Evening Star Newspaper, January 30, 1921, Page 33

_ing heavy armor. < uu battleships. "EDITORIA NATIONAL PROBLEMS SPECIAL CABLE NEWS L PAGE Part 2—22 Pages BATTLESHIPS LIKE KNIGHTS IN ARMOR Suspension of Construction Proposed Until Most Effective Type of Vessel Is Ascertained. "BY G. GOULD LINCOLN. MODERN battleship —, lha: latest type of superdread- | naught—is costing Uncle Sam | to build between $35,000,000 and $40,000,000. Such a vessel is costing John Bull and the mikado similar sums, though™ probably not Quite so much as it costs UncleSam, Who appears to spend more for What | he gets than any other government.| The agriculture appropriation bill for the next fiscal year, Which has just passed the House, carries a total of approximately $33,000,000, or not quite the price of a single battleship. This comparison is not made to dis- | parage the battleship, but merely to ] indicate what a tremendous saving may be possible to this country, and to other great nations of the world now debt-ridden, if some kind of agreement can be reached whereby | the naval programs can be reduced. The agitation for a reduction of armaments, so as to ease the bur- dens of the taxpayers of this and; other countries, has reached large | proportions. 1In fact, it is difficult to find any one willing to oppose a reduction of armaments, though | there are plenty to scoff at the sug- | gestion as impracticable. The most concrete suggestion put’ forward so far, it appears, is that for a reduc- tion of naval armaments, or, at least, a reduction of the building programs of the maval powers, in accordance with the resolution offered by Sena- tor Borah of Idaho and now pending in the Senate, with a favorable re- port from the Senate foreign rela- tions committee. Meost Effective Ship Sought. ‘Whether this suggested plan for a1 holiday in mnaval’ construction comes to anything or not, there is on foot a. proposal that seems to many the es- sence of common sense. If the Unit- ed States is to have a navy big enough to fight the world, or any part of it, that navy should be the most effective that can be produced in the.light of the lessons of the great war. And that is just what the Senate is pro- posing to bring about. A resolution of Senator Borah's. adopted last week, directs the Senate naval affairs com- mittee to report whether it is sound policy to suspend our naval building program . for six/ months, so that a full “investigation. may. b as to what censtitutes & modern fighting navy. 2 ; Before guns for gunpowder were in: vented, 500 or 600 years ago, and come $nto general use, men used’ to cover themselves with armor plate—that is, those men who‘had money enough to Wuy the armor. So clad, they could ride roughshod over hundreds of other men without armor. But gunpowder put an end to the knight in armor, and incidentaily to the feudal system. In war on the sea there was de- veloped in the last century a kind of marine knight—thg battleship—wear- And because a ship could carry heavy armor, which a man could not, the bhttleship was ef- fective in the age of gunpowder. But now comes the age of the high ex- plosive, that makes gunpowder look a “piker” and armor plate of little avail. Added to this is the develop- ment of the submarine, with its dead- 1y torpedo, and the aircraft with their no less deadly bombs. To not a few experts who have gone iInto the sub- ject. it looks as though the day of the heavy armored vessel is as surely gone as was the day of the armored koight when gunpowder put in its appearance. * Whether this be a fact or not, the Sendte proposes now to get light oizl the subject betore it goes ahead witn uppropriations for any more §35,000,- Pullding Programs in Progress. The United States is now engaged on @ building program of sixteen modern battleships, with, of course, the lesser vessels that go to make up the naval units of the day. Japan, iU is reported, has alternative buuding programs, consisting of two units ot cight battleships each, with tour of the latest type cruhisers attached to cach unit, or of three units of eight battleships with two cruisers at- tached to each. Great Britain, the third great naval power, has sus- pended its naval building program, while its naval experts are exhaus- sively considering whit is most ad- wisable in the way of naval construc- tion in the light of the lessons of the war. Not a single capital ship, it is reported, has Great Britain laid down since the armistice was signed. This does not mean, however, that she is not giving sattention to the develop- ment of aircraft and submarines. Japan, it is sald, has under construc- tion now five great battleships, some of which are being built in England. Senator Borah, who has taken the lead in the effort to bring