Evening Star Newspaper, April 28, 1929, Page 27

| ness to it. e THE SUNDAY STAR, WASHINGTON, D. ¢, APRIL 28 1929—PART 2. 3 ey RELIGIOUS RIOTS IN INDIA CALLED BAR TO AUTONOMY Britain Seeks Only to Establish Law and Order and Wil 1 Yield Home Rule Then, Observer Declares. BY HENRY CABOT LODGE. OMBAY. —The British in India have to face all the problems which affect such dependencies | n other parts of the world, and in addition they have a host of other complicated and distressing questions which are peculiar to India. It would be impossible to list all the Pproblems and it would be foolish for any one not an expert to attempt to depict all the intricacles of India, but some light may be thrown upon the situation by describing the recent Bombay riots end by setting forth the broad outlines | of the government of India which the | Simon commission was named to mod- | iy where change seemed advisable. It has not been admitted officially, | but the Bombay riots were the most; serious Communist disturbance which has taken place in India in 20 years. | ‘The number of deaths caused by them ‘was officially announced as being about | 130, but this figure is based entirely on the number of bodies taken to the morgues. In Indian riots comparatively few bodies find their way there, but are | quickly dragged out of sight, hid in| e friendly hut during the day and rned at the ghat at night. Riot Death Toll 1,200. Polic> officers in Bombay who have much experience in these things said that about 1,200 persons had lost their | lives. Compare this with the more than | 600 dead in the Prince of Wales riots and with the more than 900 in the Cal- cutta disturbances and it will be seen that this riot has no modern parallel. | Unlike the Prince of Wales riots, these Tecent ones were not caused by any anti-foreign sentiment, but by religious | antagonism between Hindus and Ma- hometans. About one Indian out of every five is a Mahometan and is frequently | of the same racial stock as the Hindu, having been converted by missionary activity. ~The religious _differences, however, have made the Hindus and Mahometans very different people, who hate each other heartily. The Ma- hometan has fighting instincts and is usually poor. The Hindu is timorous, and in the small Indian communities he 1s usually the pawnbroker, to whom the Mahometan farmer is in debt. In Bombay, however, there were spe- clal factors, There are great textile factories here employing thousands of laborers—chiefly Hindus. Just before the riots these Hindus went on strike. Going out on strike is a simple matter in India, because the laborer merely rides a few miles into the country and lives off his relatives. He takes a job in the city to give hemself some extra money or merely for variety’s sake. The expressions of pity for these “poor job- less men” which were heard from Com- munists in London are thus evidently based on ignorance. Trouble Based on Rumor. ‘The managers of the textile factories then empioyed Mahometans to come in and take the Hindus’ places. Hindus picketed the factories and did it quietly. Soon, however, a wild rumor was going rounds, flercely and rapidly as Tumors can in countries where few can read and where every one gets his in- formation by word of mouth. The rumor said that the Mahometans had kid- naped 200 Hindu babies, which they were going to sacrifice by burying them alive in the corner stone of & new Ma- rumor, and there is every, reason to believe that it is an entire fabrica- It started the iting, though, and desperate it was. fl{(none of the natives firearms, but as we have learned Nicaragua, this does not stop them from killing each other. lection of weapons in a Bombay police station. There were broomsticks, pieces of fron piping, iron bolts, knives and a quantity of wooden staves or “laths.’ ‘The Mahometans are expert with the stave and some are as deft as our ancestors were with the single stick centuries Ago. The fighting raged up and down the | narrow streets to the Bir Frederick Sykes, Governor of the Bombay Presidency, was faced with this problem when he had been in the city scarcely two months. The moderation which he used in dealing with it has him to criticized, but now that some of away he is being commended for hav- kept his head when nearly every one was urging him to declare martial law. He declared martial g could probably have brought the to & close a few days sooner than actually ended by the efficient mef used. But martial law in its train serious reactions. ht have been worth doing if it could have bee: ently nothing can. each other and have never been able to_do otherwise. The Bombay riots show plllny one of the main Indian problems. If the natives are so anxious to get rid of the British—and a vast number of them undoubtedly are—one would think they would at least concentrate on that. How can the rest of the world take their discontent with Britain seriously riots? | Another significance aiso has been read into the riots. As is well known, the British have left the Indians al- most complete freedom as far as their religious observances are concerned. They have insisted on one thing—Ilaw and order—and they are pledged to grant the Indians responsible govern- ment as soon as it is evident that they can maintain law and order. This does not seem hard to bear, especially when one adds to it the fact that under British rule the population of India has increased, the weaith of the individual Indian has gone up, his health has im- proved and he has been better fed than ever before. Indifferent to Benefits, But the Oriental mind is so different | from ours that they appear to be in- different to the material benefits con- ferred by Briitsh rule and to be whole- heartedly opposed to law and order. India was a romantic country before the British brought justice and kind- ‘With no roads, holding one- { ffth