Current Events Review

Media

Part of Current Events Review

Title: Current Events Review
Issue Date: Vol. IV (No. 5) November 1948
Year: 1948
Language: English
Rights
extracted text: · ilY1811Uogasln'e published fol' high 1cbool students-devoted to the Mleetdon, lutlon, pzeaentation, and nvlew of current news for lessons In curnnt tmmts. (Approved for general readfnc by the Deputment of Education) (Recommended for use in all Catholic BChoola by the CEAP) (Approved for use as Reference Material lly the Bureau of Private School8 Why did the Western Powers Refer Russia's Action in Berlin to the Security Council? What Made the Historic Moscow Negotiations on Berlin Futile? Will Greece be Saved from Communism? What Lesson did the Allies Learn at the Danube Conference 1 How can We Move toward World Rule of Law? _..,.,, W~ld N- ....... ,~'\\1\\~ Tbe Philippines and tbe World ~ ~ Science Marches On Special Report on tbe United Nations Vol. IV, No. 5 Nov r, 1948 CURRENT EVENTS REVIEW A newsmagazine that completes and makes up-to-date the study of history and other social science subjects. DIOSDADO G. CAPINO Editor D. R. MANLAPAZ Publisher NICOLAS ONGKINGKO Circulation Manager POLICARPIO G. DANGALIO DOMINGO C. SERION Researchers VENANCIO NEBRIDA Circulation Representative In this issue Page Why did the Western Powers Refer Russia's Action in Berlin to the Security Council 7 . . . . . . . . . . ................. . What Made the Historic Moscow Negotiations on Berlin Futile? Will Greece be Saved from Communism.? ..... . What Lesson did the Allies Learn at the Danube Conference? How can We Move toward World Rule of Law? .......... . Significant World News Roundup The Philippines and the World .. Science Marches On. . ........................ . Published monthly except May and June by MANLAPAZ PUBLISHING CO. 123-125 Reten, Sampaloe, Manila Subscription: P3.00 a year, Pl.50 a semester, 30 centavos per copy. 129 134 139 142 144 147 151 153 When changing add1·ess give old as well as new address. Address all communications to the Current Events Review. Copyright, 1948 by D. R. Manlapaz and D. G. Capino. All rights reserved. Entered as second-class mail matter January 9, 1947 at the Manila post-office. Do you think Russia is guilty? Why did the Western Powers Refer Russia's Action in Berlin to the Security Council? Specific objectives: 1. To understand why the Western Powers sought an unders~nding with Russia on the Berlin Question 2. To understand the points that were agreed upon in the Moscow negotiations 3. To know why the Moscow negotiations. were not implemented in Berlin 4. To find out if Russia is guilty of ereating a threat to world peace The world is closely watching developments in Berlin. Opinions are. divided as to whether or not the explosive Berlin Crisis may lead to World War III. The Western Powers decided to refer the Berlin Crisis to the Security Council of the United Nations. Why did the Western Powers take such an action? Is Russia guilty of creating a threat to world peace? Why! The following text was delivered to the Soviet government on September 26, 1948 by the governments of the United States, the United Kingdom, and France. Why did the Westerri Powers seek negotiations with Moscow? "1. The governments of the United States, France, and the United Kingdom, conscious of their obligations under the Charter of the United Natio'ls World Problem to i!ettle disputes by peaceful means, took the initiative on July 30, 194R in approaching the Soviet government for informal discussions in Moscow in order to explore every possibility of ac!jueting a dangerous situation whkh had arisen .by reason of measures tnkt>n by the Soviet. government directly challenging the rights of the other occupying powers in Berlin. These meas.urea, persistently pursued, amouflted to a blockade of land and water transport and communication between the Western zones of Germany and B~rUn v.hich not only endan·gered the maintenance of the forces of occupation o"f the United States, France, and . the United Kingdom in that city but also jeopardized the, discharge by those governments of thetr duties as occupying powers through the threat of stsrvation, disease, and economic re.in for the population of Berlin. Why the Western Powers would not leave Berlin 1•2. The governments of the United States, France, and the United Kingdom have explicitly maintained the position that they could accept no arrangement which would deny or impair the rights in Berlin acquired by them through the defeat and unconditional surrender of Germany and by the FourPower agreements. They were, however, willing to work out in good faith any practical arrangements, consistent with their rights an~ duties, for restoring to nonnal the situation in Berlin, * 129 including the problems presented by the existence of two currencies in that city. Apparent success of the first meeting with Stalin "3. After long and patient discussion, agreement was arrived at in Moscow on a directive to the four military governors under which the restrictive measures placed by the Soviet military government upon transport and communications between the Western zones and Berlin would be lifted simultaneously with the introduction of the German mark of the Soviet zone as the sole currency for Berlin under Four-Power control of its issue and continued use in Berlin. What was_ agreed on the Currency Question? "4. In connection with the lifting of i·estrictions and the maintenance of freedom of communication and the transport of persons arld goods between Berlin and the Western zones, the agreed directive provided that restrictions rec•ntly impDsed should be lifted. Generalissimo Stalin, during the discussions, personally confirmed that this mean~ the removal also of any restrictions imposed prior to June 18, 1948. In connection with the currency situation in Berlin, the. Soviet authorities insisted that the German mark of the Soviet zone be accepted as the sole currency for Berlin. The three Western occupying powers declared that they were ready to withdraw from circulation in Berlin the Western mark "B" issued in that 'city and to accept the German mark of the Soviet zone subject to Four-Power control over its issuance, circulation, and continued use jn Berlin (i.e., in Berlin only and not in the Soviet zone). After Jong discussions Generalissimo Stalin, on August 23, 1948, personally agreed to this Four-Power control and himself proposed the establishment of a Four-Power financial commission which would r.ontrol the practical implementation of the financial arrangements involved in the introduction and continued circulation of a single currency in Berlin and which, Generalissimo Stalin specifically stated, would have power to control the German bank of emission of the Soviet zone in so far as its operations with respect to Berlin were concerned. Instructions to the four military governors "5. It was witlr these underatandinga, personally confirmed by Generaliss\,tno Stalin, that the agreed directive was sent to the four military governors in Berlin to work out the technical ar1·angements necessary to put it into effect. Why did the Soviet military governor refuse to honor Moscow understandings? "6. n,spite these clear understandings, the Soviet military governors made it plain in the discussions held by the four military governors that he was not prepared to abide by the agreed directive. "Although the directive called for the unqualified lifting of the restrictions on transport and communications between the Western zones and Berlin, the Soviet military governor failed to comJ>ly. What is more, he demanded that restrictions should be imposed on air traffic. He endeavored to support l\is demand by a false interpretation of a decision of the control council of No130 * Current Events Review Vol. IV, No. 5 vember 30, 1945. Actually, during the discussions leading up to the decision of the control council of· November 19· 45 to establish air corridors, the Soviet military authorities in Berlin had suggested that the traffic in the corridors should be limited to the needs of the military forces. Neither the" control council, however, nor any other Fo·urPower body accepted this proposal and the traffic in the corridors has since been subjected only to those safety regulations which were agreed on a FourPower basis. Other than these agreed eafety regulations, no restrictions whatsoever have been or are in existence on the use by aircraft of the occupying powers of air communications in the eorridors between Berlin and the Western zones of Gemnany. "In regard to Four-Power control of the German mark of the· Soviet zone in Berlin, the Soviet military governor refused to admit, despite the agreement in Mos~ow, that the financial eonunission should exercise control over the operations with respect to Berlin of the German bank of emission of the Soviet zone. "Furthermore, with respect to the question of the coiitrol of the trade of Berlin, the position of the Soviet 'military governor amounted to a claim for exclusive Soviet authority over the trade of Berlin with the Western zones of occupation and with foreign countries. This claim was a contradiction of the clear meaning of _the agreed directive to the four military governors. Attempts, to overthrow the city government in Berlin 0 7. F-ven while discussions were in progress, the Soviet authorities in Berlin tolerated attempts on the part of minority groups syim.pathetic of the city World Problem of Berlin to upset the elected city government constituted by democratic elections held under Four-Power supervision. O_n August 30, 1948, the representatives of the three western occupying powers in Moscow had drawn Mr. Molntov's attention to the distllrbed .situation in Berlin. They suggest('d that instructions be sent to the four mil itaTy governors that they should do all in their power to preserve a favoraL~c at·· mosphere in Berlin, but Mr. Molotov claimed that such instructions t'l th~ Soviet military governor were uuncce8sary. Nevertheless, after that •fa,te. these attempts to overthrow the city government increased in violence. Western Powers reminded Soviet government of Sokolovsky's action "8. On September 14, 1948, the representatives of the governments of the United States, France, and the United Kingdom, acting on specific instructions, called the attention of the Soviet government to the Soviet military governor's 9isregard of the agreements reached during the Moscow discussions and requested that he be instructed to give effect to them. Did Moscow disregard its commitment to lift the blockade? ''9. The Soviet government's reply of September 18, 1948, however, upheld the Soviet military governor's position. The Soviet government further confirmed its intention to disregard its commitment to lift the restrictions imposed on transport and communications by seeking to impose restrictions which had not before been in effect. 