is going to recognize
any obligation to provide the British people
with living, no matter what their services
and sacrifices in the common cause.
4. Though the policies of social security
and full employment were agreed upon by
the whole nation. the Labour Government,
as the bearers of responsibility, are very
much to blame for their stubbornness in re-
fusing to remit anything of their plans even
when it became quite clear that the assump-
tions about the economic climate of the post
war years on which they were based were
very seriously wrong. 1t is not enough for
self-respecting Government merely to say
that its opponents would have been no better.
S. There is no magic in the actions of the
| state that can guarantee the ordinary man
an income larger than he earns. or that can
promise full employment without exacting
the price for it. community can easily
have more welfare than it can afford. in the
sense that insistence on providing the well
fare may impede the earning of the national
income on which it depends. When that
time comes it is necessary to reculer pour
mic n tn on
forward.
6. Whatever may be true in other coun-
tries. in Britain courage pays political divi-
dends Those politicians who refuse to pro-
long the rosy illusions of the postwar in
dation and tell the people soberly what needs
to be done would be surprised at the re-
sponSe they would evoke. This would require
from the Labour Party greater effort than
from the Tories. But their need to make the
effort is the greater. for without it, there is
| a risk that the British public Cor enough Of
Labour, after all, has too little realism ana
courage to be capable Of governing.
7. The British public should try to be less
touchy about what Is said in America. The
real test is what is done, and by that test
the United States Government has leant
over backwards to avoid anything that could
be construed as interference in British in
ternal concerns. The advice that America
gives may be gratuitous: but SO are its. dol
| lars.
8. No efforts and no sacrifices are too
| great If they restore the pride and inde-
pendence Of Britain. No efforts and no sac
rifices, however heavy, are great enough if
they leave Britain dependent on the gen.
erosity of others.
9. The inescapable condition Of escape
from the crisis is that there should be a
| sharp change in the ratio between the efforts
Evening star., 1949-09-04

withheld until the twelve-nation council
and committee are fully functioning.
In the circumstances, it can only be
hoped that the September meeting of the
foreign ministers will serve, among other
things, to speed up congressional action.
Given such action, plus the passing of the
treaty into its operating phase, the whole
Western world will enjoy new measure of
security And on the basis of that security,
year by year, 1t can build up its common
defensive strength to point where the
Kremlin,. instead of. holding fast to its
aggressive policy, may be persuaded to
cooperate in establishing good peace.
Equipped with teeth, the Atlantic Pact can
carry us far forward toward that shining
objective
Evening star., 1949-09-04
Broye Tiqhtwud

In these times Of free-Spendlng Federal
largesse, Defense Secretary Johnson Ger
tainly is beginning to stand out among
his brethren as kind of attractive tight
wad. At any rate, he seems clearly to
have developed the eccentricity OF wanting
to save dollar here and a nickel there.
This is all very odd, all very unique, but
in its own way-despite being hopelessly
d-fashioned-it is rather pleasing and
refreshing, evoking as it does nostalgia
remembrance of the dear dead past when
frugality, like the wha;ebone corset or the
surrey with the fringe on top, was fixed
feature of our national life.
The latest expression of Mr.. Johnson's
yen for economy, moreover, seems to con-
stitute an act of bravery above and beyond
the call of duty. What he has done-with
soft and delicate words, of course-is to tell
a group of Senators that he does not want
to let them have military plane for
round -the-world junket. He has estimated
that the Air Force would save at least
SOS, 900 if the Senators travelled on COM
mercial liner instead, and he has left no
room for doubt that that is how he feels
they ought to travel. This is daring
thing to do. 1t is comparable to boarding
a lion in his den. But our Defense Secre-
tary apparently knows no fear, when 1t
comes to protecting the Federal piggy
bank. What an eccentric! And how bold,
too!
Needless to add, Mr.. Johnson's frugality
in this instance may bring down slight
storm upon his head. Already, speaking
with restrained severity-like good old
Queen Victoria saying, "We are not amused"
Senator Elmer Thomas has observed,
Senators will not be pleased" OF course,
they will not, and the chances are that
some of them will start swinging the
Delaying pin against this strange, anach-
ronistic Silas Mariner. Nevertheless, he
can take comfort in knowing that he has
on his side all those people-not many
perhaps, but still sturdy lot-who fondly
remember the thrifty past and feel that
the present would be better off if it were
more like 1t.
Evening star., 1949-09-04
Fifty Years Ago.
The Star of August Is, 1899, reported from
Los Angeles the finding Of the body Of james

