Evening Star Newspaper, July 15, 1923, Page 45

' THE SUNDAY STAR, WASHINGTO D. C, JULY 15 1923--PART UNITY ON REPARATIONS POLICY STILL REMOTE Prolonged Negotiations Between France and England Likely—Bedrock Theories Vaty Widely. BY OLIVER OWEN KUHN. H, the lady in the moon really is a beauteous erea- ture, but—=sh, do you not see the mole on her nose?” Diplomatically, politely, generously and eloquently, Premier Baldwin nevertheless expeditiously and firmly (13 thus dealt with the general question | of reparations and the divergencies that exist today between England and France in regard to the whole ques- tlon of unity in endeavors for the cconomic, political and social salva- tion of the old werld. Premier Baldwin in his long await- ed statement to the house of com- mons on Thursday informed France that he was radically opposed to severance of the wartime entente,, which was very pleasing to all allies. ‘With other things he declared: proposed British reply to the Ger- man note is expected to go to Brus- sels, Parls and Italy during the com- ing week. In connection with it there will be extensive memoranda further outlining the viewpoint of TLondon. It cannot be expected that the French will arbitrarlly and hastily take any action that will bring severance of ties with Britain. More likely negotiations will con- tinue for weeks, if conditions within Germany proper do not demand an immediate settlement and one upon which France and England can have hope of agreeling. French Purpose Cited. The French have made the claim that they went into the Ruhr solely for the collection of what 1§ que them. Premier Polncare in the cham- ber but a few days back declared: “We went into’ the Ruhr without any thought of annexation or perma- nent occupation, but to have a pledge of guarantee and to exercise an ef- fective coercion on Germany. We ““The responsibility Is acknowledged | 85K, above all, that Germany cease and shared in equal measure by France, Italy and Belgium and our- selves. Perhaps it may be said to devolve in more special measure upon the French and British nations by virtue of the self-sacrifices they have made side by side In the years of trial, by the intimacy of fact and memory that unites them today, and 1ot the least by the experience these two ancient civilizations have shared throughout the centuries. “A similar community of thought | and actfon binds us in the present emergency to our other allies, whose interests are in no respect divergent from our own. Determined on Reparation. “We are determined as any of our allies that Germany shall make rep- aration. We have never wavered on that point.” “From the beginning we have made it clear that in our opinion the occu- pation of the Ruhr was not calculated 10 produce the maximum amount of reparations——" he allies are obtaining less repa- ration than they did before the occu- pation. * * 5, “The French and Belgian govern> ments assure that their whole object in occupying the Ruhr is to secure the payment of reparations. It that be so the difference between us is one of method rather than of aim and we are convinced that the indefi- nite continuation of this state of affairs is fraught with grave peril.” “In_ proportion as the productive power of that country (Germany) is exhausted, so does the recovery of her credit and the payment of her debts recede into the dimmer dis- tance.” And further, Premier Baldwin de- clared that there was general agree- ment upon the thesis, “that the indefi- nite occupation by one country of the territory of another in time of peace is a phenomenon rare and regrettable in itself, to which an honorable end should a5 soon as possible be found.” Bedrock of British Policy. This, in brief, is the bedrock of the whole British policy. That it is certain to come into conflict with the viewpoint of France is indicated by a statement of President Mble- rand, who, a few days back, declared: “France has taken a resolution; she applies it and she has said why she has marked her goal. Nothing will make her abandon either her method or her objective. Inasmuch as Millerand is the de- clared political enemy of Poincare and is said at one time to have leaned toward moderation of the Toincare policy, this is extremely slgnificant_coming as it does at the moment. The whole crisis between France and Great Britain, which either may be dissipated or eventuate into a severance of relationships, in so far as future working together is con- cerned, has not been eased by the statement of Premier Baldwin. His moderation in announcing Britain's determination to agaln give firm volee in general adjustments, how- ever, has been hailed in Paris, but Paris halls his moderation only. The British government has pre- pared a memorandum of a reply to the last German note and will take responsibility of eventually dispatch- ing it to Germany, with or without the approval of the allies, This has been made more certain. However, the note will be sent to all the in- terested allied powers, who are ex- pected to examine it with the hope of adjusting _allled viewpoints in rder that further procedure agalnst Germany may be so co-ordinated as ! to be wholly effective and at the same time preserve a semblance of war-time unity. Would Go it Alone. Though Premier Baldwin, as I have repeatedly stated, is extremely anx- tous to preserve old friendships and political alliances, it, nevertheless, is known in London that if the French government eventually resists the British proposals there will be inde- pendent action on the. part of Eng- land. . However. it must not be expected that Britain immediately will wave her flag of complete defiance at the resistance and withdraw the decision she has taken and glve proof of her good will. It is for Germany to cut short the occupation of the Ruhr. The sooner Germany pays the sooner we withdraw.” Prémier Baldwin, cent™ pronouncement, declares that Germany cannot pay under present conditions, much as the French would like payment, and cites the impotence of Germany as a reason, Quention of Settlemen: The English government hay been informed, from time to time, that the French are in the Ruhr to carry out the policies of the military and im- perialistic elements of France look- ng toward the eventual annexation of the Rhineland and the Ruhr, and that France does not want a settlement. It is held in London that the French, if they would disprove this to the world, must make their policy coin- cide more with that of the British, who argue that as Germany cannot pay under occupational conditions, it is up to the French to withdraw their forces after adequate German guar- antees have been glven. Britain would use promised German guaran- tees as a basis for negotiation, in- stead of resorting to prompt dis- missal of the most recent Berlin rep- arations tender. The French distrust all guarantees except those imposed in his most re- by France. Poincare and Millerand are thoroughly committed to the policy of force inaugurated in Janu- ary. Can the French theory of forcing German payment and the British claim of the futility of present courses be reconciled? Upon this question depends the out- come of the protracted negotiations that are imminent as the result of the British decision to take an active hand in the reparations question, in- stead of complacently stting by while the whole question drifts to the dis- advantage of English diplomacy. Political Future at Stake. There is little question but that the whole political future of the present French government rests upon suc- cessful solution of the impasse ex- isting as the result of the failure of the French policy to collect due rep- arations. Poincare insists that when passive resistance is ended and the Germans prove their good faith, then France will relent, assist in the pro- cess of reconstruction and at the same time withdraw troops as Ger- many pays. There is some question as to whether Premier Poincare would be safe In halfway approaching the Eritish contention that the French troops should be withdrawn from the Ruhr. It is most certainly true that ¥France will not admit, at the pres- ent juncture, at least, that her policy has failed by ordering such with- drawal. All France would be aflame in an instant if the French govern- ment recalled occupational forces be- fore the Germans have been made to admit their defeat in the present Ruhr enterprise and forced to ac- knowledge their war-time gullt and reparations ~dodges. On the other hand, this is the ry thing which Premler Baldwin insists is necessary if Germany is to pay and even he de- mands that Germany be made to pay for her war-time perfidies. ‘Withdrawal Doubted. Though there may be general agree- ment and unity as to purpose there is some question that the French gov- ernment, with things drifting as far as they have, can ever wlithdraw. British influence in Berlin may bring an end to passive resistance to aid the French position, but this will re- main doubtful until it is proved that Chancellor Baldwin stands some chance. of influencing Paris toward the general end desired. Unquestionably the real crisis will come when Paris is informed of the proposed British reply to Germany. Though it is expected that the Brit- ish government will go far in en- deavoring to abide by the French viewpoint and in consideration of the susceptibilities of the leaders of French political thought, it is be- lieved that there will be sufficlent ob- sympathies and the desires of Poln- care and the French government. The i jance, stacles to preclude France's accept- unless prolonged negotiation surmounts various barriers. Break in Alaskan Cable Would Handicap President (Continued from First Page.) Such an operation might involve three days'.or three weeks' time foP its successful completion, depending on varlous circumstances. , That such a contingency as 2 break in the Alaskan cable is not remote while the President is in Alaska is evidenced by the fact that Congress has already appropriated funds for the manufacture and laying of a new cable to replace the existing one, owing to the extensive deterioration from age of the existing cable and the consequent rather frequent jinter- ruptions to service from cable breaks. Even though a cable break should oceur, however, the President would not now become isolated in Alaska, in a news sense, because radio, which is independent of physical connecting mediums for its functioning, would accommcdate the cable traffic, or such part of it as it would be capable of handling, in addition to its ndrmal traffic, and would pass it through space between stations in Alaska and corresponding stations in the United States. However, in such an event, a partial ws famine” would almost certainly oceur. There are only three radio stations in Alaska of power sufficient to communicate directly and rellably with stations in the United States. These provide énly three channels of communication by radio between Alaska and the United States, and the naximum number of words of traffic that can be handled over these radio circuits is not only limited by the maximum speed of operation, but al- Jowances must be made for interfer- e from static during the prevailing static scason of the year. Certain al- Jowances must also be made for inter- ferenco between stations which always must be contended with in radio to a greater or less degree. - These three Alaskan radio stations are maintaifed by the Navy at Cor- dova, at Ketchikan, and at Sitka. Of these three stations, however. only the Cordova station has direct con- nection with the two land wire sys- tems, which serve the interior of Alaska, although Cordcva can inter- communicate by radio with Sitka and Ketchikan and” also with the Signal Corps radlo station at Fairbanks and with most of the other Army stations situated at {solated points in the in- terior. Thus with the President at Fair- banks, at Seward, at Cordova, or at other ‘points in central Alaska, and should a cable break occur,’ there would be available but one channel of communication with the United States which could be uillized to ad- vantage—the Ether route between the Cordova radio station and its cor- responding station at the Navy Yard at Puget sound near Seattle. Over this radio circuit or channel, some 2.000 words of traffic are handled daily under normal conditions, while over the Signal Corps cable between Valdez and Seattle some 35,000 words cf traffic are likewise handled daily under normal conditions, this latter figure being the approximate maxi- mum traflic capacity of the existing cable system. Under abnormal traffic conditions, provided static should not be un- usually severe, from twenty to thirty thousand words of traffic can be passed through space between the Cordova and Puget sound rudio sta- tions within each twenty-four-hour interval of time. Abnormal conditions with respect to communication traffic between the United States and Alaska will pre- vail during the President's visit to that territory, and obviously the problem of successfully handling these communications will be a diffi- cult one, especially if a cable break should occur at this time. Volume'to Be Increased. The daily volume of official gov- ernment trafic will undoubtedly be increased due (o the xre’ter number l The Story the Week Has Told BY HENRY W. BUNN. | HE following 1s a brief summary of the most important news of the world for the seven days ended July 14: The British Empire—The house of has passed the bill making men and women cqual before the law as regards grounds of divorce. The royal assent is certain. Lord bill in allowing allmony to wronged wives with- out corresponding indemnity to wronged hus- bands. Timothy Healy, governor general Irish Free State, asserts that “Ireland today is as tranquil as Great Britain. “The Free State,” he declares, concern of the Free State government ig how to deal with the 10,000 rebels held prisoners. about 300 a week. Mr. Healy complains of the “obstinate” re- fusal of the Belfast government to appoint a commission to co-operate with commis- sloners of the Free State and Great Britain in “rectification” of the boundary between the northern and southern states. * %k k ¥ France.