about some agreement between the three great naval powers for a Teduction in naval programs, is not laboring under the belief that world disarmament is im- minent or practical at this time, no matter how desirable. The Idaho sen- ator has been in favor of a strong navy for the United States, unless It can be agreed that the other powers will curtail their navies. Japan's Purpose the Puzsle. Japan’s plans and purposes in re- gard to naval armament are the real puzzle, in the opinion of Senator Borah. If an honest attempt is made by the United States to bring about an agreement to limit the naval pro- grams of the three great naval powers, Japan will, in a way, be auviacd out. If she refuses to make |such an agreement and goes ahead with her building program, then the United States may understand that Japan is getting ready for “eventu- alities.” The United States, too, can get ready. No nation .in the. world today is so capable of building up a huge navy as the United States, be- cause no other nation has the same resoufces to draw upon. This is frankly admitted by the British. But unless the real purposes of Japan are d‘eveloped and it is shown that Japan proposes to go ahead with her big navy plans, it seems inevi- table that the Am_erlcan people, tiring of pouring out millions for battle- ships, will send to Washington a Congress that will cut down the naval appropriations to the minimum. On the other hand, if Japan acqui- esces in the plan for a reduction of Inaval armament, then the United States can safely pursue such a course. Naval Strength of Nations. While accurate statistics regarding the naval strength of the various na- tions are difficult to obtain today, there are certain main facts which stand out. The British navy still holds first place. The United States, after Great Britain, has become the second great naval power of the world. Next stands Japan. Germany has been eliminated as a naval power. Prior to the outbreak of the world war, in 1914, the British had built twenty-one modern battleships and was building twelve, making a total of thirty-three. In 1919, after the close of the war, Great Britain had thirty-five complefed modern battle- ships. The United States in 1914 had built nine modern battleships and was building five more, a total of four teen. In 1919 the United States had completed seventeen modern battle- ships and had under construction six, total of twenty-three. Japan in 1914 had built three modern battle- ships and was building one, a total of four. In 1910 Japan had completed seven battleships and was building two, a total of nine. These figurés. of course, do not show the number of lesser battleships, of cruisers, de- stroyers, submarines, etc., but they indicate the relative strength of the navies of these three powers. An -estimate of the strength of the nayies of the three naval powers as it will be in 1924, if the present building programs are carried out, by Archibald Hurd, in the Fortnightly Review, shows the United States aliead of both Great Britain and Japan in the matter-of first- class battleships and tonnage. The United States will have twenty-seven first-class battleships and eight of the second class, a total of thirty-five; Great Britain will have eighteen first-class {battleships- and eighteen of the second class, a total of thirty-six; Japan will have fourteen- first-class battleships and three of the second ciass, a total of seventeen. The tonnage figures given are: United States, 1,150,650; Great Britain, 883,296, and Japan, 497,950. Suspension of Building. Great Britain, having learned her lesson in the world war, is not build- ing big, heavily armored battleships. In fact, she actually “scrapped” two of these vessels which she had under 1 | | construction. In Francg and Italy the construction of battléships not al- ready laid down has been suspended. The United States and Japan, ap- parently, are the only nations where battleship construction is now pro- ceeding. The contention of men wha occupy the position of Senator Borah is that the United States should consider very seriously whether it is advisable to continue to build heavily armored ships for the Navy before it pours more millions into them. _ {U.'S. SHPS OUT OF SERVICE ‘The Shipping Board has issued or- ders withdrawing from service sixteen government-owned vessels, aggregat- ing nearly 100,000 deadweight tons, for tie-up at Norfolk, New York, Philadelphia and Baltimore. Four of the ships—the Mercury, Heffron, Ca- Jjacei and Conshohocken—are steamers Brinnd retains power it may stand. If Party Policies Figure But Lightly In Line-Up on Tariff Legislation WASHINGTON, D. C., SUNDAY MORNING, JA NUARY - 30, - 1921. =~ BY N. 0. MESSENGER. HEN the new Congress comes in, some time in