The Star of August Is, 1899, reported from
Los Angeles the finding of the body Of James
Dayton, caretaker OF the
Troqedy Of The Pacific Coast Borax Go. S
Desert property at Furnace Greek,
Death Valley, whence he
had started for Daggett on July "a.
relief party discovered his remains
under bush near Benefits Hole. CLOSE
by was his wagon, with his team OF SIX
horses, four of them harnessed to 1t and
two hitched behind, lying where they had
perished from thirst and hunger, although
the wagon was loaded with hay and water.
The only living thing at the scene OF death
and desolation was Dayton's. faithful dog,
which for 20 days had watched by the side
of its dead master" A thermometer regis
tered 120 degrees in the shade. Dayton
was over 10 years old, and his long residence
in Death Valley had made him familiar with
that country. He had Travelled tne ROAD
between Furnace Creek and Daggett perhaps
as MANY as 40 times and was supposed to be
Injured to it's hardships and dangers.
***
An Associated Press dispatch from Lon
don. reproduced in The Star on August 26,
1899, explained: Up
Russ;o vs. AnoIo- on authority OF un-
Amer;ron Entente doubted rellaollity a
A"e''ea" representative
has ascertained that into the Alaska dis
mite there has crept the craftiness OF
Russian diplomacy. Russia, it can be stated,
will do everything with every possible en-
erey to prevent the practical coheslon OF
the two great English speaking nations. In
all her embassies instructions have oeen
received to thwart the Anglo American IN
derstanding. A prominent diplomat, VINO Is
intimately acquainted with the details Q!
the negotiations of the past few years, Salo
to the Associated Press: In any ar
rangement looking to working agreement
between England and the United states
Russia sees the defeat OF her dearest projects.
I believe her intense activity IN CHINA Is
tn no small extent due. to her fear that
Anolo.saxon power, once centralized, will
sweep everything before it in the Far East.
Dreading the rapid realization OF this night
mare she is making hay while the sun
shines, in the meantime intriguing TO the
utmost to tie the hands Of those working
tn materialize Anglo American sentiment.
The 150th anniversary Of the birth OF
the great German oet-phflosopher. Goethe.
was celebrated In WASH
Goethe's I50th ington on August 2S. 1899.
n;..LI.v and The Star OF that date
I contained a sketch OF the
Shakespeare of the Fatherland" after
portrait by julius Ulke and long ac-
count of the arrangements for banquet
at Reuters Hotel at Pennsylvania avenue
and Four-and- -a-haH street. George w.
Spfer was to be POSTMASTER, Dr.. Christian
Strack was to read an original poem. VIII
liam L, Elterich was to speak on Goethe as
q bard. Others participating In the program
were: Frank claudT William Burchard'
Evening star., 1949-09-04
Both Sides of the Medal
British Journal Discusses the Pros Well the Cons
of the Current Dollar Crisis

The London Economist of August q
published a comment on the dollar crisis
which deserves the attention of the
American people as Foreign Minister
Bevin and Sir Stafford Cripps, Chancellor
of the Exchequer, arrive this week for the
structure of Western solidarity.
The Economist, being a journal which
circulates both. in Britain and in this
country. found itself in something of a
dilemma. For it discovered that when it
attempts, for home consumption, to ex-
pose the ways in which British policies
have exacerbated the dollar crisis. the
article receives the "fattering but er1bar-
RAISING honor" Of being quoted with ap-
proval by those in America who would
write Britain of as hopeless case. On
the other hand. when the journal at
Evening star., 1949-09-04
Absentee Transit Ownership