—The French chamber and senate have ratified the Washington conference naval and Pacific treaties. The vote in the chamber on the naval treaty was 460 to 106; only three senators dissented. The vote on the Pacific emphasized in the brief discussion that France is at liberty to denounce the treaties in 1934, her adhesion to lapse in such case in 1936: that she could not afford, even if she wished to do so, to bulld, prior to 1936, capital ships In excéss of the ratio allowed her; and that at Washington she substantially had her wlill as regards craft, other than capital ships (except alrcraft carriers). * ok Xk Germany,—Og July 12 Prime Minister Bald- win made his long-awalted statement on the reparations business to the British house of commons, and Lord Curzon read an identical statement to the lords. It is the intention of the British government, said Mr. Baldwin, to draft a reply to the German government's note of June 7. and to submit that draft to the other allies for consideration, and re- marks in the hope that there may emerge from the exchanges a Jjoint reply agree- able to all the allies. Mr. Baldwin did not vouchsafe any information as to the detalls of the proposed British draft, but from the general tenor of his speech it is proper to infer that the general attitude of the Baldwin government on the reparations problem does not importantly differ from that of the Law government. Bonar Law's proposal is referred to as “very generous,” and as to the Ruhr occupation Mr. Baldwin has this to say: Many of the consequences (of the Ruhr occupation) anticipated (by the British in January) are in course of fulfillment. The allies are obtaining less reparations than they did before the occupation. We are convinced that indefinite continuation of this state of affairs would be fraught with grave peril Germany appears to be going fast toward economic chaos, which may be succeeded by social and industrial ruin. Nor Is this a_situ- ation that concerns Germany alone. Every country In Eurepe is paying the price for this condition of affairs.” Mr. Baldwin then specifically refers, as he is bound to do, to the effects of “this condition of affairs™ on trade, on_employment and on public senti- ment in Britain. “Public opinion throughout Burope, and not least in Great Britain, is becoming more and more sensitive to these conditions and alarmed at their continuance. lords Birkenhead took occassion in debate on the to point out the unfairness of the law of the s now estab- lished definitely, despite the internal assaults that have been made upon it.” The present chief It is proposed to free them at the rate of treaty was unanimous in both houses. It was period of conflict should as soon as possible be terminated; that indefinite occupation by one country of another in time of peace is @ phenomenon rare and regrettable in Itself, to which an honorable end should as soon as possible be found; that the debtor should not merely be called upon to pay his debt but should be placed in a position where he can do so: that his capacity, where it ix In doubt. should be tested gnd determined and that united efforts should be made to accomplish these ends. Peace will not finally be obtained and recovery will not be insured until a solu- tion has been found to three great questions. They are: “(1.) Payment of reparations; “(2.) Settlement of interallied debts: “(3)) Security of a pacified Europe.” No doubt it was Mr. Baldwin's purpose to clear the air prior to issulng practical pro- posal, But some think the French may reasonably complain that just when indica- tions were multiplying of ‘weakening of the German will to resist in the Ruhr, Mr. Bald- win should find it necessary to declare the Franco-Belglan occupation a failure, and to intimate that world opinion is more and more hostile to its continuance. For the French have been saying right slong that the re: sults contemplated by the occupation, would be slow In coming and have asked for sus- pension of judgment. The French may also, perhaps not without reason, complain of Mr. Baldwin's attribution of German economic chaos (“which may be succeeded by social and industrial ruin”) to the Ruhr occupation. They assert that the chaos is only financial; that the collapse of the mark was actually engi- neered by the German capitalists in order to sabotage the treaty, to enrich themselves, and by producing a semblance of ruin, to create the basls for a world propaganda, having for its object reduction of the reparations total to an amount ridiculously small compared with the national debts of France and Britain (the German domestic debt has practically been wiped out by inflation), and, indeed, com- pared with the German capacity to pay; that the real German wealth has been little im- paired, that German productive capacity, far from being exhausted, is greater than ever before, that if the Germans chose to do so, they could quickly set the financial house in order; that since the armistice the Germans have expended immense sums for improve- ments to thelr communications, industrial plants, ete. And for restoration of their merchant marine, are in excellent plight to resume the effort for commercial supremacy; that, if the latest German proposals were to be dccepted. Germany would be In preposter- ous position of having to carry only about $7.000,000.000 of debt as against the British debt of $35,000,000,000 and the French debt of about the same amount; etc. It should be added that Mr. Baldwin's speech is almost affectionate in tone toward France. But the comment of the semi-officlal Temps of Parls s cold and suspicious. Apropos of Mr. Baldwin's remarks on the Ruhr occu- pation, it notes that the British government made no protest against Germany occupation of France in 1871. As to Mr. Baldwin's ap- proval of the idea of an “impartial commi slon” (for though he does not express approval of that idea directly, the implication Is glai ing) to determine Gérmahy's capacity to pay, Le Temps observes, as It has often observed before, that determination of German's pres- ent capacity to pay (the‘function of the pro- posed commission) would be beside the mark, German capacity for ultimate payment bear- ing_little relation to the present condition of German finances. Of late the Pope has been active in medi- atory efforts to smooth the relations hetween ¥rance and Belgium on the one part, and Germany on the other. His nuncios at Brussels and Paris represented to the French and Belgian governments the Pope's hope that those governments would not take severe re- prisals on account of the Duisburg incident. Poincaire’s reply was that “the French govern- ment reserves full right to take, in accord with the Belgian government, measures to prevent a repetition of such acts by the Ger- mans." Such reprisals have not been taken, how- ever. and, * k X * Italy,—The Itallan camera met on July 2. be held. Should the chamber refuse, he might (it {s sald) dissolve parliament and declare his electoral scheme law by royal decree; or he might dissolve the chamber and hold gen- eral elections under the present proportional representation law, hoping that the new parllament so elected would accept his elec- toral reform program. His scheme provides for assignment of two-thirds of the seats in parllament to the party obtaining the largest number of votes in a general election (a majority not required). Opposed to that scheme are the soclalists, the communists, the Slavs, the Germans, the Sardinians, the autonomists and the Catholics, together rather more than half the member- ship of the camera, but it is thought that many Cathollcs will refrain from voting, whereby Mussolini would win by a hair. Mussolinl thinks he has the country be- hind him. The present camera was elected in 1921, when the Catholics (or ‘“popular party”) 'and the socialists were much stronger in_the country than they are at present. It is true that government under the Itallan variation of the group parliamentary system has been found impossible, but Musso- linl's proposed substitution would be a far cry from a truly representative system, and the experiment thereof would be dublous and dangerous. The Italian people, sick of the old inefliclency, have acquiésced in the exer- cise (conceived to be temporary) of extra- legal dictatorial powers by Mussolini, but, loving Hberty and justice as much as any people in the world, they might soon be sicker of the results of Mussolini's “great ide: Might it not be impossible, short of civil war, to oust a minority government estab- lished pursuant to Mussolini’'s plan? It has to be admitted, however, that the circum- stances in Italy are so peculiar that Musso- linl’s plan is by no means altogether offen- sive to justice or right reason. * Kk k % Taurkey.—Reports had it that it was all over but the (Turkish) shouting at Lausanne. that the treaty was about to be signed at last. I thereupon indited an elegant little account of the strange victory of the crescent, with a proper appreciation of the genlus of Ismet Pasha of the gentle and insecrutable smile; whereupon, the news arrived that the allled representatives and Ismet were at outs again, Ismet having gone back on certain prom{ses he had made regarding pre-war con- cessions, and that the conference was sus- pended pending the result of communications between the allled representatives and their respective governments. No doubt these gen- tlemen will be instructed to back down once more. Meantime, Mr. Grew is trying to nego- tlate @ new treaty for us with Ismet. Let us hope he has charms to foll the black magic of that doughty little man. * % k * na.—On July 7 bandits held up a train fifteen miles from Canton, killing a Chinese military officer and a soldier and carrying off for ransom about ninety Chinese of the better class. There were no foreigners among the passengers. A military detachment followed up the bandits and engaged their rear guard, killing ‘about twenty of them. but the main body escaped with the prisoners and the loot. Some troops guarding the Tientsin-Pukow railroad mutined the other day, their griev- ance being that bandits were paid while loyal n;:ldlera were not. One can hardly blame them. * ¥ ¥ % Miscellaneous.—William R. Day, formerly assoclate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, died on July 9 at the age of seventy-four. The council of the league of nations has been considering complaints against the Sarre commission, which was appointed by ft and is answerable to it, most of the criticism com- ing from Britain. 'The commission was cited before the council. After rigid questioning by Lord Robert Cecil the council voted “con- fidence” in the commission. Fighting in Transjordania is reported. Five of official dispatches incidental to the President’s sojourn in Alaska. To this increase must be added the great volume of traffic representing special dispatches to and from the vario news agencies and individual news- papers, especially the dispatches from the speclal correspondents in Alask: These requirements, together wii the normal requirements, will im- pose a very heavy strain on the Signal Corps cable and the Navy's radio commurication systems, which link Aleska to the United States, even if both systems are not hampered by carualties or interferences. In the present state of develop- stake. There agreement will, 1 believe, ment of the infant science of radlo. | the eftective handling of traffic through space between given distant points as_a business proposition, either on the part of the government or commercial agencles—that is, the regular and prompt transmission and regular and prompt reception of espe- clally large volumes of traffic, which must_be gotten through without de- lay if it is to be of value, is quite a difterent matter from the occasional transmission and reception of non- urgent messages; or the broadcasting of radiophone programs and their re- ception by those who are fortunate enough to be able to pick them up in whole or in part without difficulty. This fact may be forcibly exempli fied In connection with the Presi- | dent's visit to Alaska. (Copyrighted, 1923, 21st Century Press.) Millions of Golf Balls Used _Yearly There will be something like 13.- 200,000 golf balls used in the United States this year, according to figures compiled by the U. S. Department of Commerce. About one-fourth of this number will be imported. The golf ball trade of the American manufac- turer will have a wholesale value of $3,620,000, with big additional oppor- tunities for American trade expansion in export markets. Not a half bad showing for the elu- sive and contrary pellet that you swat and follow on its erratic course down llhe fairway, eh? The golf ball is some business builder. The British monopolize this trade in other markets. Golf playing ls firmly established afl over the world, and its devotees are increasing in numbers every vear. Both in the do- mestic and export fields closer atten- tion by American manufacturers should result in increased trade, ac- cording_to P. L. Palmerton, chief. of the rubber division, bureau of foreign domestic commerce. A eticaliy Al of the golf balls im- ported_into the United States come from England and Scotland, where the game originated. The average value of the balls imported from Eng- land is 42 cents each, and from Scot- land, 29 cents each. The “Silver King” is a, well known and popular ball, bu present the Blue Dunlop “Maxfli offering the most competition. This ball was first introduced in England in May, 1922, and the demand for it has become 50 great that the company manufactur- ing it recently remodeled its entire plant and organization. Import sta- tistics indicate tha tthe sales of this ball in the United States alone are largely responsible for these plant extensions. Ten American firms account for the bulk of domestic production. Investi- gation shows that the imported balls Tetail around $1 each, while American balls retail from $1 o 25 cents. United States exports of golf balls are not now importanf Farmers Use Steam. Steam is coming into general use on the large farms of the country, particularly in the middle and far west. Steam power, supplanting the physical energy of the farmer's wife, is more and more being employed to scald the milk pails, cream separ: tors, churning machinery and other dairying apparatus. Displacing the time-honored windmill and bucksaw, it is pumping the farmer’'s water and sawing his wood. Through steam power the nation's cheese industry is being developed. It is not too much to say that the recovery of the world is in danger and that the peace for which so many sacrifices were borne is at to these propositions; electoral reform. be general that the Mussolini has submitted to it his scheme of If the chamber accepts the scheme, no doubt Mussolini will shortly there- after dissolve it and general elections hun in which a will captured it. TRUE STORY OF ROYAL SUICIDE NOW REVEALED Memoirs of Diplomat Give Inside Facts ‘ and Friends Hapsburg “There is one point omitted from the remarkable and convincing story pub- lished the other day in the Paris Temps about the tragedy of Meyerling, in 1589, by Maurice Paleologue, one of the most respected, reliable and level-headed members of the diplomatic service of France. Knight grand cross of the Legion of Honor, he spent many years in the great state department on the Quai d'Orsay as its political director and as chief of its permanent staff, and also represented his country with much distinction in various European capitals, being indeed ambassador at Petrograd in the years immedlately preceding the great war. and throughout its duration until the overthrow of the czar's mon- archy, in February, 1917. He has en- joyed the confidence of many person- ages of international note, and Edward VII in particular held him in high re- gard, and greatly favored his appoint- ment as ambassador to'Russia, as cal- culated to further the interests of the triple_entente. It is, therefore, not surprising that the late Empress Eugenie should have spoken to him freely in an Intimate con- versation which he had with her in 1906, and in which she related to him the story of the death of Crown Prince Rudolph just as she had received it from the Austrian empress, when they were together in the south of France, at Cape Martin, In the early spring -of 1898, & few months only before Eliza- beth was assassinated by the Itallan anarchist, Luccheni, at Geneva. Am- bassador Paleologue regarded the tale unfolded to him by the widow of Na- poleon IIT as being of such importance that within twenty-four hours he made a complete record in his diary. If he has now given it to the public in the col- umns of the Paris Temps, it is for the purpose of refuting another of the many fanciful storfes which have been pub- tished during the last quarter of a cen- tury about the tragedy, some of them even emanating from persons more or less remotely connected with the court at Vienna. The only account which gave any real insight into the mystery was that which appeared anonymously within a few weeks after the murder of Em- press Elizabeth as a tribute to her emory by one who was attached to her by ties of the most 'devoted friendship and who has never re- vealed her identity. -It was in the form of a book. issued on both sides of the Atlantic and entitled “The Martyrdom of an Empress.” The declaration of Ambassador Paleo- logue, as received through Empress Eugenie from Empress Elizabeth, bears out in every particular and ab- solutely confirms the version of Meyerling as printed twenty-five years ago in “The Martyrdom of an Empress”—a book which even con- tained copies of the last letters writ- ten by the crown prince to intimate friends—one especially to his par- ticular confidant, and the executor of his testamentary wishes, Count Szcegyeny-Marich, afterward Austrian ambassador at Berlin, In each of these letters the crown prince emphasized the fact “I must die. In honor I can do nothing else.” There was also a letter to his mother, the contents of which remain sacred. These letters lay on the table of the room In the shooting lodge at Mever- ling, where he took his life. There was likewise a letter there addressed by Marle Vetzera to her mother, in which she intimated that she was about to take poison, and in which she declared that “There are circum- stances which prevent our union, cir- cumstances which I cannot discuss, least of. all with you." . i ! Recall -the Tragedy. It is to the latter sentence in Marle Vetzera's letter to her mother that I wish to draw special attention. For it refers to a matter not contained | in Ambassador Paleologue's recital, and which for reasons that are ob- vious was not touched upon by Em- press Elizabeth to Empress Eugenie, since the former’s husband, old Em- peror Francis Joseph, was still alive. And yet it was that which really drove Rudolph and Marie Vetzera to take their lives at Meyerling, and which explains why the crown prince wrote “I must die. In honor, I can do nothing else.” enciente was confided by Empress Elizabeth to Eugenle. Rudolph knew nothing of it until it was revealed to him by Marie on the night ‘of the tragedy. Then the tull horror of the situation burst upon him. For in the terribly dra- matic interview which he had a few hours previously at the Hofburg with the emperor, and in which the latter had exacted a solemn pledge from the crown prince never to see the girl again after their last and final inter- view that night, the monarch had given expression to his dread—nay almost to his conviction—that Marle was the offspring of his own brict and short lived intrigue with the girl's mother, Helene Vetzera, nee Baltazzi, a Levantine of great beauty in her day. She was never a member of the great world of Vienna, from which her daughter Marie and her sisters were likewise excluded by rea- son of her failure to satisfy the genealogical qualifications required for presentation at the imperial court. It was owing to this line of demarca- tion which existed until the fall of the empire between those who were presentable to court and those who were mnot, between those who be- longed to the great world of Vienna and those who were rigorously ex- cluded from its portals, that served to facilitate Intrigues, since each set was at pains to prevent its romances —if 1 may use the word—from be- coming known. Thus there had al- ways been a considerable discretion about the ephemeral friendship of Emperor Francis Joseph with Helene Vetzera, and its knowledge was for the most part restricted to those who, like myself, were long standing ac- quaintances and old-time assoclates of\ the amiable and good looking Baron Vetzera, a member of the Aus- trian diplomatic _service, and who were aware why he was always pro- vided with the most agreeable, lucra- tive and at the same time not too consplcuous posts abroad. It was this frightful situation, so sug- gestive of the old Greek tragedies of Sophocles and Euripedes, t con- fronted the crown price and young Marie Vetzera. They were overwhelmed by the extent of its horror. That is why she took polson—the empty bottle was found on the floor—that is why the crown price—presumably at her en- treaty—shot her through the heart in order to end her convulsive agony of suffering from the effects of the strych- nine, and that is why he then blew out his brains—indeed, blew off part of his head. The two had been driven litreally insane by the situation facing them and their_unborn child. That, too, is why Leo XIII, in the face of the opposition of his secretary of state, Cardinal Ram- polla, authorized the obsequies of the crown prince with all the rites of church. For he realized, when every- thing had been revealed to him by the stricken emperor, that the crown prince had been no longer accountable for his actions and the churth is very merciful to those who have been robbed tem- porarily or permanently of their reason. There was no drunken orgy at Meyer- 1ing, no hand-to-hand encounter between liquor crazed boon companions, no broken champagne and brandy bottles, no smashed furniture and hangings torn from -their fastenings. N but -a red members of a certain tribe attacked a caravan of another tribe and, after a battle That Marie was ' hundred tribesmen were killed, somber tragedy, the self-destruction of two young people, who had come to the conclusion that death was the only issue and release from a horror beyond the power of human beings to bear. Perhaps now that all is known, from Rudolph's own mother, by whom. he | was idolized, the world will turn a deaf |ear to all ‘those stories of drunken | profligacy, of high treason to the state, | invented by embittered and malignant declussees, who even attributed the | most atrocious conduct to the blameless Empress Elizabeth, whose memory is still_revered in Austria, and especially in Hungary, as that of a saint, the world will think more indulgently and with greater pity for the brilliant, liberal and promising Archduke Rudolph who, had he lived to succeed to the throne, would assuredly have averted the great war, since he entertained the bitterest | aversion for ex-Emperor Willlam ever since a memorable quarrel with him at Berlin. Like the Oedypus Tyrannus of Sophocles, he was an involuntary vic- | tim of the hereditary curse that has with its relentless blight so long pursued the jll-fated and tragedy-laden dynasty of Hapsburg. : VETERAN DIPLOMAT. Philipp ine View Of U.. S. Revealed With the Philippine people making a vigorous drive for complete inde- pendence, with the vigorous stand taken by Philippine leaders against the exploitation of native resources by “forelgn capital,” with an expedi- tion from the United States Depart- ment of Commerce and the Depart- ment of Agriculture now being or- zanized to study the possibili- ties of a big plantation rubber In- dustry in the Philippines backed by | American capital—considerable inter- est centers in the attitude that Pedro Guevara, newly elected resident com- missioner to the United States, will assume in Congress. Commissioner Guevara hopes that the American people generally, and his colleagues in Congress particu- larly, will try to understand the Filipinos’ desire for Independence, just as he has appealed to his own people to appreciate the ploneer work of Americans in the Philippines. He comes out unequivocally on the question of the investment of Ameri- can capital in the islands, stating that he dpes not consider American capital as ‘“forelgn,” and that it is doubly welcome. “Practically speaking, ‘American caplial is not to be considered ‘for- elgn’ in the Philippines, whatever might be the political status of the islands,” he says. “American capital ought to be regarded as Filipino or national, because, as the Americans have chosen these islands as the cen- ter of their trade transactions, by the law of nature they have to sym- pathize with us in our ambitions and aspirations. . Emphasizing his faith in Americans, Commissioner Guevara says: “The Filipinos should know, or better—be confident, that Americans as a whole will not do anything that will hinder the course of our struggle for liberty. of coul some, or many, of them may express their individual opiniona opposing the realization of our ideals and our long-chershed hope to be an independent nation. But the Fili- ino people must interpret these opin- ons with benevolent sentiment, al- ways. keeping in mind that these Americans do not seek anything other than the welfare of the Filipinos. “The Fillpinos have no cause to fear the American people.. The individual opinion of Americans, whether states- ‘men or not, must not be taken as that of the-whole American public opinion. “I have nothing but high regard for the American people. The Philippine Islands could never be the stepping stone of their ambitions. America Is a fertile and rich country, and as far as her people are concerned, I am convinced their sole purpose-in this ‘world is to help the weak and to gain the glory of building a free, pro- gressive and happy country in the Sar capl” 4y & ¢ U. S. TRADE ACTIVITIES STIR SOUTH AMERICAN INTEREST Better Commercial Relations Between Two Continents Seen by Dr. Rowe After Trip. BY BEN McKELWAY. ATIVE chambers of commerce and business organizations generally in South America are becoming impressed with the fact that manufacturers in the United States are making a real effort to study the needs of their .South | American customers, a condition which is in marked contrast to the years pre- ceding the war, according to Dr. L. 8. Rowe, director general of the Pan- American Union, who recently re- turned from a trip through South America following the fifth pan- American congress. Dr. Rowe states that there is a growing adaptablility to South American conditions and a willingness on the part of Amerlcan manufacturers to make what their consumers in South America really want, & condition which augurs well for Increased and better commercial relations between the two continents. Dr. Rowe's trip, following the ad- journment of the pan-American con- Kress, took him through Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay and Brazil On his_way to attend the congress in Santlago he stopped over in Lima, Peru. He visited the principal cities | and the capitals in these countries interviewing business men and gov- ernment officlals. The organizations of American business men in these countries, which are affiliated with the United States Chamber of Com- merce, Dr. Rowe states, are doing a great missionary work in behalf of better commercial conditions under which they are used in South Amer- fca. Their efforts to study the needs of the South American consumer and flil them conscientiously are bringing about a better understanding between North and South America. - For Pan-Americanism. Dr. Rowe's visit to the government officials of four influential South American republics was made in be- | half of the Pan-American Union. He communication between the American republics, a good roads conference and another conference on the stand- ardization of specification of machiners tools and materlals. Calls for Wide Interest. The good roads conference is ome which calls for a widespread interest throughout South America. Buenos Afres has been suggested for the place of meeting, but this is not definite. 1In the mean time, careful atudy will be given to the problem through the gathering of all mate- rial regarding automobile roads under construction or projected in the dif- ferent American countries, and to the melection of experts from the differ- ent countries to be sent as delegates. The electrical communications con- ference, to be arranged through the Pan-American Unfon and the Int American Electrical Communications Commission, is expected to prepare a convention which shall establish equitable proportional rates and uni- formity of rules governing inter- American electrical -communications. The conference on standardization of specifications probably will meet in Washington, because of the loca- tlon here of the burcau of standards, which has done such important work in this direction. The presence here of experts who are studying this sub- ject for a more widespread use in the United States will be an added rea- son for calling the conference in Washington. This standardization of specifications is one of Mr. Hoover's pet ideas, which he has advanced through the inter-American high commission. A preliminary meeting was held in the Pan-American Union building Friday, attended by repre sentatives of the United States Chaniber of Commerce and the De- partment of Commerce. The Pan-American Unfon will co- operate in carrying out the directions of the congress with the inter-Amer- ican high commission. which is equipped for handling many of the subjects taken up by the congress One of the greatest obstacles in the past to the successful fruition of the acts of the congress bearing on eco- nomical subjects has been the fail- ure to provide means for carrying endeavored to learn through contact Pthrough the program. what the Pan-American Unfons means to the republics of South America and obtain first hand suggestions for in- ereasing its scope. Dr. Rowe reports he found on every hand a deep inter- est in the work of the union and a desire for a greater utilization of its facilities by the southern republlcs. One of the Immedlate results of his trip will _be the compilation by the Pan-American Union of data bearing on such topices as irrigation, housing of the working classes and the reduc- tion of infant mortality, this latter a subject of pecullar Interest and im- portance to every South American republic today. Information on these subfects will be compiled for use in the different South American re- publics and forwarded to the govern- ment officials interested, through the Pan-American Union. While the fifth pan-American con- gress is a thing of the past, the work of the Pan-American Union in con- nectlon with this congress is only beginning. The congress is governed Request for Co-operation. With this in_mind, ‘the ffth American congress = requested the inter-American high commission to co-operate toward drawing up and enforcing its program in so far as it concerned questions with which the commission was equipped to deal As virtually all of the commercial gquestions taken up by the congress fall under the scope of the com- mission, it is reasonable to expect that before the next congress is held many vexatious problems will have been solved. Dr. Rowe was particularly im- pressed on his last trip through South America with the opportunity and facllities which awalt the Amer fcan_tourist who travels away from the United States during the summer. One who leaves the United States in June reaches Rio Janeiro in a winter which corresponds to late spring ir this country, and traveling farthe south to Montivideo or Buenos A to a large extent by the Pan-American Unfon, whose governing board sets the time and place of meeting and ar- ranges the program of subjects for discussion. Many of the resolutions adopted by the congress were re- ferred directly to the Pan-American Union to be carried out, and in ar- ranging the details and compiling the data_called for by these resolutions the Pan-American Unfon will have its hands full for some time to come. Conferences called for by the pan- American congress to be held at places and at a time set by the union are questions which must be arranged by the union within a short time, and the work of gathering the material for these conferences falls, to a large extent, underr the union. Interesting among the conferences to be ar- ranged for by the Pan-American Union are those on the pan-American railroad. a conference on electrical Diplomats Are (Continued from First Page.) one of the chief editorial writers on the London Times, and who will pre- sent the typical problems which the British empire now faces. It is hinted that Secretary Hughes is much interested in this series and that at his suggestion the undersecretary of state, Mr. Willlam Phillips, will at- other secretaries from the State De- partment. The Abbe Dimnet of Paris will be the lodestone for many, mnot only French, but for those engaged in the world war. has come from Germany to present the side of Germany in relation to the European tangle, and several of the secretaries from the German em- bassy and possibly the ambassador will visit Willlamstown while these lectures are in progress. One of the most Interesting at the round table conferences will be the former Rus- sian ambassador, Dr. Boris Bahkme- teff, who will preside over the dis- cussions devoted to the international aspects of the Russlan question. Dr. Zeballos to Speak. Dr. Estanislas Severo Zeballos, for- merly minister of foreign affairs at Buenos Alres, will dellver a course of lectures on the new type of state. This is proving of intense interest in the Latin American republics. Dr. Zeballos has been in Washington for some time past making special in- vestigations, and he may perhaps be accompanied to Willlamstown by the charge d'affaires, Sonor Felipe A. Espll. But the staff of the Argenthme embassy is much depleted at present and only tentative plans can be made. Dr. Leo S. Rowe, director of the Pan- American Union, will conduct a round table conference on the outstanding international problems of the Amer- ican continent, and this will likewise attract some Latin envoys who had made different plans for the summer. The minister from Colombia, Dr. Enrique Olaya, had decided to tour the Pacific coast and drop by at the Monroe doctrine celebration in Los Angeles, when he’determined to fol- low the courses at the Institute of Politics. Though no special provision is made for guests of such eminence as Dr. Olaya, former senator and minister of foreign affairs at Bogota, he will be accorded all the courtesy due his standing as an international scholar and the exalted rank which he has held. The minister from Venesuela, Dr. Pedro Aracaya, will make a brief visit to the Massachu- setts seat of learning and will at- tend a few of the lectures. Dr. Ar- caya has held almost every sort of rank in his country except that of the presidency. He was chief justice of Venezuela when he came to Wash- tend, and perhaps one or two of the | solving problems which grew out of | Count Henry Kessler he finds a climate which corresponds to a late mild fall in this country. This Shipping Board steamers to the east coast of South America comparc favorably with the best vessels in the transatlantic service, Dr. Row. states, for speed and comfort. Facili- ties for travel in South America hav been improved and modernized f. the comfort of the tourist, and tl most modern and comfortable hotels are found In the majority of South | American_cities. The trip to Rio Janeiro, Montivideo, Buenos Aires | thence: up river to the interior or | across the continent to the west coast | 1s one which compares well with any | European tour. Increased travel in | South America, Dr. Rowe points out | means more to'the United States than |European travel. Important advance are taking place there, he states, a: | the traveler is convinced of the actuai | present as well as the future of Latii America. Attracted To Institute of Politics | ington as minister and has previous: been one of the most eminent pic fessors in the University of Cara He is the author of the serfes of text | books on political sclence and popu- ;‘I!‘ government now uved in the law | colleges. Cuba and Mexico will send | representatives to attend the Wil |liams College course. but in both cs- | tablishments there is no ambassador | mor minister, and many absences | caused by the attendance of so many |at the Monroe doctrine celebration, »o | that no definite selection can be mad: | until about July 23. Orientals Interested. The Oriental countries take th |usual keen interest in all that per- |tains to an increased Knowledge of |the western viewpoint. Though the | minister from China was educated in | this country and took his degree in Cornell, speclalizing in economlcs, he |will make a short journey from Woods Hole, near Nantucket, to hear the British lecturers, particularly jLord Birkenhead. The Japanese will have three members of the embassy {staft attending the entire course. M Saburi and his wife rented a cottage in Williamstown early in July and are comfortably prepared for the opening of the lectures. M. Saburi is {the counsellor of the embassy and two of the secretaries will join him about July 20, most prolfably M. Ta- ketoni and M. Sakamotto. Dr. Henry Augustus Garfleld, son of the assassinated President of the United States, whose name he bears. president of Willlams College, will be the official host of this eminent as- semblage of dignitaries. He will be assisted in his pleasant duties by Dr. Walter Wallace McLaren and Dr. Willard Evans Hoyt. But, though, from the national as well as inter- national standpoint, the guests and many of the students would call forth much entertaining and lionizing in general. the Institute of Politics has no social side, nor perhaps time in the short five weeks to devote to the amenities other than those of the most imperative nature. Senor Olaya has secured a small cottage and the ladies of the campus will call on the senora, as well as on other foreign houfeholders, and perhaps drink tea on the piazza or attend the general assembly which President Garfleld and his executive staff will extend, But other than this the intellectusd side of life is strongly emphasized and the interest of the hour is cen- tered on learning from lips of ex- perts how to make the world happier and more comfortable for its in- habitahts, —_— The man-faced crabs, which swarm in the inland seas of Japan, are queer creatures. The body is only about an inch in length, but it is crowned with a head which has a face which close- r resembles that of a Chinesp coolie,