41 W ith respect to trade, the Soviet requirement that the Hcensing of trade with Berlin be placed in the hands of * 131 the Soviet •military authorities made plain the Soviet government's intention to obtain exclusive control over the trade of Berlin. "As regards the powers of the FourPower financial commission, the Soviet reply asserted that the Western occupying powers desired to establish control over all operations of the German bank of emission. In fact the United States, the United Kingdom, and French military governors sought only to secure the Soviet military governor's acCept~nce of the agreed principle that the Fo111·-Power financial conunission should control the operations of the bank with respect to the financial arrangements relating to the currency change-over and to the continued provision and. use of the German mark of the Soviet zone in· the city of Berlin, (i.e., in Berlin cmly and not in the Soviet zone)~ In the light of Mr. Molotov's statements during the discussion of the Soviet reply, it became clear that no assurance ~:vas given that the Soviet military gov(;rnor would be prepared to proceed· on the previously agreed basis. Thus in this mattei· as in others, the intention of the Soviet goyernment was manifestly to impose conditions nullifying the authority of the western occupying µowers and to acquire complete con~rol c.ver the .city of Berlin. Why are further negotiations useless? "10. For the governments of -the United Kingdom, the United States, and 'France to continue discussions and indeed to destroy, the rights of the three governments as occupying povrers in Berlin as a price for lifting the blockade, illegally imposed in the first instance and still unlawfully maintained. The three governments therefore, <lespatched identical notes on September 22, 1948 to the Soviet government. In those notes, after reestating their position on the specific points at issue, they asked the Soviet government Whether it was prepared to remove the blockade measures which it had imposed and thereby to establish conditions which would permit a continuation of discussions. Why are the Russian demands unreasonable? 41 11. 1 rhe reply of the Soviet government in its notes to the three governments of the 25th September, 1948 is unsatisfactory. "As regards.the introduction and continued circulation and use in Berlin of the German mark of the Soviet zone, the Soviet government misrepresents the position of the three western occupying powers. Th~ latter have made it clear from the outset that they do not desire to exercise any control over the financial arrangement in the Soviet zone of occupation, but are insisting on those conditions only which would provide adequate Four-Power control over the financial arrangements for the introduction and continued circulation and use of the German mark of the Soviet zone as the sole currency in Berlin. when fundamental agreements previous- "As regards control of the trade ·of Jy reached had been disregarded by the Berlin the Soviet governmeni contrary Soviet government would have been to its previous attitude .now states its futile. It would have been equally fruit- willingness to agree to the e.Stablishless to continue such discussions in the ment of Four-Power control over the face of the unmistakable intention of issuance·of licenses for the import and the Soviet government to und~rmine, export of goods in·ovided that agree- - -132 ''' Current Events Review Vol. IV, No. 5 mcnt is reached on all other questions. It is clear, after more than six weeks of discussions, from the Soviet government's persistent refusal to remove the blockade measures and its continued insistence on other condition .. s which would enable it to destroy the authority and rights of the United Kingdom, the United States and France as occupying powers in Berlin that this conditional concession is illusory. ''As regards air ti:.affic between Ber- . lin and the Wes\ern zones of occupation, the Soviet government, while neither affirming nor withdrawing the demand for the particular restrictions put forward by the Soviet military governor during the discussions in Berlin and confirmed in its reply of September 18, 1948, introduces another requirement to the effect that transport by air of commercial freight and passengers lmust be placed under the ~on trol of the Soviet command. "The Soviet government's note of September 25, 1948, therefore not only ignores the request of the three governments that the blockade measures should be removed in order that conditions may be established which would permit the continuation of discussions. It also seeks to impose restrictions on transport and communications between Berlin and the Western zones which place the maintenance of the forces of occupation of the three Western occupying powers and the whole life of the Berlin population within the ~rbitrary power of the Soviet command, thus enabling the Soviet ntilitary authorities to re-impose the blockade at any m.(ilment in the future if they so desired. Did the Russian government use duress? "12. Accordingly, it is apparent that the Soviet go""9ernment had no inten· World Problem hon of carrying out the undel.'taking~ to which it had subscribed durjng the Moscow discussions in August, 1948. In the fact of expressed readiness of the g·overnments of the United States, the URited Kingdom, and France to negotiate with Soviet government all out&tanding qU.estions regarding Berlin ~.nd Germany as a whole in an atmosphere free from duress, the Soviet gov· ernment has, in fact, persisted in using duress. It has resorted to acts of force rather than to the processes of peace!ul settlement. It has imposed and :maintained illegal- restrictions,. amounting to a blockade of Berlin. It ha's failed to wol'k out iri good faith the Four Power arrangements for the control of the currency of that city. Even While ~the Western occupying powers were :::eeking agreement on ~easures to implement the understandin'gs reached in. Moscow, the Soviet military authori· ties condoned and encouraged attempts to overthrow the legally constituted municipal government of Berlin. These actions are plainly attempts to nullify unilaterally the rights of" the Western occupying powers in .Berlin, which are co-equal with those of the Soviet Union and like them are derived from the deieat and unconditional Surrender of Germany and from Four-Power agreee ments to w~ich the Soviet government is a party. Moreover, the use of coercive pressure against the Western occupying powers is a clear ,violation of the principles of the charter of the United Nations. What does Russia want in Berlin? "13. The issue between tht! Soviet government and the Western occupying powers is therefore not that of technical difficulties in communications no.r that of reaching agreement upon the l'onditions for the regulation of the (Please. turn to page 155) * 133 What lessons should we learn from the Moscow negotiations? What Made the Historic Moscow Negotiations on Berlin Futile? Specific objectives: 1. To understand why the Western Powers were willing to negotiate the whole Gei-man problem 2. To get acquainted with the mairi issues of the Berlin negotiations 8. To understand· the main reason why the Russians declared an llnrea· sonable. blo(lkade 4. To understand what the Western Powers want in Berlin 5. To understand what Russia wanU in Berlin 6. To know the lessons taught by the Moscow negotiations The Berlin Crisis is an "explosive question". It is a question involving the dem-0cratic prestige of the Western rowers and Russian determination to force the Western POwers to leave Ber· lin. Why do the W ~tern powers re· fuse to appease Russia? What are the real intentions of Russia in Berlin? What lessons are taught by the historic Moscow negotiations? In connection with the decision made hy the United States, Great Britain, and France to take the Berlin dispute to the U. N. Security Council, the U.S. State Department_ has made public a '1 White Paper" recounting the long discussions in Moscow and Berlin through which the Western powers sought a settlement. The document published in the "White fundamental positions of the three W.estern powers. These" are: ( 1) The legal right of the three Western powers to be in Berlin under agreements for a Four-Power control of the city, and (2) refusal to recognize the Soviet blockade as a weapon to force negotiations on other matters concerning Germany. Points at issue The documents show that throughout the negotiations, the three Western powers insisted upon lifting the blocko.de to safeguard the physical wellbeing of over two million persons in the western sectors of Berlin, before discussing other problems. The Soviet government 3ought to force tbe discussion of other problems as a condition for lifting the blockade. The 1 White Paper" documents show repeated willingness of the three Western powers to negotiate over the whole subject of Germany and to recount Soviet actions that served only to delay and obstruct_ an agreement to liH the blockJlde. The discussions included two meetings with Stalin at which the Soviet pre_mier agreed to a formula for lifting_ the blockade. But in subsequent meetin~s with Molotov and between the three Western military governors and Soviet Marshal Sokolovsky in Berlin, the discussions bogged down in delays and obstructions over details. Paper", including the memoranda of The