A group of nine investors, none OF them
living in Washington and none OF them
having shown previous interest in the
transportation field, is now in position to
consummate it's purchase of a controlling
share of the Capital Transit Company.
The Interstate Commerce Commission S
approval of the transaction, following
similar action by the Securities and
Exchange Commission seems to put the
purchasers in the clear.
The ICC did not agree with its examiner,
who recommended disapproyal. This Is
not surprising. The examiners recon-
mendation seemed to follow rather
emotional line of reasoning which, had 1t
been upheld, would have injected improper
considerations into examination oy q
Government agency of the legal legitimacy
of such transactions.
The question still remains, however, as
to the intentions of the purchasers IN
their control of the stock. They nave
insisted that the purchase is a good IN
vestment, which thus explains their only
motives There would seem to be no queS-
ton as to their rights as investors. The
market value of the shares is lar below
the book value But the reduced earnings
of the company now and the fact that
1t is facing new wage demands, Wnlcn
If granted would exceed earnings, nave
raised questions about the future OF the
company that make this stock transfer
all the more interesting.
In approving the sale, the 1CC points
out that under the law nine Of the fifteen
directors of the company must be bona
fide residents of Washington. 1t is not
known yet whether the investment group
will seek changes on the board or changes
in the company's present management.
Any such moves will be made under the
unusually close scrutiny of the Public
Utilities Commission. Proof OF whether
the transfer of majority control from the
North American Company to the new group
is consistent with the public interest. or
whether 1t affects the public interest at
all, will lie in the future developments.
They will bear watching.
Evening star., 1949-09-04

Hugo KuerScher, Gustave Bender and Simon
Wolf Among the guests would be: Carl
A. and Edward H. Droop, Emile Berliner.
August Dietz, Henry Xander, Paul j. Pelz.
Karl Heurich, DR.. Cyrus Adler and Prof.
T. Wayland Vaughn. It was hoped that a
permanent Goethe society could be Or
ganized.
A telegram from Chicago to The Star Of
August 80, 1899. reported: William H.
Cowell. an attorney of Keno
Women sha, has presented to the
Bike Riders Kenosha City Council BIZ
cycle ordinance which pro-
hibits women from riding until they have
passed an examination as to their fitness
to guide a wheel 80 The ordinance provides
that it shall be unlawful for any female
to ride in Kenosha without having first
obtained from the city clerk license. To
obtain this license an applicant must DO
examined by three experts as to her ability
and personal rights of others. If the ex-
perts pass her riding, she must file 500
bond that all damages caused by her care
less riding or other improper handling or
manipulation of a bicycle will be paid by
the said female If the accident Is shown to
Be resultant from the carelessness OF said
hcensee."
Another incident OF the retrlaI OF Al1Teo
Dreyfus at Rennes in France was the ap-
pearance Of A1phonse Bertillon
BertiIIon as a witness for the prosecu-
W;.n... ton. The Star on August Is,
1899, recounted: "The~ noted
anthropometrist wore q dark blue
frock coat and carried q high hat in his
hand. (He) requested permission to bring
in his diagrams and papers. The request
was granted, and M. Bertillon retired Tor
moment, returning at the head OF squad
composed of an infantry sergeant and four
privates. all staggering under the weight OF
immense leather satchels bulging with docu-
ments, charts. ETC., which they deposited on
the stage as roar Of laughter echoed
through the court. Even the judges were
unable to suppress smile as they gazed on
M. Bertillons : properties strewed over
half of the platform. = - The witness be-
gan by saying that only intenigent men
could follow his explanations. The court
was soon half emptied, as the audience,
after smiling audibly at his extraordinary
words and expressions, became bored ana
went out. )" --e...
Evening star., 1949-09-04
The Penitentiury

The other day. in kind of soft MOOD
marking the 10th anniversary OF the start
of the Second World War, the Soviet au-
thorities in Eastern Germany eased up
momentarily on their border restrictions.
The result was that more than 10000 Red
zone Germans smashed through barriers
and road blocks to get into the American
zohe, their chief desire apparently oelng
to buy shoes and food and to enjoy-if only
temporarily-a breath of freedoms 1resn
air
The story speaks pretty much for itself.
Nothing could better dramatize or SYM
bolize the world of difference between TINS
side of the Iron Curtain and the .other
When people in Germany or Europe have
chance to flee, they do not head East; they
head West. Thousands and thousands OF
them. including members of the Red Army
have been doing that ever since the end
of the war. One never hears-except In
rare cases of eccentric individuals-of any,
body trying to escape from places like
Scandinavia or the Anglo -Ameri-
can occupation zones to the Soviet zone,
or to satellite country, or to Russia ITSELF
It Is always the other way around-a hight
westward not eastward.
Nothing, of course, could be less surprls-
ing than this The new democracy be-
hind the Iron Curtain besides offering one
of the lowest living standards in the world,
does not appeal to people who want to be
free. It is vast penitentiary, with few
Red jailers in ruthless control, and with
everybody else in the role OF prisoner
subjected to rigid censorship, Spoonfed
with ceaseless propaganda, watched over
by the secret police, denied the right to
speak, assemble, worship, travel or vote
freely, and in general cowed and regi-
mented into submission. So, having had
taste of liberty at some time in their lives
or having heard how much better life Is
in the West, these trapped unfortunates-
if ever the chance presents itself-try their
desperate best to get out.
The point of all this is too obvious to
need elaboration. The one-direction trek
of the refugees constitutes in itself about
the most eloquent commentary possible on
the nature of the Soviet system. People do
not run from thing when it is good; they
run from it only when 1t Is evil. The
wonder is that there still are rather large
numbers in our own and other free lands
who prate about the virtues of the Marxist
Utopia But then, of course, them love FOR
it is merely platonic; they sigh about it
and sing its praises. but they never choose
to fly to it and fling themselves, painting
and happy, into It's smothering arms.
Evening star., 1949-09-04
: For American Readers
Not TO Be Read in Britain

l. It is gross over disqualification to say
that Britain's present difficulties are solely
due to mistakes in British policy. They are
an expression of volcanic upheavals in the
economy of the whole world
2. In particular it is wrong to associate
the socialist programme of the present Gov
ernment and the shortage of dollars as cause
on1 effect. It is very difficult to trace any
connection between the naturalization
schemes and the balance of payments.
g. Much the largest cause of the present
situation is to be found in the dislocation
produced by two wars. Not only was Britain
(apart from Germany the only country
that fought right through both wars. it was
Also from its commercial position, the one
most liable to suffer from any disturbance
Of the delicate mechanism of world trade.
4. Insofar as deliberate policies of the
British Government have contributed to the
present crisis. it is not the socialist policies
Of the Labour Party that are to blame, but
the policies to which all parties have con-
tributed If there Is in Britain today no
healthy competition and wholly insufficient
incentives to efficiency, the major blame
cannot fairly be fixed on one party but must
be laid upon the cast of mind of whole
generation.
S. The welfare state" is not a heresy to
be derided, it embodies the healthy aspira-
All that is wrong with the British welfare
state is that it chose singularly inappro-
pirate moment to take several very large
steps forward.
6. It Is quite wrong to suppose That
change in the party in power would, by It
SELF have any decisive effect on economic
policy What has first to be done is to bring
the British people as whole to an apprecl-
alton Of reality. Until that has been done, no
party could advance very far When it has
been accomplished, either party will be in
position to do what is necessary. Indeed. In
many ways the Labour Party. if it would
make up its mind to face the facts. would
be inca stronger position to serve the country.
7. Nothing could well be more disastrous
than that America should take sides, or ap-
pear to take sides, in the British general
election It would create, what does not
exist at present, an active anti-American
party in Britain, and might well help 1t to
a Parliamentary majority.
8. Americans should realize that the Brit
ish people are spiritually exhausted after
what they have been through in the last ten
years. To accuse them OF being unwilling to
make efforts to save themselves is insulting.
They have made greater efforts than any
other people and deserve credit for so doing.
8. There is nothing more difficult for a
democracy to accomplish than deliberately
to lower its standard of living. American
politicians are hardly notorious for the Gag
erness with which they impose sacrifices on
the voters. They should not expect British
politicians to do the impossible overnight;
it will take little time.
Evening star., 1949-09-04

tempts for it's American readers. to UNDER
line the magnitude of the British efforts
at recovery. the article receives the hardly
less embarrassing honor" of being cited by
British officials as proof of the perfection
of the Labor government. All of which
leads the Economist to this conclusion:
Truth, of course, is truth the world over.
But truth is also many-sided, and if there
is to be full understanding between the
nations, different facets of truth need to
be stressed in different places. From this
dilemma there is only one escape-and
that is for once, to give both sides of
every medal"
It seems to this newspaper that the
Economists approach to this matter is as
sound as it is good-humored. So The Star
takes the liberty of republshing both
sides of the medal" in the parallel COL
umns below:
Evening star., 1949-09-04
Caribbean Unrest

For the second time within month, our
Government has made strong represen-
tation concerning the complex tensions
and riyalries which exist chronically among
the Latin American nations bordering the
Caribbean Sea- The notes are addressed
to the Inter-American Peace Commission,
which functions under the Organization
OF American States, broadened version
Of the former Pan American Union. The
present membership OF the commission,
besides the United States, includes Argen-
tina, Brazil, Cuba and Mexico.
Our Governments insistence aims obvi-
ously at squirting the Latin American
members of the commission to share its
grave view of the current Caribbean situa-
ton. Our note contends that recent wide
spread revolutionary activities form
pattern engendered by deep-seated tensions
and unrest (which have deeper signif1-
canoe than would appear from the surface
manifestations Of isolated instances OF
plotting or revolutionary actions" The
note goes on to deplore the results OF this
disturbed condition, Including represslve
political and police measures within the
countries themselves, coupled with exces-
sive ornaments made at the expense OF
economic improvements vitally needed Tor
the growth of prosperity and stability.
In a sense, political unrest around the
Caribbean is no novelty. The history of
those countries has been studded with
revolutions and relationships. In the past,
however, such disturbances tended to be
local affairs with, at most, minor inter-
national implications. In recent years,
however, there has been tendency Tor
certain of these governments to line up
against others likewise associated, and to
intervene or encourage intervention in
each others domestic affairs. The present
groupings appear to be Costa Rica, Cuba
and Guatemala versus the Dominican Re
public and Nicaragua, both of which have
"strong man. dictatorial regimes against
which the flrst-mentioned trio are opposed,
ostensibly as champions of democracy Ell
Salvador, Honduras and Panama seem to
be outside these groupings and are con-
sidered "neutrals," though their position
may alter at any moment.
Behind these complicated maneuverings
. of governments hovers the specter Of the
so-called Caribbean Legion" a collection
of political exileS, gun-runnerS and mer-
cenary soldiers of fortune. This dubious
, organization has been undoubtedly used by
, certain governments to make trouble for
. others. While not major factor in itself,
the Caribbean Legion is symptom of
generally disturbed conditions, without
which it could not have appeared on the
political scene.a
While diagnosis is not difficult, effective
remedies for this unfortunate situation are
not so easy to formulate. One suggestion
is that the Organization OF American States
withhold recognition from any govern
ment which comes to power as result OF
q military coup, at least until its status
has been validated by fair and free
election. That, however, would involve
the assumption Of authority and super