of the world's population, scores | of races and languages more different from each other than are any of the European races or tongues, and with a continent as big as Europe west of the Vistula, it was an ideal place for petty | tyrants, cruel generals, deadly epidemics and wanton oppression. This does not seek to imply that the Indians enjoy tyranny or cruelty or op- pression, but it does mean that there was change and excitement in life, that there were opportunities for = wild stories, romances and fables which law and order have removed. The riots, some say, are an outlet for the ad- venturous side of Indian temperament, which law and order have cramped. Recalls Massacre in 1914. Certainly they always resort to fight ing when they think the white man is smoke has cleared | %0 evacuated India and that the Geramn fleet had anchored in Calcutta and Bombay. This rumor was believed in one town and the Mahometans at once started killing the Hindus. Word of this reached the detective and he arrived with a battalion of, native police to show that the British were still therc ‘When he arrived the Hindus had taken refuge in the village square; occasion- ally the Mahometans would make a rush, drag a Hindu out, kill him and go back for more. ‘The native police were Mahometans and the Englishman toid seven to de- fend the village square against the at- tackers—who were Mahometans, too. These policemen called on the able- bodied Hindu young men to stand with them to help them in the fight. There were many young men there and there were more Hindus than Mahometans, anyway, but not one of the Hindus re- sponded to the call of their defenders. 1dle to Oppose Order. It seems idle for the Indians to per- sist in their cpposition to law and or- der. Assuming that the British lost in- terest in India, the rest of the world, in these days, would not stand for an- archy in such a rich and important part of the world. Let them go on' with their primeval habits if they want to and let them develop their own rich and marvelous culture, but order there must be. ‘The British are pledged to give them responsible government when they dia merely as conquerors, or even as| good government is no substitute for sel’-government, and their voluntary abdication of authority has been going on for a longer period than is gener- ally realized, culminating in the law of 1919, ubliflll;h! the “dyarchy” which point to the regulating act of 1773, and to Pitt's act of 1784, as first evidence of a liberalizing tend- ency, followed by the charter act of 1838, one of the earliest acts of the “new model” Parliament, which also put the English poor law of 1838 into effect and decreed the abolition of slavery on all British territory. Queen Victoria’s famous proclamation of 1858 marked the next step, saying of the East India Co., which then governed India, that “no native of the said ter- ritories shall by reason of his religion, place of birth, descent, color, or any of them, be debarred from holding any place, office or employment under the company.” Demands of Natives. Since those days Indian opinion has centered in, and events have marched steadily toward, the realization of three main ideals; the increase of the non- official element in the councils, legisla- tive and executive, of India; the in- troduction of the prineiple of election and, finally, home rule. The first has been realized by the “dyarchy” system; the second has been realized as well, although only 7,400,000 out of British India’s 240,000,000 are as yet enfran- chised; the realization of the third is in the hands of the Indians themselves. “Dy . composed of the two Greek words meaning “two” and “gov- ernment,” was introduced as the lead- ing feature of the Montague-Chelms- ford reforms in 1919, in response to the liberalizing currents of thought then in the air. By virtue of it, the follow- ing subjects in the provineial govern- ments have been transferred to natives: Local self-government; medical admin- istration, including hospitals, and provision for medical education; public health and sanitation; educa- | tion, other than European and uni- versity education; public works; agri- culture; civil veterinary work; co- operative societies; development of in- dustries; excise, and a number of lesser subjects. The subjects reserved by the British include law and order, the ad- ministration of justice, land revenue, irrigation and others. Must Become Unified. This is the only system, the British believe, which will make the people realize that, no matter how much they may hate each other. the force of | events has brought them to the point where they must either make of Qg:m- selves one body politic or abdicate for- ever their claims to nationhood and dence. This system is applied provinces because they are the microcosms of India. The central gov- ernment has been left strong for this historical reason quoted in the Mon- tagu-Chelmsford report. “The reason for the success achieved in America and the British great measure due to the fact that the provincial demo- crats were thoroughly developed and established before any attempt was made to bring the central government under lar control.” Further autonomy is now being dis- cussed. There is dissatisfaction among the natives because the viceroy can override the Indian Legislature. The Simon commission is seeing what can be done toward satisfying these de- mands without depriving Britain of that degree of authority to which her re- sponsibility entitles her. “responsibility without au- thority” system under which we are stumbling along in the Philippines has caused havoc and chaos there, but if the British were to tie their own hands |in India the way we did in the islands, it would cause havoc not only in India but would probably upset the entire Far East. The British are too practical for that. ‘They have made