documents show that in the Mosc;onversations with Premier Stalin and cow discussions, the four governments Foreign Minister Molotov by .represent- agreed upon a directive instructing the Rtives of the United States, the United four military governors in Berlin to Kingdom and France, reiterate two work out the details of lifting the block134 * Current Events Review Vol. IV, No. 5 ade, but that the Soviet military governors failed to carry out these instructions. Stalin's formula ignored Under a formula advanced by Premier Stalin, the three Western powers had agreed to the use of Soviet currency throughout Berlin under Four-Power control, simultaneously with the removal of all transport restrictions. Both Molotov and Sokolov.sky, however, insisted upon the sole Soviet control of currency and trade throughout Berlin in moves that would put the FourPower city under complete Soviet control. Russia admitted the truth The 11White Paper" recounts the Soviet measures restricting transport to the western zone~ of Bedin beginning on March 30 and leading to the complete blockade of the city, which tlie Soviets ascribed to ·''technical difficulties". Throughout the preliniinary and later discussions, however, the Soviets ac.1. knowledged that the "technical diffic;,1ties" were in retaliation for the introduction of currency reform in Western Germany, and the decision of the three Western powers to discuss plans for a Western German government. After the Soviet blockade had been tightened to the point where supplies could be shipped to Berlin only by plane, the United States stated its position clearly in a note to the Soviet Union published on July .6. This note stated that the blockade was "a clear Yiolation of existjng agreements concerning the administration of Berlin by the four occupying powers" and that the United States would "not be induced by threats, pressures, or other actions to abandon these rights". World Problem The Soviet reply, published, July 14, openly admitted that the blockade w•s in effect a retaliation, rather than due to "technical difficulties," and advanced the claim that Berlin 1•is a part of" the Soviet zone. Western Powers will not abandon Berlin In an attempt to open a basis for negotiations. the three Western powers arranged for the first of two meetings with Premier Stalin on August 2. As spokes~n for the Western powers, U.S. Almbassador to Moscow, W. Bedell Smith reitated their position in an oral statement in which he said: uThe three governments must re-emphasize th,e.ir rights to be in Berlin to be unquestionable and absolute. They do not intend to be coerced by any means whatsoever into abandoning this right. •iu was the feeling of our governments that if these measures arose from technical difficulties, such difficulties can be easily remedied. The three governments renew theil:' offer of assistance to this end. If in any way related to the currency problem, such measures are obViously uncalled for since this problem could have been, and can now be, adjusted by rei>'resentatives of the four powers in Berlin. 0 If, on the other hand, these measures are designed to bring about negotiations among the four occupying powers, they are equ8.lly unnecessary, since the governments of the United Kingdom, the United States, and France have never, at any time, declined to. meet representatives of the Soviet Union to discuss questions relating to Gennany. •:However, if t.l!e purpose of these nteasures is to attempt to compel t!J.e * 135 three governments to abandon their rights as occupying powers in Berlin, the Soviet government will underatand from what has been stated previously that such an attempt could not be allowed to succeed. "The Soviet government will, howE;Ver, appreciate that the three governments are unable to negotiate in the situation which the Soviet government has taken the initiative in creating, Free negotiations can only take place in an atmosphere relieved of pressure. This is the issue. Present restrictions upon conununic~tions between Berlin and the Western zones offend against this pri_nciple." Stalin defended restrictions The White Paper notes that Stalin developed the argument that the restrictions in Berlin had been made necessary because of the decisions at London for the establishment of a new German government at Frankfurt and because of the introduction of a special Western currency in Berlin. The Western representative explained that it had never been contemplated that the government at Frankfurt would be a central Gerttnan government, and that the agency to be set up under the London decisions would -in no way hamper E:ventual understanding on a central government for a united Germany. What Stalin proposed At the end of the discussion, Stalin r:sked if the Western representatives wished to settle the issues that night and presented the following two-point· proposal: 1. There would be a simultaneous introduction in Berlin of the Soviet zone Deutsche Mark in place of the 2. He would no longer ask as a condition the deferment of the implementation of the London decisions, although he wished this to be recorded as the insistent wish of the Soviet government. The White Paper records that Ambas; sador Smith then asked Stalin about the announcement of a resumption of negotiations on Berlin and holding a Four-Power meeting to consider other problems affecting Gemiany, and that Stalin said they should be included. The representatives of the three Western power• left the Stalin meeting under the impression that settlement· of the immediate Berlin crisis could be effected. Resumption of negotiations and a Four-Power meeting to consider other outstanding problems affecting Germany had ·been accepted without conditions. Details on technical matters regarding substitution of the Soviet zone mark for the Western currency were to be ,.:Orked out with Molotov. What Molotov wanted on the Berlin Question A series of meetings with Molotov, however, r-eached an impasse over the wording of a draft agreement. Molotov insisted on a statement that would give the impression that the Western powers had Jost their rights to be in Berlin and would be permitted to remain by jjthe present agreement". He also sought to delegate control over the Berlin cur~ rency and credit to a bank under an exclusive Soviet control and to entrust the eonduct of the Berlin external trade entirely to a Soviet-da1minated agency. What the Western Powers wanted on the Berlin Question Western mark B, together with the. re· The Western powera, in their discusmoval of all transport restrictions. •ions with Molotov, made it clear that 136 * Current Events Review Vol. IV, No. 5 th~y could ncit agree to any statement t.hat would question their right to oc· cupy Berlin and that an aceeptance of the Soviet currency in the Wefitern •ones was possible only under- a FourPower regulation. In. a statement to Molotov in behalf of the three powers, U. S. Ambassador Smith said; 'iWe cannot r~cognize Berlin as part Clf the Soviet zone, and it follows from this that we cannot accept the -conduct of Berlin's external trade through the medium of Soviet zone trade monopolies. Our governments have a substantial interest in the city and in seeking agreement on the regulation of trade matters, we are asking for no more than assurances concerning the proper and. effective use of our very extensive contributions to the economy of Berlin. The- economic well-being of Berlin depends on the maximum: freedom of its trade with other parts -of Germany." Second meeting with Stlllin dor Smith reported the folloWing clarifi"cation by Stalin: '''Stalin stated that the German barik of emission controlled the flow of currency throughout the whole of the Soviet zone and it was impossible to exclude Berlin from the Soviet zone. Howe¥er, if the question was asked whether it did so w:ithout being controlled itself, the ansWer was 'No'. Such control would be provided by the financial commission and by the four commanders in Berlin, who would work out the arrangements connected with the exchange of the currency and with the control of the provision of currency, and would sbpervise what the bank was doing . ..,, Stalin suggested a reference to the London decision for a Western German government in the draft statement, but Smith pointed out that this question was not considered a conditiOn for the lifting of the blockade. Directive sent to four military governors As ·a result of. the impasse, the repre- As discussions .continued wi,th Molosentatives of the three Western powers tov to draft a cotrim.unique and dir.ective asked for a second meeting with Stalin to the four military governors in Berlin, which was held on August 23. Molotov the U. S. governmen:t, in further in· had insisted that the lifting of the So- structions to Ambassador Smith, listed viet blockade be applied o•dY to re- the following four basic requirements: btriCtions imposed since June 18, the .date on which the currency reform in 1. Insistence on our co-equal rights to the Western zones had been announced. be in Berlin; The White Paper quotes the follow- 2. No abandonment of our .position ing excerpt from a summary of the with respect to Western Gennany; conversation w:ith Stalin: 3. Unequivocal lifting of the blockade ' 1 We indicated that this was unsatis- on conunlin.ications, transport, and comfactoi·y. Stalin then suggested that it merce for goods and persons; and might be hotter to say 'the restrictions 4. Adequate quadripa1:tite control of lately imposed' and confirmed that if the issue and continued use in Berlin there were any imposed before that date of the Soviet mark. they would also be lifted.~ The proposed communique to accom· Regarding the Four-Power control pany the directive to the Berlin mili· over the cun·ency in Berlin, Ambassa· tary governors was no~ issued because World Problem --------------------,*,-1""'3'""7 of the insistence of Molotov on a final paragraph that would tie the hands of the Western governments with respect to the London decisions. The proposed communique, however, after outlining the agreement for lifting the blockade, contained the following provisions for discussing questions concerning all of Germany: 'The four governments have also agreed that in addition to meetings of the four military governors, meetings among the four governments in the fo1m of the Council of Foreign Ministers or other conferences of 1·epresentatives of the four powers shall be heJa in the near. future to discuss (1) any oustanding questions regarding Berlin, and (2) any other outstanding. problems affecting Ge1many as a whole." Representatives of the four . powers, however, agreed upon a directive -to the military governors at Berlin, to lift the blockade and to introduce the German mark of the Soviet zone as the sole currency for Berlin under details for Four-Power's control to be worked out by the four military governors. The directive was sent to the military governo1·s on August 30, calling for a report by September 7. Sokolovsky refused to honor Moscow understanding In the Berlin discussions ·among the four military governors, -the White Paper notes that "it soon became apparent that Marshal Soko!ovsky was not ready ·to honor the understandings' reached in Moscow". "During the course of the meetings", the report related, "it was· evident that man bank of ·issue for the Soviet zone with reapect to Berlin, ·and to assert· for the Soviet military authority sole jurisdiction over the trade 'between Berlin abd the Western zones of Geiniany as well as third countries. "With respect to the transport ·restrictions, Sokolovsky began by declaring that he would agree to the removal of .only those restrictions imposed after June 18, the date of the currency reform. This position was taken in spite of Stalin's categorical statel:m.ent on August 23 that under the final wording of the directive any restrictions imposed before that date would also be removed. ''Sokolovsky even ·endeavored to dis.cuss the imposition of new restrictions on the existing air traffic. When "the Western connnanders sought to discuss freedom of passage for military trains, the cond.ition of the railroad tracks, ·and· the need of more paths, Sokolovsky be~ gan by declining to discuss rail traffic unless the •Western commanders would agree to discuss the imposition of new restricticins on the existing air traffic. "General Clay and his ·colleagues refused to do this, pointing out that the directive referred only to the removal of existineio restrictions, not to the imposition of new ones." The report stated that on the sole use of the Soviet currency in 'Berlin, Sokolovsky took the position,-despite the clear um1erstanding confirmed by Stalin in Moscow, that the proposed FourPower financial .commissioll should have no authority w'hatever to control the operations of the German 1>ank of is~ue with respect to Berlin. he was seeking to increase, rather than The report e-xplained thaf without to decrease, the ·restrictions on trans~ such authority over the issuing instiport, and also to eliminate 'any mes.Ure tution, the 'financial commln!on ,..ould of quadripartite control over the Ger- (Please turn to page 1'117) 138 * Current Events Review Vol. IV, No. 5 Does the Truman Doctrine pay? Will Greece be Saved fromConimunism? Specific objectives: L To understand the meaning of the Truman Doctrine as applied to Greece 2. To understand how the Truman Doctrine works in Greece 3. To appreciate the results of the Truman Doctrine in Greece 4. To know if Communism would be checked in Greece One year an4 six monthS; have passed since the announcement of the Truman Doctrine on March 12, 1947, but even today statesmen are still asking if the Truman Doctrine pays. Why was the Truman Doctrine proclaimed? How does it work in Greece? Has Greece benefited from the application of the Truman Doctrine? Will Greece be saved from Communism? The purposes of the Truman Doctrine March 12, 1947, marks an epochmaking event in world affairs. On this day, before the 80th Congress, President Truman announced a new foreign policy, now known as the '1 Truman Doctrine." President Truman enunciat<:>d this new foreign policy of the United States clearly and boldly, He said: "One of the primary objectives of the foreign policy of the United States is the creation of conditions in which we and other nations will be able to work out a way of -life free from coercion. "Totalitarian regimes irri.posed on free peoples, by direct or indirect aggression, undermine the foundations of World Problem international peace and hence the security of the United States. 0 1 believe it must be the policy of the United States to support free peoples, who are resisting attempted- subjugation by armed minorities or by outside pressure. 111 believe that we must assist free peoples to work out their desiinies in their own way. I believe that our help should be primarily through economic and financial aid which is essential to economic stability and orderly political processes." Why the United States is interested in Greece The United States is interested in Greece and Turkey because of _their strategic positions in the ideological war between the democracies and the Communists. Russia has expressed her intentions of secu-ring bases in the Dardanelles and conc~ssions in Iran and Turkey. The United States and Brita.in are opposed to Russian extension of control in the Middle East and southern E~rope. Both the United States and Britain fully realize the significance of Russ.ian control of .both Greece a.nd Turkey. The decision of the United States in responding to the a}lll'.leal of President Truiman for $400,000,000 aid to Greece and Turkey is to 11contain communism" or to check the march of Communism. What the Americans learned from Greece Loy W. Henderso", dir~ctor of the State Department's Office of Near * 139 Eastern and. African Affaii•iS,: in· 11.iS te .. por.t on .Greece broug:h·t· out five- significant' findifigs. :first; moSt · Gre~<s fire st~ll Jibei;al at. hea1·t'.. .Tney·:~i·e ·support~ crs of the democratic.· way '?l living. Secorid, h is not true ~h~t the Greeks are Shi:i.rply· divide~ .into.two' coutraSt~g· ecOnomic. groU.ps-the verY 1'ieh .-~nd th"e very ppor. Third, it is not true that' most of thr: .W01~ldng class ·ai·e Pro-guerrillas. Fourth, .loyal and' patriotic Greek -trade union leaders hav~ taken measures agS:inst :the attemptS .of Communists to · gafo .Control· of the Greek h·ade unions. Fifth, it is not true that all non-Coonnuinist Greek political leaders are incompetent, petty, and entirely self-seeking. Help extended by the United States ~he help being' extended hy the United States is primarily econontic. Through the economic advisers from the United States, Greece is gradually building. her economic ]\fe. Various principal gains have alrea,d·y- beep. achieved. Prices have been · cheCked. Ptofiteerii;lg · has been checked, The gOvernmen~- ":"as able. to cut its budget by 90o/c. More than $60,000,000 worth ~1.10; in addition, the laborers .fqr the fil'st time have been giVe~ the . .riglit to coB.ectiVe ba:rgafning. Because of theSe refo~, fol" several months there have been no serious strikes to disrupt the economic development of the -country. Specialists in public _health from the United States are doing great work in improving public hea,lth in war-torn Greece. A systematic nurse-training program has been started. More than ~2,000,000 worth of United States medical aid has been i·eceived. Malaria is being com batted in more than 1, 700 villages. American engineers have pushed the program of economic reconstruction. With their help and encouragement, bridges are being rebuilt and harbors are being· improved. Several hundreds Of new -roads are being constructed. The famous Corinth Canal destroyed by the Nazis is ·being reconditioned. Railway lJ·.J.ilding and electric prOjects are receiving great attention. There i~- also " bigger p1•oduction ·of steel from scrap aS well. as -a- -fast improvement of. the textile industry. Why military aid is important of relief goods ·and surplus ·materials Military advisers are now teaching which were lying idle in warehouse.s: how the Greek army can put down the for many months have been put to use Greek guerrilla forces under Gen. Mar.~or improving the economic life of the kos Valfiades. who has establJ.lshed a people. Food ,production is rising. The Greek puppet government under the title f6_od production. this year will be "Free" Greek government. Out of 800,000 toils, ·against 500.,000 'tons in $336,000,0.00 committed by the United 1947. The riSe in_· f00d pro<:tuCtion States gover~ment in Greece, $210,m.eanS: that the government has .to im.; 000,000 will be spent for military aid. port only .about 500,000 ions. Expert Greece ·expects to get an additional sum farm training program given by Unit- of $180,000,000 from the United States ed States ·economic advisers has in- goVernment. The main purposes of the aeased the productive· areas for about military program are to put down the1 25(),000 a~r~s· mGre have been broug])t guerrilla .forces and to prev.ent the under c~ltivation. The' mi·nimum ·wage guerrilla~ from· sabotagiri.g the econonihas been flr)ced by the governmeD.f- at ic recovery . progl'am. 14-0 * Currant Events Review Vol. IV, No. 5 The G-reek army is being advised by Lieut. Gen. James A. Van Fleet who commands .the 350 memb'ers of the Urut.ed States Military· MiS!'ion to Greece. Military aid has· b~n given fn two ways: (1) training· Greek troops in combat warfare, and (2) purchase of weapons,. planes, and- other amnmni· ti oils. The Greek government is sending out 200,000 Greek troops to hunt for 25,000 Greek guerrillas. Sin·ce' Match, 1948, about 8,000 guerrillas have been. killed or captured by the 1,500 government troops. The military showdown· calls for. a major offensive so that the guerrillas'· pockets ·may be destroyed. Significance of putting down th!! guerrillas The Greek guel'l'illas are sabotaging the United States ecoz,.omic recovery program. Thousands of Greeks have been driven by the . g'1errillas into crowded towns. If the United States economic aid is to become· s~Ccessful, it' is important for the gOverrunent to put an end to the guerriila actiVitie~; Can Greece be saved from Communism? The .Americans who know the· significance of economic· stability. believe th.at e~onomic democracy is important for political stability. Because of this belief, the top government officials in Washington consider it a vital economic life paramount if Communism would be held in check. As a matter. of fact, the stepped in Greece by extending econ61J1ic- aid, G_reece . would ha.ve fallen into the hands of the Communists. The ideal. of ·the. United States is still to lteep·. Gfeece Pemooratic. !{er ecOnoiµic· and !military a.id are proVing benefici&l to the country. If the milit<1-ry operations, howeve1-,,, fail to _ch~k the Greek gue:rdllas, Greece may ·Still fall , und~1: t)le Communists. This would ,then threaten the position of the United States_ and Britain in_ ·the Mediterta-· n~an, ·Middle: EaSt, ~nd 'India. S:xercises to Develop Thinking 1. Why was the Truman. Doctrine announced? 2. Why is Greece important both to t)le R'uSsians and the democratic. powers? ~ .. Is the l,J'nited .States justified in eJi::tertdin'g., ecoriPmic aid -to Greece? Why? 4. . Is the United States justifie\i in- extending military aid· t6 ... GreeCe? Why? 5~ The frontiers .of northern Greece are mountain~us. How do the mo~ tains add to the difficulties of the Greek g·ov~rnment . in putting dowh th:e., guerrillas? 6. Why is the eliritlnation of the guerrjllas -important? 7. Why do you think Russia· is opposed to the Truman Doctiine? 8 .. Can you think Of other ·conditiori·s necessary for the success of Greek democracy? economic progress· of Greece is giving References the American _government hope for saving Greece ~uccessfu11y from ,-Com- 1. "Greece Fights fm·- Peace." Cur01un]sm. t'ent lfvents Review, Vol. II, No. 8 (Februa>y, 1947,) pp. 11-12. One fact cannot be forgotten in the 2. ''Report on Greece" ·by Loy W. application of -the Truman ·Doctrine in Henderson Greece. Had the United States not (Please turn to page 155) World ProbleJlt ---~-------------, 141 'fill the peoples of the Danube be enslaved? What Lesson did the Allies Learn at the Danube Conference? Specific objectives: 1. To understand the significance of the Danube River in international politics 2. To know why control of the Danube is dangerous 3. To get acquainted with the results Cif the Danube conference 4' To understand what the Allies learned at the Danube co'hference Control of the world's international waterways is essentjal to the peace of the world. Recently, the .democratic powers participated in the Danube conference. Why was "the conference held'! 'What preblems were discussed? What \vas the Russian plan? What was the American plan? What were the resUlts of the conference? What did the Allies learn from the Danube conference? Importance of the Danube The Danube River is 1,725-miles long. It is a waterw_ay that flows from the Black Forest in Germany to the Black Sea. There are famou.s cities on its banks. These are Vienna, Budapest, and Belgrade. The river touches or flo\Vs through Austria, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Yugoslavia, Bulgaria, Rum.ania, and the Ukraine Republic. Before World War II, the Danube was a very busy waterway. Through this river, the produets of We~tern Europe -chemicals, heavy machinery, and metals-were carried to Eastern Europe. Likewise, the products of Eastern Europe - food and raw materials to Western Europe were carried through this river. WhY, the Danube Conference was called After the end of World War II, Danube remained almost· dead. No geii.eraJ trade was carried through it because ihe differences between the United St8.tes and Russia prevented the resum,ption of traffic in the Danube. One fifth of the Danube from Ulm, Germany to Mauthausen, Austria was controlled Qy the Americans, while the rest of the river was under the control of Russia and her satellites. Eighteen months ago the Big Fourthe United States, Britain, France, anci Russia--drafted the Balkan peace treaties. Orie of the clauses inserted it'I these treaties is the free and equal navigation of the Danube. A provision was also written _down in the treaties for the holding of a conference to make the necessary arrangements for the free and equal use of the Danube. The powers met on July 30, 1947, and held 17 sessions. In this conference, the powers that were represented were the Big I1 'our and the six Danubian countriesYugoslavia, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Bulgaria, Rumania, and the Ukraine. What was the problem of the Conference? The main problem of the delegates. to the Conference was to draft an agreement for the international control of the river. The Western poWerS want142. Current Events Review Vol. IV, .No. 5 ed te put the river under the former Danubian Commission which -administered the international control of the river before_ World War II. In this Conunission, Britain, F1·ance, and the riparian nations of the Danube were represented. Russia, on the other hand, wanted. to limit the control of the river. to the six riparian or. Danubian. nations and, Russia. What was the Russian plan for the Danube? Russia knew that she had campiete control of seven votes-the votes. of Russia and. her six satellites. This was the first international conference where the Russians had the majority· vote to control any favorable act for the attainm.ent of Soviet goals. The Russian. plan z>rovided for the "free and unobs.tructed navigation" of the Danube. In accordance with this plan, Russia proposed an "international control conuniseion" composed only of Russia and the Danubian nations. Austria. would be":" come a m$ber of_ the__, commission, after the, signing of the peace treaty for Austria. What was the American plan? The American plan is more specific and. detailed than the Rllllsian plan. The plan enumerated the rights to be guaranteed in the "free and equal navigation" of the Danube. The plan called for the creation of a control composed of Russia, Britain, France, and the Danubian nations. Result of the Conference The Conference voted for the Russian plan as a. basis of dlseussion of the inWorld Affairs ternational control of the Danube. Th~ Allies were out-voted, 7 to 3. During the 17 fruitless sessions, the delegates of the Eastern block refused even to change a word in the Russian-prepared plan for the control of the Danube. The Russian treaty for the Danube was ap~ proved by a vote of 7 to 3. What did the Allies learn from the Conference 1. Several interesting- facts were learned by the Allies during. the Danubian Conference. First, they learned the 11ature of Russian control on the voting" 11ower of the Eastern block. In all the votings, the. Eastern block voted solidiy in favor. of. Russia. Second, the delegates of the. Eastern block showed their unwillingness to change eVen a word of the Russian prepared plan. Cavendish Cannon, Ambassador to Belgrade said: "I know of no previous international conference where -the majority qf the participants with cynical solidarity have refrained from proposing even minor changes in a text laid before them for discussion . . . There have been no negotiation, no compromises." Third, the Courteous ways of discussing international questions. were lacking. Russia's Deputy' Foreign Minister Andrei A. Vishinsky said that the Danube treaty would be written by the Eastern countries and would go into effect whether or not the Western powers signed it. He said with sarcasm: "The. doori. was open for you to come into this conference; the door is open for you to get out." The Western deleg8.tes, however, stayed on to the final vote, ignoring Soviet invitations to walk out. By staying, they demonstrated the futility of attelllpting to negotiate with a Soviet-eontrolled majority. (Please turn to page 158) * 143 How can We Move toward World Rule of Law? Specific objectives: 1. To become acquainted with the progress of the United N !ltiolls 2. To _ understand the importance of the Un_ited Nations ·in a changing world. -3. To understand how the members c;an move toward a world rule of law The United Nations made considerable progress from July 1, 1947 to June 30, 1948. Secretary-General Trygve Lie has recently submitted his third annual report to the General Assembly. What progress has been made by "the United Nations? Haw is the United Natiorts adapted to changing world?- How can we advanced toward world rule of 18.w? Possession of world Law On -June 26, 1945, rep~esentatjves of 50 nations signed the Cl)arter of the United Natiotts at San Francisco; Poland later signed the same Charter. There are· nOw 68 member n3.tions. The· wartime alliance from which the United Nations was born started to fall apart too quickly, "and, had the establishment of the United Nations been delayed even a- few mont]:is, the Organization might never have been created. But today; the peoples of the world possess a world law - the Charter, machinery for constructive cooperation - the Organization, and a flag - the Un!ted Nations flag - under which th~ allied nations of the wo;ld have a good chance to maintain a lasting }>eace and build a world that is fit for all men to live in. U.N. chief force holding world tqgether _ on the assumption of agreement among the great Powers, that it was no~ created to _make peace but to keep peace after if was made, and "that in general the _Or· ganization haS been 6ubmitted to .mahy strains it was not equipped to -bear. However true this may be, I believe it is time to think of the United Nations irr other terms than as arr ir.fant which must be proteeted from the harsh realities of world politi_cal. It is time·to stop justifying the setbacks <P<Perienced in the work of the United Nations. r believe that we shol!ld start by recognizing_. t)tat the United _Nations has become the chief force that holds the world together against all the conflicting strains and strei<ses that are pulling it apart. The United Nations has upheld law and human decency and used .the .proces.ses of conciliation' and . cooperation among the peoples of the world. It has outlawed the naked, lawless use of power. The United Nations h~s continued to stand for brotherhood in the midst of all voices that talk of national policy in terms of military strategy and tactics - as if the building of peace were a matter of ·offensive and couritel"·offensives, of break·throughs and infiitrations, of !>lockades and ideological Maginot Lines. · Indeed, the organs of the United Nat ions are now virtually the only places where regular contaCt. and discussion have been maintained on a continuous basis between the Western Powers and the Union of Soviet Socialist_ Republics. The Council of Foreign l\Unistei's has A gr~ deal has been said to the ef- not met since December, 1947, and a nefec:t that the United Nations was based gotiations for a peace treaty with Ger144 * Current Events. Review Vol.. IV,· No. 5 many ~ave been 'in a state of suspense since then. The conflict between East and West ha& been the cause, dlrei:t or indirect, of many setbacks and dis' appointments In the work of tl>e U11ited Nations during the past year; yet ;t i.s equally true, though far lesr. often .ad· mitted, that the United Nations in its turn has: acted as :a restr&:ining and. conciliaiirig influence upon the parties to 'thi~ conflict. Before the General Assem'bly and the Councils of the United Natio'ns; every nation must justify. it ·pol.1 icies hr the light of the Charter and subj~ct these policies to the judgement and.opinion of the whole world. Around the tables of council chambers and ~om mittee rooms, the pressure has always bee TI. m the dlNctiOn of agreement . and the peaceful processes of settlements, ·eVen when no · agreement has been reached. The United Nations does not provide a favorable atmosphere for ultimatums or conspiracies. Its-growing: influence. is unceasingly iii the direciiqn .of peace and a\vay from war. Wo.rld is in the midst of profound social and political change Many things have happened both inside and · outside the United Nations !lufing the past year that should remind us not to over-simplify the world picture. The · present . tension between the two mightiest nations - the United States ·and Russia - is n~t the only factor likely to have a JlOWerful influence on history, The position of the other three permanent members of the Security Council, ~hich, under the Charter, are on a basis of equality with the United States and Russia symbolizes some of the other fortes at w~rk. When the United Nations Charter was signed, China was the only fully independent nation of ~astern Asia among the signatories. Within three years Bul'ma:, India, Pakistan, and the Philippines .World Problem have become fully independent and all are how members of the United N.ations, In.dia and the Philippines being .original members. Siam has . also been admitted a:nd Ceylon, too, has. applied for mem-. lll!rship. ·The emerging United ·states of Indonesia is also I' potential applicant for membership. Further north in Asia, the Morigoliari People's Republic .has seiit in itso application .. In the United · Nations Economic -Commission 'tor Asia and thefar Ea:st (ECAFE) r~presentatives of Cambodia, Ceylo;n, · H~ngkong, LaoS,. and the group territories comprising : the Malayan Unioli; ·Siilga'il~re, .NO~h· BCJrneo, Brmlei~ and Safawak Sit. as_ associate members. Of the countries .of -Western Asia, · Afgha'nistan arrd Yemen are already ni.(!!nibers of the Vnited Nations, and .Transjoi:dan has applied for membership. Thus, in three years. some _twelve ·or more of the rising nations in_Asia,_whiCh all' · together have a population greater than that of Eurqpe and the Western Hemisphere· cotitbined, have in varying degrees begun to make their irifluence felt in the work of the United Nations. The peoples of ·Africa are but inadequately represented in the United Nations: Many of these peoples have ·-a long road to travel. in the development of the great n&.tu,ral r·esources of_.thei:r continent and to;ward political an4 economic indep°endence~ In these region_s, the _provisions of the Charier. relating to non-. self-governing peoples and, to the trus• teeship system have potentially· ~he.Ir g1:eatest significance. · Through this machinery .the people of· Africa can bring their case to the attention of' the world with better hopes of help and justice and genuine respect for theil equal :rights as human beings than ever before. Durin~ the past year, for exat'l)pfo, ~he Trusteeship Council heard the petition of representatives of the Ewe people of West Africa for the unification of their land, ·now divided among the British * 145 Gold Coast Colony a.nd the British and French Trust Territories. The U.N. is adapted to a changing world It, is for this new world that is gradually rising· from tlie ruins and bitter memories of the war that th~ United Nations was conceived. The United Na- - tions has been constructed to embrace the whole world because anything less would destroy the hope of preventing war by dividing the world. jrto rival alliances. Because the United Nations embrace. the whole world - a world of nations differing profoundly in culture and interests, each sensitive of its sovereignty - the possibilities of action of the {Jnited Nations have been subjected to important limitations. Two of these limitations are' the unanimity rule for the permanent members of - the Security Council and the binding provision that decisions of the General Assembly are in the form of recommendations only. The world has been made physically one by modern technology but its peoples must be given time and. freedom to search out the common ground afforded to them by the loosely-knit United Nations of t0day in order to develop the stronger unity that the United Nations of tomorrow can achieve. Finally, the United Nations has been designed above all for a changing world. It has_ been so framed and. so constructed that change ~an be brought about peacefully instead of by force of arms. It has been so built that the old nationalisms of the western world and the rising nationalisms of Asia and the Far East can adjust themselves peacefully to one another. How can we move toward worla rule of law? the fh1st concern -of all the members states of the Unit~d N~tions at this time should be to find ways and means by which the United Nations can continue to gather strength during. the coming months and be able to exert that strength with greater authority on the side of peace. I would urge a resumption of negotiations between th~ United StateS:J- Britain, France, and Russia on the tuture. of Germany. Nothing would contribute inore to the effectiveness of the United Nations than a settlement cif this problem. I would urge upon the members fuller use of the existing p_ower of the Security Council for the settlement of international disputes and for ·the preservation of peace.· M_uch has been said about the alleged helplessness of the United Nations, and particularly of the S.ecurity Council. I respectfully submit, however, that the powers contained in the Charter would have been_ more than sufficient to deal with every situation which has come befOre the Security_ Council to date, had they been invoked. Finally, I would urge once again upon member governments the importance to the future of the Unired Nations and to the more rapid development of W<>flil law, and respect fdr law, of giving all possible weight and su.pport to the decisions of .the General Assembly and of the Councils, even though they be in the form of recommendations to the member states. The growth in the effectiveness of the Organization will be measured by the extent to which it draws upon and adapts to new uses the rich reservoir of historical experience in parliamentary institutions and the other institutions of democratic government. It is necessary that the practice of observing the will of the General Assembly should be extended In the face of the continuing political and more firmly established year by tensions between the East and the West, (Please turn to page 156} 146 • Current Events Review Vol. IV, No. 5 Significant World News Roundup BULGARIA Not qualified One of the nations applying for membership in the United Nations is Bulgaria. Recen.tly, the Minister for For· eign ·Affairs told an audience that Bulgaria has been faithful. in fulfilling. its obligations under the peace treaty. The same spokesman attributed to the. United States the rejection of Bu~g:aria's application for membership in the United Nations. What is the signifieance of the news.? Bulgaria has shown by its repeated disregard for international obligations and its ruthless suppre911fon of hwnan rights that it is not qualified for membership in the United,Nations under the provisions of the Charter, ,the U. S. government has told the Balkan nation in a memorandum delivered to the Bulgarian. Foreign Minister, V"asil.' Petkov in Sofia. Why is Bulgaria not qualified? First, the Bulgarian government has pro· secuted a systematic and rtithless cam. paign -to ·obliterate democratic opposi· tion, in disregard of the fundamental principles of freedom. Second, tlJrough the abuse of the instrumentalities of police power and subversion of the judicial pi-ocess, the Bulgarian govern· ment has subjected a large number of innocent Bulgarian people to involuntary servitude, banishment, concent?ation canips, imprisonment, torture, and execution. These people have no crime ~xcept their belief in democracy. Third, it has obliterated the opposition press; InternationaJ News by means of terror, it has killed free expression. Fourth, Bulgaria has supported on its territory guerrilla activities directed against Greece. JAPAN UNESCO's work lauded Dr. Kuo Uy-Show, Huxley's adviser on Far Eastern affairs, praised the work being undertaken by the UNESCO in Japan. During his stay in Japan, the Chinese scholar held severaF informal meetings with SCAP officials. He visited all types of Japanese educational institutions and met with leaders in science and cultural affairs. According to Kuo Uy Show, JapaneSe education has made remarkable strides by adopting compulsory education through the ninth grade, starting a &chool lunch program, organizing an advanced social studies curriculum coonparable to that in Western countries, and maintaining an impressive quality and quantity of teaching materials such as maps and charts in the · dassroom. What is the signifieance of the news? Dr. Kuo praised the "excellent start" UNESCO has made in Japan. The enthusiasm for the UNESCO ideal in Japan, expressed through scores of UNES"CO study orli"anizations, is . the greatest shown of any non-member country. Japan is not a member of the UNESCO because the peace treaty with Japan has not yet been concluded. Japan will be benefited greatly by the UNESCO program. The five-point *l47 program for UNESCO in Japan calls for: (1) dioseininatlon in Japan of inlormation about UNESCO; (2) facilitating .ex•hange of Japanese publication with those of other countries; (3) ~xcha:hge of· infoimation about ·objecti~ criteria for world-wide revision of textbooks; ( 4.) sponsoring exchange of scholars; ( 5) invitation to SCAP to -~end allied obs~rVel'~, · ~cmllpanied hy fapanese experts to UNESCO'S international meetings. CHINA Is Red lea_dership strong? The Reds are winning in, certain parts of China. Questions· have been raised as· to the ability. of the present National. government tO administer the country in view of the important successes of the Chinese Communists. What is tAe real situation? What·;. the significance of the news? The government of China is . showing renewed _vigor in attacking corruption in high places. The administration of China under the National government is much better .than the administratjon of China under the Comn'.lunists. The Communists in China have fewer able administrators than the National gov-e~ent, _and as they have won control of larger areas, this lack has grown more appare~t. In parts of the regions th.ey control, Communists have modified their land program. They have turned away from extremist methods f,s redistributing land as they did during the war with Japan,· to such modderate methods as reduction of rents and interest rates. pC'asant i8 essentially consel'vative. He is not attracte'"d by radical ideas except when his situation is .despenite. As a matter. of fact, the Chinese peasants, as a whole, seek and expec;t fair play. IT ALO-GREEK FRIENDSHIP A rink in the over-all .coalition 4nnouncements ·have been. issued regarding t~e conclusion of a bilateral treaty .betwe.en Greece and Italy. The treaty h1<s n<> military commitment because Italy under the terma of the l'eace treaty signed by her is demilitarized. Greece is. wea~.iriilitarily. The treaty is· more ·of a i·eal treaty of friendship rather than a military pact. What is the Significance of the news? The treaty symbolizes the et)d of an antagoniSm between Italy and Greece. During the regime of Benito Mussolini in Italy, Gte~e was · erl'dangered . on several occasion. Both cotintries wer.e ke~n competltors l;n the Eastern .Mediterranean Basin. Greece did not like Mussolini's Occupation of the Greek-inhabited Dodecanese Archipelago. The decision. to forget past . conflicts is a ·sign of real friendship. The 'iVashington St"'r said that the treaty speaks vollimes of the Far.sighted c:onunon sense of Greek leadership, It is a significant treaty because it is ari acknowledgment of the conunon intere~s which now bind the two nations faced by mutual difficulties and dangers. Both countries today are threatened by totalitarian Communism combined with the. even older urge of P3.n-S.lavism. This danger is trying to enter Greece and Italy from the What is the main ca.use of the Eastern. Mediter:ranean. The underchange in the land program of the standing between Greece and ltaly conChinese Conununists? The New York stitutes a further link in the over-all H eTald, Tribune said that the Chinese coalition ~f free Europe u"nder the aegis 148 * Current Events Review Vol. IV, No. 5 of the Marshall Plan. Another bulwai·k against the -aggressive Policy' of the Soviet bloc is thus being constructed. RECOVERY PROGRAM What are the responsibilities of the ECA? Paul G. Hotfman, Administrator of the Economic Cooperation Administration. (ECA), the United States Agency ln charge of the United States foreign aid programs for Western Europe and China, has listed what he considers the 13 principal responsibilities or duties of the ECA in connection with the European ·Recovery Program. These duties are: (1) To promote agricultural Production in each of the European countries participating in -the· Marshall Plan. (2) To promote industrial production. ( 3) To assist in tlie restoration and maintenance of sound currencit}S and · budgets and fina11.ces. (4) To facilitate .and stimulate trade within Europe and by Europe with the rest of the world. (5) To encourage American investments in Europe through guarantees of _convertibility of focal currencies into dollars. (6) With the advice of the National Advisory Council, to determine whether assist-: ance is to be in the fo1m of loans or grants. (7) To negotiate for the retention in Germany of certain plants scheduled for removal as reparation. (8) To see that assets and earnings belonging to citizens of particir}ating countries, but situated in United States territory, are so far as possible located by the participating country, and put to appropriate use in furtherance of the European Recovery Program. (9) To encourage the largest possible arrangements with the International Re< fugee Organization. (10) To see that American commodities are · exported International News first to· participating countries, in pref• erence to. non-participating countries, wholly or partially in Europe. (ill) \:Tith the advica of the National Advi· sory Council and the Pubiic Advisory Board and by agreement with participating cQuntries, to develop programs by which .counterpart funds are usea to promote recovery in. the - countries ,.,.hich receive aid in the form of grants. When a country receives a grant rather than a loan; it ·must deposit local -currency, equivalent. in value to the grant, in a fund to be used for recovery purJ>ose. (12) To establish a lmission in each of .i.e participating countries to aid in developing plans for recovery atid to follow through on the end-use of goods received through the ECA. (iS) To make available to European countries American technical experiences and advice in management and production -in other words, to export "knowhow>• as well as commodities. What is the. significance of the news? The objectives of the ECA are praiseworthy. The United States has learned from varfous economic -projects fit aiding foreign countries the -usefulness of a sound program. The objectives set forth are a challenge to the Russian plan for aiding Eastern Europe. On& tangible result of the. European Recovery Program to date is the revival going on in many countries pa~icipat ing in the Marshall Plan. Time is now on the side 'of the Western Powers. POLAND Greatest Russian worry Recent news frOm Poland were dis· turbing. to Russia. The Polisll Col{lmunjst Party under the. leadership of Vke Premier Wladyslaw proposed a more nationalistic and independent • 149 action. He suggested that the Poles •top submitting to their Russian mas· tcrs. He suggested several steps to make Poland economically independent of Russia. What. is th.e significance of the news? The action of Vice Premier Wlady· s1aw aroused Premier Josef Stalin because it was more serious than Marshal Tito's denunciation of the Cominform. Tito does not believe in "democracy", but he is still pro-Russian. Although he suggested separation from the Cominform, he still professed loyal· ty to Russia. In the case of Poland, it is different. The Poles who had been subjugated by Russia are bitter against Russia. The danger raised by the action of Vice Premier Wlady· slaw could be more appreciated if we realize that Poland is very near the Russian border. Russia could not afford to have a· very "hostile" neighbor. Two divisions of MVD police troops '""ere sent to Poland to "restore" order and remove Vice Premier Wladyslaw. BURMA Anxiety over Communist activities Latest information from Rangoon shows that the activities of the Corn· munist are increasing. It reveals that rebel groups cO!lllposed of Communists are undermining the army, military police, and police reserves. Government forces are doing their best to suppress the rebellion dominated by a group of Communists. What is tke significance of the news? What is happening in Burma is be· ing watched w:ith anxiety by the London government. Englanil is chiefly i~terested in the possible effect of the activities of the Communists in Burma. These activities may bring about a civil war in Burma or a seizure of the governme.nt by the Communists. E.ither of these results will affect not only the Burmese government but all of South Asia. A year ago, ,negotiations for the independence of Burma were made between the British government and the late U Aung San, head of the Anti-Fascist j:.eague. The British govern· ment warned the late Burmese leader of the possibility of civil war if inde{Jendence is granted. The Burmese, however, assured the British government th~t the possibility of a civil war is remote. Since the assasination of U Aung San, conditions in Burma show that the possibility of a civil war is not remote. LATIN AMERICA Mexico-United States farm agreement New agreements for contracting agricultural workers from Mexico to meet the farm labor shortages in the United States have been made between the governments of Mexico and the United States. Under the new agreements, Mexi'c:an workers are guaranteed wages, living accomodations, medical care, and opportunities for higher-paia jobs equal to those prevailing in the United States. An interesting feature of the agreements is the provision for a. savmg fund. Ten per cent of the worker's salary is withheld. When the worker retul-ns to Mexico, a check for all deductions in his salary is given. Practical steps in encouraging technical education in Venezuela The government (Please turn of Venezuela has to page T56) 150 * Current Events Review Vol. IV, No. 5 The Philippines and the World Philippine peso accepted China is now trying its best to rehabilitate its currency. Recently, the Chinese g9vernment has "issued a new cun-ency to revive the people's confidence in the national solvency of the country. Notes for the new currency to be called Gold 'Yulln will not exce'lji GY $2,000,000,000. This amount will be backed 100 pre cent by US $500,000,000. The exchange rate bet~een the new currency and U.S. dollars is exactly four Gold Yul\D to one American .dollar. The Central Bank of China has' announced that holders of Philippine pesos marked with the wofd "Victory" can exchange them at the rate of 1.95 gold yuan to one peso. Philippine citizenship and aliens A ctinstructive suggestion to protect the welfare of our country came from .Mayor Manuel de la Fuente of Manila. He suggested a nation-wide probe of the various activities of · the local civil registry and provinces to find out illegal entry or registrations of Filipino citizenship by aliens. The main purpose of the suggested probe is to eliminate aliens who have elected Filipino citizenship illegally. This is for the good of the country; therefore, the suggestion should receive the whole-hearted support of the nation. Fisheries pensionados take specialized courses In accordance with the Philippine Re· habilltation Act of 1946, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service is National Affairs authorized to provide for one year training of 125 Filipinos in the methods of deep-se~ fishing and in other tecHniques necessary to the development of fisheries in the Philippines. Since the start of the program in May, 1947, 62 Filipino pensionados have been sent to the United Stah>s. The most recent Filipino pensionados of the Bureau of Fisheries and the Philippine Fishery Program of the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service have been recently reassigned to varioUs schools and fishery establishments. They· will tipecialize in the technical and scientific phases of the fishing industry. Philippines recipient of port rehabilitation project The Philippine government becalme the recipient of another port rehabilitation project by the Manila District; U. S. Army Corps of Engineers when the newly completed re-inforced concrete scalehouse building -in the Pqrt Area was turned over by the U. S. government to the Philippine Republic. Th~ 50,000-peso one story scalehouse was constructed by the Gonzales and Robles Co., Lt. under a MANED cont,.act. Other major port rehabilitation projects turned over recently to ·the Philippine government, in accordance with Section 303, of the Philippine Rehilbilitation Aict of 1946, were the Ne>rth and South Harbor street paving projects. More Filipinos to train as merchant marine cadets Twenty more Filipinos will undergo training as cadet-midshipmen under the * 151 nuspices of the United· States Matitime commission- .beg_inning -Ma_1'.ch,: 1949, in' arcordance with Section · 306 of the Philippine RehabiHtation Act of 1946. The trainees wi_H pursue a four-year course in which- one year will be sperat in .trS:ining as Fourth Classmen _at the Academy at Kings Point~ another ye&r as Third Classmen. in · m•rchant or training vessels, and two years as ·Second and -First Classmen in merchant Marine Academy again at Kings Point. The academic course which is scheduled to begin on March 1, 1949 and end on February 1, 1953 will include the study of such subjects as mai-i~e engineering, navigation, electricity, ship construction, naval science, and tactics, as well as economics, business adriiinistratlon, language, history, science, and other subjects of a cultural nature. Philippines in international exposition The Philippines is one of the 46 nations that· have signified their willingness to par"ticipate in the international cxposi_tion of arts. and industries- in New York City to be held from· No: vember 1 to 7, 1948.· Exhibits representing the industrial, commercial, social, and cultural Jife of the Philippines have been sent to New York by the PRATR.k ·The -Philippines has accepted to join- the international ex:Position· for two reasons: ( 1) to acquaint the peoples of the world with. the culture of the Philippines, and (2) to expand an_d visited the Philippines and IDade the conclusion . that tJie . Philippines ls the only country i11 tlfo world that starts showing pictures at 7:30 in ·the morn'. ing. According ·to him~ more Filipinos go to. the movies than tO the theaters. Protecting the morals of the peopte The government through Co1·nelio Balmaceda, new secretary of COmmerce and Industry, has reemPhasized tjle need of protecting the morals of the people. The new ·secretary called on all i·adio broadcasting stations to . comply with the provisions of the law. that nothing _s\tbversive and inunoral be given on the air. The need for more edu~ational entertainm~t has been stressed at the conference called by the secretary. Coconut oil to benefit SCAP's program from The SCAP recently made an important decision which Will benefit the coconut industry in the· Philippines., It has ·. decided . to . putchase 8,000 tons o·f, PhiliJ,pine cOcotiut Oil. The d_ecision. will encourage local coconut oil pro'ducers and invite outside capital to engage in the coconut ·oil industry. Philippine foreign trade The -appointment of Cornelio Balmaceda as SeCretary of Commerce ·and ·In· du.stry Promises to increa_se the. foreign· create ma·rk~s for Philippin~ products. trade of 'the_ Philipph:ies. The new sec~ retary ·has ·a. pet p1:o'ject Of promoting our foreign., trade. He believes, in an extensive ad:vertising to sell Philippine goods abroad. The sending of oversea& Phlliepines is best market for u, S. films The Philippines, according to S. N. floating expedition is one of his conDurger, fonign manager of Metro- crete proposals for promoting PhilipGoldwyn-Mayer, is the best market pine foreign trade. The establishment for U. S. films. The manager reeently (Please turn to page 159) 152 * -- Current Events Review Vol. IV, No. 5 Science Marches On Keeping eggs fresh Bone strength Estimating that about 5% of the total eggs produced in the United States ~re lost every year due to i~proper rollecting or storage of freshly laid eggs, the United States Department of Agriculture specialists are aiding American poultry breeders against three chief enemies of fresh eggs-high temperature, insufficient moisture, and strong odors. The first two enemies cause evaporation of some of the water in the eggs, the thinning of egg whites, the weakening and enlargement of· the yolks, and the enlargement of the air cells. Strong odors such as those of onions and kerosene are quickly absorbed by the eggs. The tests have shown that freshly laid eggs held at 90 degrees Fahrenheit (32 degrees Centigrade) lose their quality about three times faster than the eggs held at 70 degrees Fahrenheit (20 de· grees Centigrade) and 24 times faster than the eggs held at 50 degrees Fah· renheit (10 degress Centigrade). The Department specialists, therefore, recommend that eggs be stored in rooms with a temperature of between 32 and 60 degrees Fahrenheit (zero and about 15 degrees Centigrade) and with a humidi~y of 85 to 90 per cent. Farmers are also urged to collect eggs from the nests at least three times each day during hot weather and to make such collections in. wire baske~, which permit free circulation of air around every egg, rather than in pails, boxes, or woven baskets. Modern Science Scientists from the United States are testing the strength and elasticity of human bones in a research project designed to develop safety devices for those traveling in high-speed aircraft. Hecent increases in speed of planes, mainly through jet propulsion, has e..x~ posed the problem of hwnan protection against shocks and impacts in ordinary flight as well as against those shocks eneoutttered in ·accidents. Preliminary tests in the United States National Bureau of Standards indicate that long range bones. show an average ultimate compressive strength of about 25,000 pounds per square inch (abouh 1,756 kilograms per ~quare centimeter). This is about one-fourth <>f the compressive strength of cast iron and more than twice that of hickory wood. Bone elasticity is approximately one-tenth that of steel. The bones tests are being made preparatory to designing mechanical models of the human frame for better safety devices. Cheaper sugar The cost of refining sugar as pure as that presently sold has been 'd.iseovered in the United States, according to a report by Dr. Donald F. Othmer, heai! of the department of chemical engineering in the PolythecniC Iustitute of Brooklyn, New York. The further advantage of saving health· giving vitamins, largely wasted by pres· ent refiniiig methods, i& also claimed for the new process. * 153 Othmer says, "A very light yellow sugar as pure as that presently sold has been manufactured on wn. experimental scale by the new technique, in which eontaminants a~~ wastied from sugar with wood alcohol." This he says, "'represents one of the few major new methods for refining sugar since bone char and other chars were developed 100 years ago. The expensive melting of the (raw) sugar, purification over char produced from animal bones, evaporation, recrystallization, and many other steps are ill eliminated· in this simple process which will operate at a fraction of the cost of present huge plants." Music typewriter Conunercial publishers of music traditionally use a laborious pen-and-ink hand m·ethod to write the sCores preparatory to their actual reproduction by engraving and printing. An acoustic engineer in the United States has invented a music typewriter· that is said to make the writing easier and quicker and to give more ·uniform results. Before designing the typewriter, Dr. Floyd Firestone of Washington, D. C., worked out a new way of writing music. He ellntinated the key sig'nature by translating all sharps into flats, and identifying _ all flats individually by writing them as triangular-shaped notes. The inventor claims this makes music easier to read as well 3$ simpler to write. justing- the carriage for the careful spacing required in writing music. Sawdust feed A new livestock and poultry feed derived from chemically-treated wood -:waste is being developed in the United States. It is a form of molasses which contains about 50% sugar. It is pro~ duced by acid treatment of sawdust and othe1~ wood waste. Experts at the l'nited States Forest PrGducts Laboratory, at Madison, