17 JANUARY 1925

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The unofficial discussions in Paris about inter-Allied debts have yielded

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only the vaguest of rumours. It is reported that Mr. Churchill would like to have a conference on the whole subject, and we hope that the report is true —on one condition...

The powers which we are describing belonged in an eminent

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degree to the late Lord Cromer. Inexperienced persons, noticing with what directness and plainness of language he did his work, were sometimes uneon- : vinced of his...

Mr. Churchill, knowing that the experts have all the figures

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in their heads and can be trusted to work out the details, insisted that the Cowie - mime should confine itself to principles. The ability to reduce a complicated series of...

• When the Dawes scheme was invented America had not

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made her claim to a share in German reparations. Perhaps the most difficult problem of all, therefore, was to dovetail the American claim into the existing scheme. A spirit of...

NEWS OF THE WEEK

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ruHE Financial Conference in Paris has produced results, and has produced them rapidly. Between France, America and ourselves there has been no friction. Further than that,...

EDITORIAL AND PUBLISHING OFFICES : 13 York Street, Covent Garden,

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London, W.C.2. A SUBSCRIPTION to TUE SPECTATOR costs Thirty Shillings • per annum, including postage to any part of the World. The Postage on this issue is: INLAND, id.;...

The Index to Volume 133 of the SPECTATOR (for the

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half- year ending December 31st, 1924) is now ready. A copy will be sent, pdst free, to any reader making application to the Publisher.

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The situation in the Balkans is causing considerable anxiety. As

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usual it is of extreme complexity. Nationalist rivalries are shot across by the menace of a class struggle, and over all looms the shadow of Russia. For it must be remembered...

Surely there can be no possibility now of going through

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a similar melancholy and humiliating farce in connexion with inter-Allied debts. Here again Mr. Churchill is on the right lines if it is true that he has repeated the Curzon...

An event of great importance in America is the retire-

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ment of Mr. Hughes, who for four years has been re- sponsible for American foreign policy. He has been able and firm, but he has also been cautious. He never went ahead of...

Britain had neither made nor contemplated any inter- ference in

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the internal affairs of Bulgaria and Jugo-Slavia. The unfortunate part of the situation seems to be that through grave mishandling the Agrarian movement and the Croatian...

It cannot be said that the situation in Italy is

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anything but disquieting. 'It is 'true that the intensity of the Opposition's campaign against the Fascist regime has diminished, but it would seem that this has been effected...

We frankly profess our sympathy with the view that as

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all the Allies contributed their maximum of effort in the War it is reasonable to acknowledge that human lives and devastated areas can be set off against loans of money. We...

It has not yet been found possible to %form - a

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new Government in Germany. Dr. Luther, the Minister of Finance, is attempting. to build up a provisional non- Party Administration. He is quite willing to place some...

Politically the situation is unchanged. The Opposition has shown no

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tendency to be willing to come down to the Chamber, and the deadlock is complete. Meanwhile Signor Mussolini has apparently had second thoughts on his new Electoral Law, and it...

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Other experts, however, take a more gloomy view. .We trust

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that the verdict of the Commission, which after all has unrivalled authority and has had unique opportunities for investigation, will prove correct. If this is so it is...

We greatly regret to record the death of Sir William

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Garstin. He was a great Ffritish official ; he perhaps more than anyone was responsible for the physical trans- formation of Egypt that has taken place during the last quarter...

In home affairs the event of the week has been

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the launching of an appeal by the Dean and Chapter through the Times for contributions to save the endangered fabric of St. Paul's Cathedral. We publish an article dealing with...

We are delighted to say that the movement for clearing

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our skies of smoke is daily gaining in volume and force. Only a few years ago, perhaps we might say a few months ago, the Smoke Abatement Society was ranked in the catalogue of...

The long-standing war between the British Bioadeasting Company and the

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theatrical managers has broken out once more. This time one of the managers, Mr. Donald Calthrop, has cut himself off from his Association, and allowed his productions to be...

Half the newspapers one looks at now declare that the

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time has come to make an end of smoke. Are we really civilized if we any longer submit ? Are we infants, are we helpless ? We publish this week another article on Smoke...

The Times of last Saturday published a welcome letter from

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Lord Rosebery protesting against the removal of Queen Victoria's statue from the Princes Gallery in the House of Lords, in order to make room for the War Memorial. One thing...

Bank Rate, 4 per cent., changed from 3 per cent.

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July 5th, 1923. 5 per cent. War Loan was on Thursday, 1011; Thursday week, 101* ; a year ago, 99k. 81 per cent. Conversion Loan was on Thursday, 7711 ; Thursday week, 77i ; a...

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TOPICS OF THE DAY

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THE INTER-ALLIED DEBTS T HE Paris Allied Financial Conference will have finished their work and dispersed before these pages are in our readers' hands. Though when we write...

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• TRADE UNIONS AND THE GOVERNMENT

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A CCORDING to all human expectation the Govern- ment will be in power for four or five years. What we desire, above all things, is that the Government should act . as a National...

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ST. PAUL'S

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A BOUT the serious—if not critical—condition of St. Paul's all " the experts " seem agreed. As to what precisely should be done about it there is as yet no agreement at all,...

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CURRENCY REFORM

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L—TIIE DISEASE BY LORD VIGIL CECIL J EVONS enumerates four functions of money : a means of exchange, a means of storing value, a standard of value and a measure of value. It...

A year's subscription to the SPECTATOR, costing only 30s., makes

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an ideal present for an absent friend. For this sum the paper will be forwarded to any address in the world. Apptg : Manager, the -SPECTATOR, 13 York Street, Covent Garden,...

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THE NEW BREAD

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EN of science are apt to be naive and optimistic people. They seem to believe that they have only to make an important discovery for it to be univer- sally used for the general...

The index to Volume 133 of the SPECTATOR (for the

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half- year ending December 31st, 1924) is -ready. A copy will be sent, post free, to any reader who applies to -the Publisher.

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A CIVIC SENSE IN ENGLAND : MUSEUMS WE OUGHT TO

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HAVE BY BAssETT DIGBY, F.R.G.S. [The series of articles on a Civic Sense which the Spectator has lately published has brought us this plea for one definite reform all over the...

SMOKE ABATEMENT •

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THE GERMAN WAY " Picture Lancashire in this plight ; factories invaded and garrisoned by French soldiers ; trams stopped and boarded by them ; French cavalry clattering down the...

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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

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" ALL-IN " INSURANCE [To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] Sin, — The letters in your recent issues deal with difficulties of Mr. Broad's scheme in regard to working-class...

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OWNERSHIP

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[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] Sir,—In your issue of December 6th you say: " We sincerely hope that Mr. Wood and the whole Government are bearing in mind the importance of...

THE GUILD COMPANY

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[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] read with interest the article on the Guild Company by Mr. Stirling Taylor and also the subsequent correspondence on that subject. I wonder if...

STEEL HOUSES AND THE AMENITIES OF CONSTRUCTION

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[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] SIR,—There is not the slightest necessity for steel houses or " emergency houses " to be ugly. " It all depends upon the brains behind them,"...

EMERGENCY HOUSES AND THE BUILDING UNIONS

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[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] Sus,—Your articles on the Slum Problem have been deservedly appreciated, and the various- suggestions for the removal and future avoidance of...

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[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] Sia,—In the article headed

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" The Gold Habit " and in Mr. J. F. Darling's letter, both appearing in your issue of JanuarY 10th, there seems to be some serious misconception . as to the elementary facts of...

MR. JULIAN HUXLEY AND THE NEGRO PROBLEM IN AMERICA

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[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] SIR,—I am one of those who believe that the future of civiliza• t ion will in a great measure depend upon a cordial understand- ing and feeling...

THE GOLD STANDARD

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[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] SIR,—Mr. D. M. Mason's letter, in the Spectator of January 3rd, on " Banking Credit " is an illustration of the total blindness of many of our...

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YOUNG OFFENDERS AND HABITUAL CRIMINALS [To the Editor of the

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SPECTATOR.] SIR,—I see in the newspapers several references to the question of allowing first offenders, often young people, to come into contact with habitual criminals, both...

MEDIAEVAL LATIN [To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] SIR, — The need

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for a new Mediaeval Latin Dictionary has been urgently felt for the last twenty-five years, and various attempts have been made to supply the learned world with a " New Du...

THE " SPECTATOR " OR ANOTHER [To the Editor of

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the SPECTATOR.] Sin,—Owing to the kindness of a friend - I am now receiving my Spectator regularly, as he has paid a year's subscription for me. Latterly I had been seeing it...

[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] SIR,—Along with your correspondent,

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Mr. P. Reay Bell, of this city, the members of the Newcastle-upon-Tyne Society heartily welcome .your. strong lead in the matter of smoke abatement. This Society has been formed...

SMOKE AND CLEAN AIR [To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.]

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Sut,—In Dr. Owens' exceedingly interesting article on sunshine and clean air in the Spectator of January 10th, he calls special attention to the injurious products that result...

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POETR Y

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TWO LYRICS FROM " THE DELUGE " WIND, RALN, TREES AND WATERS IN CHORUS. WHo is this Titanic force That checks the waters in their course, Checks and 'turns and urges back...

DR. JOHNSON ON WINE

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[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] Snt,—Your correspondents on the subject of wine at dinner may be entertained if I refresh their memories with the following extracts :- " We...

UNCOMMON WILD FLOWERS

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[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] SIR, —Your correspondents, under the above heading, of October 18th, just to hand from a friend in England, mention the Marsh Gentian "...

TUDOR SUNDIAL WANTED FOR SULGRAVE MANOR

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[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] SIR, —The Spectator and its Editor have already shown a great and practical interest in the work of furnishing and making beautiful Sulgrave...

THE DEVELOPMENT OF NORTHERN AUSTRALIA

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[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] SIR,—I have been a reader of the Spectator for forty years, having begun as a child, with the animal stories, and was much interested recently...

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A BOOK OF THE MOMENT

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THE WOMEN OF SHAKESPEARE'S EPOCH THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA BY THE New York Times.] [COPYRIGHT IN Society Women of Shakespeare's Time. By Violet A. Wilson. (John Lane. 12s....

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COMPETITION

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THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR " OFFERS A PRIZE OF £5 FOR AN ORIGINAL FOUR-LINE EPIGRAM ON " THE MODERN WORLD." RULES. 1. All entries must be received on or before Friday,...

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RECENT VERSE

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The Hares, and Other Poems. By Susan Miles. (Elkin Matthews. 2s. 6d.) Grace after Meat. By John Crowe Ransom. (Hogarth Prew. 4s. 6d.) The Stricken Peasant, and Other Poems. By...

BOOKS

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THIS WEEK'S BOOKS The Life of James Elroy Flecker, by Geraldine Hodgson (Blackwell), is not a particularly good biography, but it will serve for the time being. Nor was Flecker...

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LIVY

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Livy's History of Rome. Translated by W. M. Roberts. Six volumes. (Dent. 2s. each.) THE year 1924 will be remembered by many as the era of one of the most successful and the...

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PREHISTORIC SOMERSET

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Ancient Earthworks and Camps of Somerset. By E. J. Burrow. (Burrow and CO, Ltd. 25s.) AT first sight Dr. Bulleid's little book on the Lake-Villages of Somerset gives one the...

THE HARD AND SOFT OF TRAVEL

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To Lhasa in Disguise : An Account of a Secret Expedition Through Mysterious Tibet. By Wm. Montgomery McGovern. (Thornton Butterworth. -21s.) Peacocks and Pagodas. By Paul...

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A NINE MONTHS' WONDER

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HERE is a really excellent little book of contemporary history. Clearly, concisely, with the greatest sympathy, but with complete impartiality, Mr. George Glasgow traces the...

A HISTORY OF ETHICS

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Mn. WARD'S History of Ethics is an excellent example of what this sort of book ought not to be. This is not to say that it is a bad book. On the contrary, it is brilliantly...

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THE TREASURE HOUSE OF BELGIUM. By Emile Cammaerts. (Macmillan. 21s.)

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A TRAVELLER into foreign countries learns far more if he knows the language. Acquaintance with the art, literature and ethos of the place teaches him more still. This sumptuous...

NOTABLE BOOKS

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RACIAL REALITIES IN EUROPE. By Lothrop Stoddard. (Charles Scribner's Sons. 12s. 6d.) Ma. LOTHROP STODDARD is of the great order of popularizers. He has the quick, eager,...

FICTION

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THE POND AND THE TREES Blaekrnarsten. By Mrs. Hicks Beach. (Constable. Is. fid. net.) Rapture. By Richmond Brooks Barrett. (Cape. 7s. 6d. net.) Closed All Night. By Paul...

THE KANGAROO KEEPS ON TALKING; OR, THE ALL- BRITISH CONTINENT

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: a Dasicription of Australian Li e and Indistries. By L. St. Clare Grondona. (Victoria Publishing House. 3s.) Ma. BALDWIN sends forth Mr. Grondona's book with a prefatory line...

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TWO BOOKS OF SHORT STORIES

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People, Houses and Ships. By Elinor Mordaunt. (Hutchinson. 7s. 6d. net.) IN Twenty and Three Stories we have a collection of short stories by various authors, while Miss...

OTHER NOVELS

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God's Infidel. By John Freeman. (Williams and Norgate. 7s. 6d. net.)—The study of a pious agnostic who is hardly used by the world. The author appears to be well aware that the...

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The Snob. By Helen R. Martin. (Hurst and Blackett. 7s.

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6d. net.)—This book is more interesting as an account of life in an American University, and on the farm of a Pennsyl- vanian Dutchman, than as fiction. The two people who tell...

FINANCE-PUBLIC AND PRIVATE

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AN EXCHANGE ANOMALY BY ARTHUR W. KIDDY Jr has usually been regarded as a cardinal principle of the Foreign Exchanges that they constituted a fairly reliable barometer with...

The Lonely Lake. By Margaret Ashmun. (Macmillan. 7s. 6d. net.)—A

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picture of the Middle West ten years ago which will give the English reader a strong feeling of the dreariness of lonely farmhouses in new settlements. The whole book is most...

Every Wife. By Grant Richards. (Grant Richards. 75. 6d. net.)—This

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might be called an awful warning as to waste of time by in idle rich, were it not that the four person- ages concerned n the drama are anything but millionaires, and merely take...