April, tariff will be the subject of paramount interest, because the House will have the general revision of the tariff under considera- tion. The committee on ways and means will have completed hearings, which havef been in progress for some time, and will report a bill completely revising the existing tariff rates. In that Congress will be many senators’and representatives serving their first term, un. familiar with tariff rates and customs duties, and their bearing upon revenues and industries. In former days. newcomers would have looked to the e'der statesmen of their respective parties for guidance, and would have found definite party alignment as to tariff policies. ‘When they look to them now they will find the elder statesmen divided in their opinion as to tariff policy. This is true as to republicans as well as democrats. * % %k % Republicans will be heard advocating high rates of duty in -one faction. They will be charged by another faction with being “behind the times,” “out of step with progress,” “living in the past” and otherwise flouted as out of touch wtih the spirit of the hour. Already are there echoes of such assertions in committee hearings on the tariff bill. The men thus as- safled will retort that the “progressives” “don’t know what they ‘'are talking about” and are “straying from the broad path of republican protective tariff policy trod by the feet of great republicans for two score years.” Democrats will be glaring at each other and exchanging recriminations of much the same sort. “Who is a democrat now?” may become a very pertinent question. THe puzzled new- comer probably will have to settle down and figure out his course for himself, based primar- ily on consiceration of his own local interests. * % * % Take the occasion in the Senate last Wed- nesday when the emergency tarift bill now pepding in that bedy was up. Senator Under- wood, leader of the democratic party in the Senate, denounced the emergency tariff bill gs being “repugnant to every prindiple of democ- racy on a question of taxation at the custom- house.” He prophesied that if it should pass, President Wilson, being a democrat, would veto it because of its violation of democratic prin- ciples. Senator Ashurst of Arizona, a democrat born in the blood and bred in the bone, couldn’t see it that way, however. He gave an entirely new version of the democratic attitude toward Some democrats will oppose & high tariff, be- cause 1t will bear heavily ‘upon the consumer, and other democrats will favor it hecause it helps the producer. The same division will be found in the republican ranks. S, the prospect is the new tariff bill ‘will not be framed scientifically, neither conforming to party lines which would give a semblance of uniformity of policy, but will be the result of a scramble of statesmen to serve tyelf state and sectional interests; to help one class, such as the farmers; to aid another class, the con- sumers, and to Denefit a third class, thé manu- facturers. ¢ It may be considered fortunate that con- sumers are to have a “look in"—that is, If they do get it and do not, In fact, again find them- selves ground between the millstones of the other classes and interests. I * k% % + Which party will make most political capi- tal out of the emergency tariff bill now.up in the Senate is a question interesting the poli- ticians of both parties. It is admitted, in con- versations off_stage and in talks not intended for the Congressional Record, that party poli- tics figure extensively in the proceedings. Likewise, that the hope of “putting the ather fellow in the hole” animates some breasts that outwardly seem to throb only with solicitude for the dear farmer or the dear consumer. The farler has supporters in Congress who con- scientiously think the emergency tariff bill will help the agricultural interests There are others who do not think any such thing, but are willing to back the bill because they fore- see the opportunity of placing the democrats in the position of opposing a measure osten- sibly for the rellef of the farmer. And there are others in Congress who,do not conscientiously thik the pending bill will help the farmer, but are content to suppert it as long as the farmer wants it and thinks he must have it. Then there'are statesmen who insist that the bill, if enacted into law, will hurt trade with foreign countries and bring disaster to the general business of the country. Even men who Mwardly feel this way and privately so express themselves, publicly sus- tain.the -bill for political reasons or for the farmer’s sake. * Xk % % To the average marl this might seem like playing with fire. Such would be the case but for the fact it is not believed.the emergency bill will eventually pass. ®If there were prob- ability of the bill going through all the stages and becoming a law, a number of men in Con- gress would about-face in a jiffy and show a the world. While he is on his vacation, the statesmen are quite content to let the subject drop—and ‘besides, they have other troubles. It s the judgment of senators who are on the alert for renewal of league of nations ef- forts when they may be started, that the Presi- dent wiil find so many things demanding his attention upon taking" office that he will have to postpohe for a few weeks the preparation and submission of a’ substitute for the league of nations plan Heretofore presented. ¥ % ¥ x President Wilson, sccording to a report the source of which is classed as reliable. maintains an attitude of unconcern toward the problem which the republicans face. He is said to be in a philosophical mood, which might be ex: pressed in’the sentiment. that “if they can find anything better than the gflan proposed in the treaty of Versailles, well and go-d.” Te, of course, is skeptical of ‘their being able to do so, and they are quite confident that they cam present :a scheme which will beat his all hol- low. | * X ¥,k Thoughtful men in the Senate admit that the Closed séason on the league of nations fis- Sue must, of necessity, be ‘limited, however. They will give due alowance for the absorp- tion of interest in appointments to office, the filling of many vacancies awaiting good repub- licans and the replacement by republicans of democrats now holding office, but the issue will have to be 'met, they say. The Senate might be described as being in a state of armistice on the league of nations, all belligerents resting on their arms, having ceased firing, but keeping pickets posted and ready to respond tosa call to arms whenever the incoming President presents the issue. So far as-the record shows, the Senate is through with the subject, having rejected the treaty and returned it to the incumbent executive. It is realized that the convention and campaign pledges of the republicans will.necessitate con- sideration of the question some time. The ir- reconcilables desire to postpone the fatal hour as long as possible, attested by the intervening propositions for disarmament and suspension of naval building program. But Banquo's ghost will not down, and will stalk through the Sen. ate again. * % % * Apparently the democrats will cling to the league of nations as a potential political issue hereafter. James M. Cox, late presidential can- ‘didate, is to spend several months in Europe boning up on European affairs which he fhinks must engage the attention of America in the the tariff maintained in his part of Hear this: “We of the west are growing weary of pro- ducing for the idle consumer, and we are going to insist ‘hereafter that the producer shall be treated fairly.” * ¥ k ¥ There is the tarifr {ssug:in & Dutshell, as it is 1ikely to be presented in the next Congress. BY OLIVER OWEN KUHN. GREEMENT of the allied supréfae council in Paris on the repara- tions question bridges a chasm which during the week appeared to yawn for future amicable relationships between the powers. Under the com- promise arrangement effected Germany is to pay, covering a period of forty-two years, a sum of 226,000,000,000 ‘gold marks and a 12 per cent tax on her exports, with certain minimizing fea- tures. 3. ‘This is a distinct compromise be- tween the varying viewpoints of Lloyd George and Briand. At the same time it approaches the British statesman’s lviewpoint that in the fixing of repa- ratipns it should be done with an eye single to Germany’s . ability to pay, while at the same time the French are insured a maximum collectable sum' which, by payment through the years, bridges extremely trying finan- cial problems for the*nation. Though the reparations agreement may be reported fixed, there yet re- 'mains a question as to whether it will be carried out. The whole question in and out of the Paris conference of peace has been a2 moot one for many months and subject to changes wnh varioun French governments. of more than 10,000 deadweight tons.|he is overthrown in'the next twelve York and the other two at Baltimore. —_— e e Quits U. S. Shipping Board - To Take Caleovmu Job CHESTER R. ROWELL, Who has resigmed from the United States Shipping Board to become a member of the California railrond comminsion, He inx n republican was appointed (o recently by President and e fiwnt Beard The first two are to be tied up at New'|months before present arrangements are crystallized and actually initi- ated, still further storm clouds will be faced. Though the situation was trying, Great Britain and France hoth real- ized the terrible menace in continu- ing the question indefinitely, and, fur- thermore, they fully appreciated that the very life of all entente agree- ments was at stake. \ Far-reaching scramble to enhance po- litical prestige throughout the old worjd appeared to be near between France and Grea$ Britain. Should the two countries have broken irretrievably on the ques- tion of German reparations there would have remained nothing to prevent Great Britain proceeding with her purported desire to cultivate German trade, even at the expense of France, and also bring about virtual recognition of the soviet regime in Russia through revised trade agreements. ‘With Britain pursuing an independent course in Russia and Germany in con- tradistinction to the ideals of the Paris obligated first to consult Downing street, with all whom she might see fit. * Th o Lioyd George. With Lioyd Geor Briand unable to agree on the / foreign office, France, no longer being ‘would pursue her own devices in effect- ing political and economic agreements French policy, as to Germany and Rus- is radically different from that of and in question of the hour—the sums to be pald by Germany for her deviltry during the world war—there would have/Te-, mained little else, save enforcement off been anprised of their ability to pay. minor "treaties to invite continugd cop The the country. . Harding s in office. operation in settlement of. the many issues confronting Europe. Delay in Settlement. If the reparations question Fad not been definitely settled before Lloyd George leaves Paris this time there was little likelihood of agreement being ef- fected in the immediate future. The next scheduled conference of the allies will be in London the latter part of Feb- ruary, when revislon of the Turkish treaty will be discussed and some effort made to bring order out of chaos in the near east. In the interim it is believed Briand, remaining for the fullest measure of German repara- tions, would have been so reinforced in his position by popular acclaim that he could set in motion steps looking toward extension of French influence in all directions and resist any move to cur- tall French political dominion in the near eastern regions. As I forecast last Sunday, Briand and Lioyd George have been bitterly at odds during the course of the conferences the past week. Briand stood firm for full German payment. The British conceded the French viewpoint that German semi- military organizations should all be dis- armed by June 1, three-fourths of them to be demobilized not later than March 1. France, therefore, has her demand 11| that the military menace of Germany be removed in so far as the allies have it within their immediate power to effect demobilization. When the French in- sted that Germany be made to pay the enormous total of 212,000,0007000 g0ld marks almost outright, Lioxd George, as was expected, demurred on the ground that it could not be collected and ef- fort to enforce such stipulation might hazard the whole German payment. Sup- posedly representing the viewpoint of the Briand cabinet, Finance Minister Dou- mer declared that Germahy should be forced to pay 12,000,000,000 gold marks annually, instead of 6,000,000,000 pro- posed by Belgium and tacitly agreed to by the allies at Boulogne. Lloyd George believed that 3,000,000,000 gold marks annually for five years, the totdl amount of indemnities to be fixed before the end of that time, with possibility of re- vision as the German' economic situa- tion is determined, was just. The Ger- mans, as represented by Hugo Stinnes and. Sigmund Bergmann, who went to Paris hoping to enter the allied delibera- tions, but who were denled,-had instruc- tions from their government to suggest Germany's readiness and ability to pay at least 2,000,000,000 gold marks annu- ally for five years, the total Indemnity to be fixed before the expiration of that period, Leans Toward German View. Immediately are seen the radical dif- ferences and how far-reaching was the French viewpoint. ‘In the figures can be seen a tendency of Lloyd George to approach the German viewpoint, he undoubtedly haring been in close touch with the Germans and having - * X For the first time in two years Congress is undergoing a period of closed season on' the league of nations. There is likelihood of the - season being prolonged, even aftes > There {s no indication that his conferences with the best minds have' resulted in the formation- of: to be presented to the mh neh ’wwe insisted that Ger- different front. * % tuture. ‘The trouble is, the democnu are badly split divided on revubl icans * Staton. ST * many can pay the greater amount and Briand's tenure depénded on obtaining larger amount than suggested by any of the other nations. Other allies refused to grant the de- mands of the French governmént be- cause they were considered impraktica- ble, as they could not be collected with- out the utter crushing of Germany, "and with a crushed Germany the latter can- not pay. France was forced definitely to agree to the viewpoint of the other allies or stand on her own ability to col- lect as mueh as she could of the larger amount by her own efforts, In case of a definite split on the reparations question,. England might be. expected to go her way in dealing with the Germans, for the amount England fs to receive from the total to be paid is in- significant when compared to France's 53 per cent of theitotal. English Labor’s. Demands. The labor party of England is de- | mdnding that under penalty of di- rect action .the government. treat with the soviet and riin govern- ments and revive the fullest méasure of trade at the earliest possible mo- ment, inasmuch as it is believed sucl revival will bring reliet for the at present paralyzed British industrial works. England’s whole govern- mental and finanéial policy depends on the searly revival of old. world trade. Trade is the life of England. ‘With .present paralyzed cohditions England can make but c tively little headway in liguidatifg the tre- mendous obligations of. the war, for none of the nations to whom Eng- land advanced liberal credits dufln‘ the war can pay-n & score of yesrs, it ever. England, in a trade sense, must advance §y her own ingenuity and -endeavor, and'if a break with the French had“tome Britain undoubt- edly would have set in motion a move- ment to insure a tremendous volume of German trade. England ma® be able to effect a work- ing agreement with soviet Russia. M. Krassin has carried to Moscow a tenta- tive agreement whic¢h looks toward the epening of Russia} vast storehouses for the benefit of tHe British- men of commerce. Under this proposed pact Epgland recognises the soviet's right to deal with other nations and refuses- longer” to sanction boycott, blockade, or any other of the meth- ods which have been pursued to check the commercial and political éxpansion of the soviet regime. The n)‘op0lefi agréement has been bit- 4erly denounced by the /conservative thought of England, but to meet the economic and financial crisis in the em- pire, the government has been im- pressed with the necessigy of trading on a large scale, wherever England can do so, and’as a consequence Ger- many, and particularly Russia, would immediately have come within the scope of British intentions. Oppose Seviet Regime. The Frenck, cn the other hand, are fecting the 1 3 5 {Copyrignt, 1821, on' the ‘league of nations, and threaten to be the tariff. The real’ issue of the mt campaign, i the opinion of some of thi greas the record of the a business” administration af- mm wmcrlty of the ynltml T [ 2 oo’ Wasbiagion 8tar) Allies Faced Trade and Political Strife In Failure to Agree on .Reparatio bitteply opposed to any- revival of trade with Russia as’ long ‘as Lenin and ‘Trotsky pemain. in power, and.may be expected to resume ‘with fever heat her efforty to align all pf the smaller na- tions in the Balkans 'and eastern Etirope against the extension of soviet influ- ‘ence, as would come ‘through revival of trade_relatioks between England and Rus; France distrusts Gefl'n‘ny mnot more than she distrusts the soviet regime in Moscow, and justly so, and should France succeed in bringing about a defi- nite coalition between Latvia, Lithuania and other of the Balkan states and bring about a definite working arrange- ment between Poland, Rumania and Hungary, any agreements effected be- tween England and the soviet might be overthrown. Particularly would this be true should the hoped-for overthrow of the soviet come to pass. The border states are not' expected to enter into a war of aggression against the soviet, but it is reliably reported that the bol- sheviki are preparing for & spring drive, and, in case war is started, France, in 80 far as she would be able to do so, would give aid. French May Lose. But, according to the British view- point, any effort of France running contradictory to a policy of revival of trade in Russia and Germany means the eventual wane of French influence on the continent.” If the British ‘can effect definite trade agreements with Germany and Russia this will bring three of the largest powers into work- ing harmony and the whole continental economic situation may be saved, with consequent influence for those allevi- ating present uncertainties. ‘With a definite break on reparations, the one dream of the French would have been realized,. Fowever, andi that the oc- cupation of the Ruhr and possibly the left bank of the Rhine, for with the French left to their own devices in the enforcement of the Versailles reparations terms there would be no other course, for Britain most certainly would with- draw her armies of occupation in pro- testing the French action. Should Belgium side with Lloyd George in regard to the whole reparations ad- justment France might find herself in the position she has long feared— complete isolation from allied Co-opera~ tion. This may have been a determining factor in acceptance of the new repara- tions terms, for France does not want to stand alone’ and Britain does not want France to occupy the Ruhr. ‘agree, and had they split, Germany might. have gone far in escaping the penalties imposed when representa- tives of the powers assembled in Paris to draw up the reckoning. - ——— ESTRADA SUCCEEDS HILL. Enrique Estrada has been appointed minister ofiwar in Mexico, succeeding Benjamin Hill, the State nt was advised vesterday by Amd, finally, had the allies failed to|. . Society News HAVE HIGH STANDING !IN 'LATIN' REPUBLICS 'Amencan Chambers Of Commerce play l Important Part in Furthermg the BY BEN uel{zuw\\' ECENT publicity attending a series of changes in the eco- nomic and financial condition of: Latin American republics llmve thrown. an interesting light -on |the work of the United States Cham- ber of Commerce in:connection With the eleven American chambers now The status of these Latin American Bolivia, Brazil, Chile and Colombia. The status of these Latin America [chambers is theoreically Identical | with that of the numerous chambers | located in the various cities of the TUnited States. . But actually an ‘Amer- ican chamber of commerce abroad has far wider influence than any of the chambers'in the United States. Uch importance can be-attached to their work in South America at this time, for @ great deal of good or much harm can result from their manner in handling the numerous @elicate situa- tions which are constantly arising in the commerce between the United States and South America. H According to officials of the United | States Chamber of Commerce these American chambers in South America represent to the South American busi- ness man the people of the United States. Any action on their part is interpreted as expressing the will of ~|the United States. A poorly managed and ill advised chamber in South America is considered among the worst of “bad actors.” So far the United States Chamber of Commerce considers the work of the chambers in Latin America high- ly successful. merical growth and a comstant strengthening in their influence. They ; have been on the lookout for action on the part of any South American government toward restricting Ameriz can trade, been met immediately by protest, not to the government so much as to the people themselves, that they have become an. all-im- portant factor to be dealt with bs- fore passing legislation detrimentai to American trade. Composed of American business men, who are familiar with the de- tails of every new complication which comes up in trade between the United States ‘and South America, these chambgrs furnish the most reliable information in nile dllnalchel sent to ' the in ‘Washington, vhich is dlnemluz«l in turn to the varlous chambers.in this country for the guidance of their members. The United States Chamber of Com- merce, meanwhile, in conjunctjon with the bureau of foreign and domestic commerce, is encouraging the growth and. the work of the chambers in Southi America. Pressure is brought to bear on: Congress from every city in the country in the interest of leg- islation designed to aid these cham- bers. Congressmen are furnished with information of conditions in South America by the United States cham- ber here, which has received it from those in South America. * % Kk X Bautista Saavedra, a member of ihe governing ‘board of Bolivia, was in- augurated President of Bolivia Fri- day. Bolivia has been under the man- agement of a governing board since the coup d'etat of July last, when the former. govérament was overthrown. The constitutional assembly, " Which has been in session for the past month, has changed the constitution of Bo- livia so that the term of the presi- dent began last Friday instead of in August, as formerly. The constitutional assembly also has voted to resolve itself into a national |congress, to serve for the full term of the president. The inauguration of President Saavedra . is Bolivia's latest step toward establishing the new government firmly.. The United States will recognize Bolivia, it is be- lieved, when the new government proves itself capable of efficient rule. * k k¥ Ambassador Federico Alfonso Pezet Harding Said to Want. Him To Have Seat in Cabinet ’ SENATOR ALBERT B. FALL 1t New llexiu. regarded as lkely fo be oneof President Hurding’s oficial tamily, l.r the lll!‘ m( should Jus- tll:“ “l‘l’“‘" mot be pinced In National Good Wlll. There has been a nu-; and*ithess Sactions h“"\[Sonlh American ~ countries, with the res@it| N of Peru will deliver a series of ad- dresses in Springfield, 111, the week of February 12 in conmection with the 100th anniversiry of the birth of Lincoln.. (He has accepted the fnvitation of the Lincoln Centennial Association to speak. * ok ok % Gullemalx intends to reorganize her Public school ‘system within a short | time. according to word received hers 1 by Dr. Julic Bianchi, Guatemaian minister to the United States. The reorganization will be accomplished under a commission of five men, headed by the minister of public in- Struction, Dr. Jose G. Salazar. It I8 planned to establish a school in every town with a population of 500 or more, and to provide each of the twenty-two departments of the re- ! public with a manual training school. | * ok ok % Dillman S. Bullock, wWho recently was appointed agricultural trade commissioner in Argentina, is on {his way to Buenos Aires, where he will work to stimulate the market for American pure-bred live stock’ Mr. Bullock is the second trade com- i missioner sent out by the bureau of markets. L In his recent testimony before a House committee hearing on the . diplomatic and consular bill, reported out last week, Dr. L. S. Rowe, di- rector general of the Pan-American Union, reviewed the work of the inter-American high comniission since its first and only meeting in Buenos ]Mrel. in 1916. The record of these hearings became public last week. The furtherance of closer financial and oOther relations throughout the partly through the adoption of uniform {legislation, was the commission’s most important work, Dr. Rowe sald. The adoption of a trade mark agreement was among the greatest aehlevement- of the commission, he 1said. | Greatér uniformity of customs reg- ulations, removal of such hamnupl to trade as taxation by provinees and municipalities, and more uniform classification of merchandise for sta- tistical p Rave been schieved by the emmllghl. Dr. Rowe, de- clared. 2 Di: Hows. daks# for an approprii: tion of tl 000 to earry on the comi- mission’s work. He was allowed $25,000, the same amount appropri- ated last year. Fof the Pan-Ameri- can Unfon, 56 per cent of the &x- penses of which are borne by the United States, Dr. Rowe asked $178,000. He was allowed $100,000. % x % The record of the hearings on the House consular ‘and diplomatic bill showed that the United States charge d’affaires in Costa Rica has been in- structed {n recommend a site for the American legation there. Included in the appropriation bill is $11.000 to complete the work on the American legation in San Salvador. * % x ¥ J. E. Lefevre, charge d'affaires of the Panama legation here, acting for his government, filed a protest with the State Department last week against the action of the American military authorities in taking posses. sion of a small piece of ground near” Colon, which, it was claimed, was necessary for the -defense of the Panama canal. = Panams, according to Mr. Lefevre, bases her objection not on the fact that the land was taken, but on the method of seizure. She claims that her rights as a sovereign nation should be recognized, and the quég- tion of taking any land within hér territories should be approached through the regular diplomatic chan- nels. ¥ Panama disputes the argument of John W. Hanan, district judge of the | Panama Canal Zone, in which he maintained that under the treaty be- tween the United States and Panama, the latter country is virtuaily a pro- tectorate of the United States. Pana- ma, in answering the judge's opinion, contends she is a country which should be dealt with as other sov- ereign powers on questions which in\!olva her international rights. * x ok % According to dispatches reaching the Guatemalan embassy here, that government is contemplating a pros gram to encourage export'trade by the reduction of all export duties, The plan involves reorganization of | Guatemala’s taxation system, which is being worked out by a committed of nine citizens, headed by Minister of Finance Medrano, and including three of the most prominent bankess of Guatemala. The plan probably will become ef- fective this year. * *x x ¥ Announcement of the commission to decide on the future form of govern- ment for Santo Domingo is expected this week, according to statements recently by First Assistant Secretary thosé who will serve on this com- missipn have accepted appointment, and the completion of a few minor details only §s left before the coms mission bcl'th its work. It is planned to have the _commis- sion work out a form of tcm for the Dominicans. will give uu- lnl hreb of ‘the m‘% bty Secretary of it th as the | aboul e of State Davis. It is understood thas—