promises to the Indians which they are not going to break, but they have too much at stake in India to free the natives of certain necessary check reins too soon. Non-Co-operation Movement. ‘The outstanding Indian reaction to these ever-widening measures of self- government has been the non-co-opera- tion movement—the idea of “we won't play.” Propounded by a clever politican, Mahatma Gandhi, it is still a factor in India. Lots of Indians are playing now who did not do so a few years ago. They realize that Gandhi's idea is neg: tive, that it offers no substitute for ex- isting conditions, and that a substitute better than the British fare must be put forth before the British fare is rejected. One of the greatest Indian writers of speaks of it as follows: “The idea of non-co-operation is litical asceticism. Our students are ringing their offerings of sacrifice to what? Not to a fuller education, but to a non-education. It has at its back a flerce joy of annthilation, which at its best is asceticism and at its worst is that orgy of frightfulness in which the human nature, losing faith in the basic reality of normal life, finds a disinterested delight in mere devasta- tion, as has been shown in the late {war. * * ¢ The anarchy of mere empti- ness never tempts me.” As long as Indians refuse to put their own house in order, as long as they in- dulge themselves only in “the anarchy of mere emptiness,” the British must continue giving them justice, cleanli- | ness and order, no matter how un- ! palatable these things must be to the natives. show they can live side by side with the | rest of the world. They are not in In- | good administrators. They realize that | modern times, Sir Rabindranath Tagore, | i | | BY GASTON NERVAL, Authority on Latin American Affairs. CCEDING to an invitation of| President Vasquez of the Do- | minican Republic, Gen. Charles | G. Dawes, former Vice Presi- dent of the United States, is at the present time studying the economic conditions of that country, and formu- lating suggestions and technical means for improving the finances and building up the national wealth of that Antillean nation. The man who for so many years de- voted his attention to managing the gigantic budget of the United States and to solving the intricate problem of war reparations today is in the Dominican capital preparing plans and framing scientific measures for putting in order the finances of the little Latin Republic. A small task, it might seem, compared with those undertaken by Gen. Dawes before, when dealing with the fabulous receipts and expenditures of Uncle Sam, or when he was trying to work out a solution for the greatest economic problem of the present era, that of the European reparations, wher hundreds of millions were at stake, A small task, perhaps, but it shows the disposition, characteristic of Gen. Dawes, to help others, to lend his aid and counsel wherever it is asked, and to co- operate in the stabilization of the affairs of the world. And it is this character- istic trait which has made him one of the outstanding statesmen of the globe. Proof of His Prestige. This invitation of the Dominican gov- ernment to serve as its financial coun- selor and put the finances of the country in order is a proof of the pres- | most eloquent. authority on economic questions, and of the importance attributed in foreign countries to his work and his knowledge of affairs. The cablegram extending the invitation of President Vasquez to the general to come to Santo Domingo is ‘This document read: “Desirous of obtaining for the Do- minican people the great benefits which they would receive from your experience and great ability, I beg you to organize and accept the chairmanship of an ad- visory mission to come to this countryv to recommend methods of improvement in our system of economic and financial administrative organization, both n: tional and municipal; for the installa- tion of a scientific budget system: and for an efficlent method whereby the government may control all of its ex- penditures.” To this invitation Gen. Dawes hastened to reply in terms which set forth the exact scope of his mission: “You do me a great honor, and I ac- cept your gracious invitation with a sincere hope that I may be of some as- sistance, however little, in the work which you assign me in our sister re- public. The work you ask myself and my associates to enter upon is one in no wise involved in questions of in- ternal policy, but is only that of sug- gesting certain methods of organization under which the routine business of gov- ernment is transacted.” Has No Political Intent. With these words, Gen. Dawes dis- counted in advance any erroneous in- terpretation that might arise as to his trip to Santo Domingo, expressly stat- ing that his mission has no political intent, or other pur than a strictly tige enjoyed by Gen. Dawes as an| BY HENRY W. BUNN. HE following is a brief summary of the most important news of the world for the seven days ended April 27: * K K Kk THE BRITISH EMPIRE.—Notice of the new British budget for the fiscal year 1929-30 (began April 1) was crowded out of last week’s issue. Wins- ton Churchill, chancellor of the ex- chequer, made the presentation to the Commons on April 15 in a speech of characteristic brilliancy. The late fiscal year ended with a surplus of about "the equivalent of ninety million dollars (as against the original estimate of about thirty mil- lions), thanks to an unusually large mortality of capitalists and consequent fine harvest of death duties. A total expenditure of a little more than the equivalent of four billion dollars is es- timated for the current fiscal year (less by about two hundred million dollars than for the preceding fiscal year), and a surplus of about the equivalent of twenty-one million dollars. ‘The most striking feature of the bud- get was the proposal to abolish com- pletely the tax on tea, oldest of taxes, dating back to the reign of Elizabeth. ‘The government stands to lose about $30,000,000 annually by the abolition, and the retail price of tea goes down about 8 cents per pound annually, so that the relief. per individual is not extraordinary. But it is what you might call & sympathetic gift, and iis diabolic cleverness makes a tremendous appeal to_the natipnal sense of humor. Not impossibly Mr. Churchill has by this notable “stunt” staved off the de- feat that threatened his party. Only less clever, considering how large a pro- portion of Britons are “sporting gents,” has the proposal to repeal the betting | tax; and the farmer, whose loyalty to the Conservative party has been show- ing signs of waning, was conciliated by the proposal to make at once effective those clauses of the “derating bill” (now under discussion), which provide for taxation relief (commeneing in Octo- | ber) to the farming community in an aggregate sum of £12,000,000 annually. But, after all, Mr. Churchill mani- fested cleverness chiefly by restraint, | by not abusing his opportunity of | electioneering appeal. His gifts were | modest, but they evidenced a sympa- thetic study and humorous apprecia- | tion of the tastes and susceptibilities of | the public. (There is no doubt about | approval by Parliament of the pro- | posals glanced at). J. Havelock Wilson, founder and president of the National Unifon of | (British) Seamen, died the other day | at 70. He was a man of great (arce‘ and sagacity, and it may be doubted | if any labor leader ever exercised l‘ more beneficent influence. His atti- tude was magnificently patriotic in the great war, during which he wielded ' a kind dictatorship over the seamen of the merchant marine. He sat in Parliament for 16 years as a labor member. Though a stern and suc- cessful champion of collective bargain- ing, he succeeded, largely by the re- | spect commanded and liking concilial |ed by his character, in establishing | relationships between capital and la- | bor in the shipping industry of a pe- culiarly happy character. The commission, headed by 8ir John of “the dyarchy system in India and | report, has just reached home. The | work of the commission has been very | serfously prejudiced by the thereof by most of the Hindu politicians. * K ok ¥ GERMANY —The experts committee (dealing with the question of German | raparations) continues to sit at Paris, raphy and its obituary, Dr. Schacht, head of the German representation, visited Berlin over last Sunday and conferred with the reich cabinet, but, ! Stmon, appointed by the Westminster | | Parliament to cxamine the workings | boycott | inditing, one might say, its autobiog- | economic and scientific one. This down- i Centrists to the cabinet. Theodore von Guerard succeeded Erich Koch, Demo- crat, as minister of justice, Koch voluntarily retiring in the interest of a stronger government combination. Joseph Wirth, formerly chancellor, be- came minister of the occupled areas, that portfolic having previously been joined to the portfolio of the interior. Adam Stegerwald, formerly premier of Prussia, became minister of communica- tions, that portfolio having previously been joined to the postal portfolio. There are indications of a serious trend of secession from the Socialists to the Communists. * k%% AUSTRIA.—Much bad blood has re- sulted from a foot ball game in Vienna the other day between all-Italian and ell-Austrian teams, the latter winning 3 to 0. One Italian player was badly hurt and the Italian players and press charge the Italian defeat to unfair Austrian play. The Austrians retort that the Italian players were no whit behind the Austrians in ess, six Austrians being injured. The Pascist press fulminates hideously—the im- pudence of the Austrian team in thrashing a Pascist team is something Dawes in Santo Domingo | There to Adjust Finances He Strikes at Political Charges—American Aid to Other Latin Republics LEFT TO RIGHT: PRESIDENT VASQUEZ OF SANTO DOMINGO AND CHARLES G. right declaration of the general with respect to the nature of his trip to Santo Domingo was, indeed, opportune, for some Latin American newspapers, those which are characterized by their undisguised fear of the phantom of “Yankee imperialism” and of all things coming out of the North, had already come forward with a mass of comment on the visit of this American dignitary to a Latin country of the Caribbean, over which the United ‘States is sup- posed to cherish a desire for political intervention and economic dominion. This facticn thought that the journey of Gen. Dawes to'the Dominican re- public had some secret objective, some political purpose disguised under an economic label, or a plan for some great international financial combina- tion, with which American capital would once n’l{n tighten the grip of the “talons of imperialism” upon the Caribbean region. They had discussed all this in some Latin American nations almost as soon as the announcement had been made of the “irip of Gen. Dawes with a mission of American ex- perts to Santo Domingo.” Check to Propaganda. ‘The first task that confronted Gen. Dawes upon landing Dominican Republic was that of check- ing mistaken propaganda. The n pers opposed to the government (who, in order to fight the government, also believe in “Yankee imperialism”) {had said there that the general was | coming to Santo Domingo for the pur- pose of offering facilities to the govern- ment for contracting a large American loan, which was going to endanger the economic condition of the country, and the political liberty of its people. The The Story the Week Has Told not to be stomached; Austria. must be made to-eat pumbled-pie. L] ITALY.~On April 321 Italy cele- brated the 2,682d anniversary of the day when (at least legend has it s0) Romulus plowed a furrow to mark the line of the walls of the Rome about to be built. The chief feature of the observances was promotion, with great solemnity, of some 100,000 avanguar- disti throughout Italy into the ranks of the full-fledged Fascisti, each young man being presented with a musket. April 21 is also Italy’s labor day. At Rome s number of public works were dedicated, including & new bridge over the Tiber and & road from the city to the sea. The twenty-eighth Italian Parlia- ment (first, new model) was opened with magnificent ceremony on May 20. * ok k% POLAND.—Poland has a new cabinet, made up largely of devoted henchmen of Marshal Plisudski, who succeeds himself as minister of war and is in effect dictator, The new premier is Maj. Casimir Sevitalski, one-time aide- de-camp to Pilsudski. The minister of finance is Col. Matuszewski, one-time head of the intelligence service of the Perpetual Motion BY BRUCE BARTON. OME day, go into the Pal ent Office in Wi ny nd look at the applic ons that have been made for patents on perpetual-motion machine You genious device: For instance, a machine to be run by the power of gravity— iron balls dropping down a chute and turning a whe The inventor of that machine provided for everything. He even added a brake to stop the machine, in case it should run so fast as to become un- manageabl He forgot only one thing—that it requires just as much energy to lift the balls up against gravity as they develop by falling down. In England, between 7 and 1903, more than 600 separate ap- plications for patents were made on perpetual-motion machi Every single year brings inevitable crop of new appli- cations. P They stand—this unending procession—as a magnificent monument to the unchangeable- ness of human natu A imony to man’s un- quenchable beli somewhe! world to nothing. it is a mi to gather all perpetual-motion ma- s together in Washington, D. C. One of them should be at the busiest corner of every American city. And twelve chould be distributed along Wall street, New York. Every man who goes down- town to b in the morning I'| should pass a per, { machine and be reminded of its lesson. || There is one { runs threugh | men h disco son named it the Law of Com- some very in- f that somehow, Ppot le in this get something for ke t up if the north end of a magnet attracts, the south end repels. If, as Emerson points out, a government is bad, the governo, life becom fi I are too high, venuds;if laws Compensation—everywhere. When | started in busine: used to be somewhat worried by the good fortune of the wicked. | saw men who worked one-half hard as | and were paid twice as much money. | saw other men lift them- selves into the good graces of the boss on the golden wings of golf and funny stofies. But | have seen the Law of Compensation get in too much deadly work ‘ever to concern myself any more about any- body el suce | have seen good fellows, who thought they were perfectly cure because they called the them by their first name when he did it. And | have seen men grow very rich—and | know that there are many ways in which the Law of Compensation can work when a man has the ambition to become very rich. It can make him pay in health. It can turn his .home into a counting room. It can make children snobs and hypocrit It can destroy his joy in simple things. Another gentleman discovered the Law of Comp before Emerson. in_this form Be not de God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man séweth, that shall he also .reap. b y ing ex- law; but the in_the | ) | H i | DAWES. | general, the day after his arrival, had | to make full and emphatic statements to the press, mtking public the text |of his cablegram of acceptance and | reiterating that his mission had no | other purpose than that of studying the economic conditions of the country and of formulating a plan for changes |in the budget system, for- the better | collection of receipts, for the reorgani- | zation of the economic administration and for the general financial well-being of the republic. The nature of the | Dawes mission in Santo Domingo thus | having been cleared up, those suspicious | elements who talk of Yankee imperial- ism in the Caribbean could perhaps ex- plain why Santo Domingo looks to an | eminent American expert for advice and aid in its present needs. Aid to Other Governments. The trip of Gen. Dawes to Santo | | Domingo is not the first case of its kind. | On four former occasions missions of | American financial experts have gone to four Latin American countries for | the same purpose which has taken Gen. | Dawes to that republic. The finances of | Chile, of Colombia, of Ecuador and of | Bolivia were reorganized, some time go, by a group of experts from the | United States under contracts from-the | four governments. | In all four of these cases, the mission | was headed by Prof. Edwin R. Kem- | merer of Princeton University, one of the | most_eminent economists of this coun- try. First in Chile, then in Colombia, | later in Ecuador and last of all in Bolivia, Prof. Kemmerer and the ex- perts accompanying him studied the | economic conditions of each one of the "7 (Continued on Sixth Page) |army, and a member of the Pilsudski “inner circle.”. The of labor is another colonel, formerly aide-de- camp to " dski. And still another | colonel beocomes' minister of and telegraphs. Of 'the “oid fai faces” apparently only that of Zaleski remains. He is again foreign minister, whereby continuity of foreign policy would seem assured. It will be recalled that the other day Pilsudski issued to the press a fantas- tic attack on the Sejm in super-bil- lingsgate of a bouquet so strong that the newspapers had to eliminate much of it, what remained resembling millions against Salmasius, only more so. The old man seems to be slipping. * X X X CHINA.—The Nanking government (or, perhaps, we should say, Chiang Kai-Shek), offered to Feng Yu-Hslang a compromise arrangement respecting control of the part of Shantung to be evacuated by the Japanese—i. e., the Tsinan-Tsingtao Rallroad and its feed- ing belt; Feng to occupy Tsinan and | the railroad belt eastward, therefrom 125 miles thence to’ Tsingtao, Chiang to have sway. © - Ehed 5o satisy Feng, whost grand aim pec satisfy Feng, ! gran is to have access to the sea? Certainly not. Feng, however, does not find pres- ent conditions suitable for trying con- clusions; he is a disinterested patriot, or 'hl:hilmnwfll, bAt :n‘yy rl"A, 'l;flfln:: has it t Feng brusquely rejec 1, and has ordered his consid- erable forces in Shantung vance troops at Talan) back to Honan Province. This development does not relieve the worries of the Japanese gov- ernment. c’;‘lr:' tt.hat a :hish Feé:een Feng and g for control of an- '-un:. is not far off, what should they reply should Chiang say, “Thank you for ):onponlnE your evacuation, but you may go now? Rumors are tife of growing senti- ment against Chiang -Shek and for Feng Yu-Hslang, even of an in-| cipient combination against the former. It is even declared that one of Chiang’s generals, disposing of 40,000 troops, has ledged his support to Feng. It is gm'gd that PFeng delays proceeding against Chiang in the hope of. profit- ing by development of the anti-Chiang sentiment. Gen. Chang Tsung-Chang, after a good deal of success in his effort to re-| cover his aforetime tuchunship of | Shantung, has been badly defeated by Nationalist troops. * KKk UNITED STATES OF AMERICA — Immediately upon organization of the House, a farm relief bill (under the disegnation of “the Federal farm board | bill”) was introduced by the House | committee on agriculture. The -bill contemplates establishment of a Federal farm board (of five members to be ap- | pointed by the President, plus the Sec- retary of Agriculture ex-officio) and appropriation by Congress of $500,000,- 000 to constitute a revolving fund to be administered by the board. Some- what elaborate instructions are laid down to govern such administration, ! having reference to the co-operative as- | sociations, stabilization corporations, | clearing house associations, or. com- | | modity committees, to which loans i should be made. On April 25 the House passed the bill, 367 to 34, only two Republicans voting | contrary, all amendments offered ex- cept minor ones going to matters of de- | tall and not conflicting with the spirit of the measure having been defeated. On April 20 the President sent to Senator McNary, chairman of the | Senate committee on agriculture (at | the request of a subcommittee thereof), his views on the “export debenture plan” for agricultural reilef, then under consideration by the committee for in- clusion in the Senate Federal farm board bill. Under 10 heads of reasoned statement the President utterly con- demns the plan. The President trans- mitted with his letter communications | | from Secretary Mellon of the Treasury, Secretary Hyde of the Department of Agriculture and Secretary Lamont of | | | He repeated SOUND-VALUE BASE VITAL IN DETERMINING TARIFF New Plan of Assessing A(i Valorem Du. Hoover Gives BY EDWARD NELSON DINGLEY. N his message to_the extra session of Congress, President Hoover “Furthermore, considerable weak: ness on the administrative side of tariff has developed, especlally in the valuations for assessments of duty. there are cases of undervaluations i are difficuit to discover without access to the books of foreign manu- facturers, which they are reluctant to offer. This has become also a great source of friction abroad. There is in- creasing shipment of goods on consign- ment, particularly by foreign shippers to concerns that they control in the | United States, and this practice makes | valuations difficult to determine. 1 be- neve it is desirable to furnish to the Treasury a sounder basis for valuation in these and other cases.” There are, and always have been, two methods of collecting duties on imports—specific and ad valorem. Spe- cific is so much on each article, by the pound or bushel, etc.; ad valorem is so much percentage on the valuation of the imported article. Some duties are compound—that is, both specific and ad valorem. Foreign Valuation Substituted. ‘The first tariff of 1789 provided that ad valorem duties should be assessed in accordance with “the value thereof at the time and place of importation.” ‘This system of American valuation con- tinued until 1795, when foreign valua- tion was substituted without any ub- lic explanation. This foreign valuation was foreign cost, plus packing, trans- portation and commission charges. In 1817 a supplementary act was passed providi that ad valorem duties “shall be ecalculated upon the net cost of the article at the place whence imported, exclusive of packages, commissions, charges and transportation, export duty, etc.” Obviously this reduced the ;or!elgn valuation, and reduced the uty. This law resulted in such frauds and undervaluations that Congress passed a law providing that “the owner or con- signee of goods subject to ad valorem duties must produce the original invoice thereof and swear it exhibits the true | value of such goods, in their actual | state of manufacture at the place from which the same were imported.” During the debate on the tariff of 13833, Henry Clay offered an amendment that after 1842 ad valorem duties should be assessed “on a valuation made at the port in which the goods were first im- ported.” The amendment was adopted. However, the tariff of 1842 retained for- eign valuation with a proviso that the Secretary of the Treasury might recom- mend changes under certain conditions. Competition Made Severe. In his message to Congress in 1850, FPresident Fillmore recommended the adoption of specific duties altogether as 2 method of preventing undervaluations. o this recommendation in 52. Every tariff law since the Civil War | adhered to the foreign valuation system, except that the tariff of 1897 contained a provision authorizing 5 take into consideration the wholesale price at which such or similar merchan- dise is sold or offered for sale in the United States.” Economic and currency disturbances in Europe following the World War, and the consequent low valuation of mer- ted European exports to the United States, and made severe foreign the markets. the agitation for a change in the meth- od of assessing ad valorem duties. Summoned before the House ways and means committee, May 3, 1921, Secretary of Commerce Hoover stated that, under the circumstances, thought the American valuation plan should be tried. The following con- versation took place: Mr. Tilson: “In the meanwhile what is going to happen to some of our in- dustries that are now facing this very abnormal competition of which you speak? Unless we do something by way of American valuation to take care of this depreciation in the foreign cur- rencles, what is going to ha) to some of our industries, many of them long established, that are now facing this Germmncompem}on?" & his loover: “I am thoroughly imbued with the notion that we must have protection of a very large order. We must have such protection as will enable our people to weather through this period and to hold their own aft- erward.” Mr. Tilson: “Could any reasonable be made that would meet this extreme condition; and in addition to substantial duties must we not do some- thing else? I mean, in addition to duties based on foreign valuations, must we not, either by American valuations or by handling the question in some other way, meet this question or suffer the consequences?” Secretary Hoover: “I intended to con- vey that meaning a moment ago when I said that I could see no alternative ut present except American valuations. Democrats voting against, such em- bodiment. The present indication is that, after a brisk fight, the Senate will delete the plan from the Senate bill, which is, I understand, that the Senate bill contemplates that the debenture plan should be “auxiliary,” only to be applied should, in the. opinion of the farm board, other authorized methods have failed. Senator Borah has again offered his resolution proposing recognition of the Russian Soviet government. On April 15 Colonial Air Transport, operating subsidiary of Colonial Afr- ways, instituted regular air passenger service between New York and Boston, using tri-motored Fords; two trips daily, except Sunday, in each direction; one trip in each direction on Sunda A building to be known as the Ba bizon-Plaza Art-Music-Residence Cen- ter is to be erected at a corner of Fifty-eighth street and Sixth avenue, New York City, by the Park Sixth Avenue Corporation, which owns the Barbizon Apartment on Sixty-third street, which houses the national head- quarters of the Junior League, sundry college and art associations, and the like. The new bullding is to be of 40 stories and to cost some ten mil- lions. It will provide studios, recital halls, salons, galleries, residence and club _facilities. * K Kok NOTES—It is reported that French and Italian negotiations have reach- ed. the foildwing agreement respecting Italians in Tunisia: Children of Italian immigrants into Tunisia: shall be Ital- ian subjects. Children of such chil- dren shall, on coming of age, have the right to choose between Italian and French nationality. The nation- ality of children of such children shall be French. As the result of a negotiation pro- posed by the Jugoslav government (happy fruit of the royal dictator- ship) the Jugoslav-Bulgarian fronticr has been reopened, which was closed by the Jugoslav government in Oc- tober, 1927, because of the murder of Serbian general commanding on the frontier by Macedonian com itadjis. In future frontier incidents are to be dealt with by & permanent | ties Is Asked by American Producers. Study Impetus. should. of course, like to see a less dif ficult method. Mr. Prear: “If the American valuation system was adopted you do not considet the difficulties of administration insur- mountable, do you?" Secretary Hoover: “No. I do mol | presume that anything is administra- | tively insurmountable.” i U. S. Valuation System Adopled. | . ‘The tariff bill of 1922 as it passed the | House adopted the American valuation | system, fixing valuation of foreign arti- | cles at the price of similar or “come parable” American articles in the whole« | sale American markets. In 1920 imports of merchandise sub- ject to ad valorem duties or compound | rates—that is, both specific and ad< | valorem—comprised 32 per cent of duti able imports, and 56 per cent of cuse | toms revenue was derived from such imports: and ad valorem rates applied | to about 1,200 items or articles. Tha | proportion holds good now. A formidable campaign was inaugue rated by hundreds of American manu- facturers asking for the adoption of the American valuation plan. An American valuation association was or ganized. It was urged that under present plan. the importer presen with his entry at the custom house an invoice certified by a consular officer, with a declaration by the exporter ay to correctness, giving cost of production if the merchandise was purchased, the foreign market value and bill of lading The customs officer or appraising ofe ficers did not have information beyond | what the manufacturer or importer |stated. It was a matter of faith in th> statements offered. This was the ! substance of the argument made by |the promoters of American valuation, | which was designed to correct thess | evils. In 1921 arguments against the Amerie can valuation plan were: It would | hamper and retard international trade and commerce; that “comparable” artie cles in the United States are too une certain and indefinite, in fact impose | sible; that undervaluations are scarce; | that the proposed plan would throw the | customs service of the United States | into confusion. American Value Is Opposed. The 1922 tariff bill passed the House | with the American valuation plan sube stituted for the foreign valuation plan. Many American manufacturers, organizations and others American valuation. Many opposed it; but “value” in the House bill was the American value of comparable or similar articles. ‘The battle between the two was renewed in the Senate. hearings were held before the finance committee; members of the Tariff Com- | mission were divided: representatives of | importing associations and agents of | foreign manufacturers and producers | opposed the plan. When the bill emerg- ted from the Senate committee, the | American valuation plan was discarded and the old foreign valuation plan ad- hered to. “Value” was defined as “fore eign value” or “export value”; and if ined, the groups ive to | Neither can be obtal “United States value,” pre cases. ‘The bill as it came from confer- ence and became a law provided for foreign valuation, with domestic -and foreign cost of production as the meas« ure of the tariff, in in has :e:h sanctioned by ver recent message to Congress. It is admitted by many that the 1921 American valuation plan has been re- e anin It iace has. been seggeted an s place n the domestic selling price of the ime ported commodity with which the doe mestic article competes. It is that this plan will permit customs as- sessors to place a fair value on foreign oompet:uvet commodities :ltmmt the necessity of ascertaining foreign cost of production. Arguments Are Outlined. ‘The main arguments against the present foreign valuation plan are: (1) Foreign valuations give control of ad vlllnrem dul;es trw the l;mdpamodluef;r; eign manufacturers an (2) Foreign valuation results in undere valuations and often great loss of cus~ toms revenue. (3) Foreign valuations result in discriminations against for- eign countries of highest cost of proe duction in the case of similar compet~ ing commodities, and domestic valua- tion will overcome that. 5 Another plan suggested is that of assessing ad valorem duties on the “landing value of imports,” that is, the value of the imported article when landed in the port of entry. This plan is embodied in Great Britain's act of “safeguarding of industries,” passed in I11921, which provides that “the value shall be taken to be the price which any importer would give for the goods if they were delivered to him, freight and insurance paid, in bond at the port of importation, and duty shall- be paid on that value.” It is clear that the point of competition between American . an foreign competitive merchandise is the American market and the American selling price of the two competing articles. There are many obstacles to the plan of fixing tariff duties on the difference between the foreign and domestic cost of production. The tar commission admits this is impossible in many instances. Some plan of assessng ad valorem duties on the selling of the foreign competing commodity in the American markets will obviate the necessity of ascertaining foreign cost of production. The American market or selling price will be the only impor- tant fact, and the only fact in wi American competitors in the American markets are interested. American manufacturers and pro- ducers who are suffering from the fajl- ure, under the present system, to bridge the difference in foreign and dome: cost of production are asking for some new plan of assessing ad valorem duties, whatever they may be. President Hoover has given impetus to this request, and urges Congress to provide for a “sounder ‘asis for valuation.” | Single Rule in Africa Is Urged for France Prance's immense colonies in Africe are divided into many independent aa- ministrative departments. Morocco and Tunisia, foreign states under French proctetorate, are attached to the minis- try of foreign affairs. 5 Between these two, Algeria, composed - of three depariments similar to those of the mother country, reports to tHe ministry of interior. N The huge territories of French West Africa and of Prench Equatorial Africa are under the ministry of colonies, but without any connection between them. In order to remedy such an awkward returning, made no improvement on | his offer of April 17, which the allied | representative found not merely in- Commerce, entirely supporting his not looking I met an English detec- attitude. et pasts b Tndia. e was the very | HSteryRaR. &u%:rgn-;!!nl Strickland, Kipling's fa- | From the 1i'tle Rock Arkansas Demncrat. adequate, but amazingly so. | ous detective hero, He told me that Self-pride is that glow vou feel when I mentioned two weeks ago the| fn 1914 he was in the Punjab when a | you can walk by a crowd and not stop adhesion of the Centrist party to the | rumor started that the British had'to see what iUs all about. government and the admission of three longer | live the more sure | am that if most of the exceptions tive. In phys action and | were analyzed they would be reaction are equa etricity, found not to be exceptions at all. (Copyright, 1920 pensation. Everywhere that law is opera- {olnbte :omml-fll:;n.B“A eommerc!:l trea- y ween Igarian an development of these Nevertheless the plan was embodied | slav governments is ex; to fol- | many ob.e?vnén advocate creation of a in the bill reported to the Senate by | low ly. We hear that every city | ministry of North Afriea, centralizin; the committee, three Republicans, one | in European Russia is- now, several |the administration of all the mm{ Farmer-Laborite and four Democrats' months before harvest time, on bread | possessions. It is only an idea now, but voting ‘or. four Republicans and two ration. % ‘ very likely it will soon become & rea situation and to give a new m ta A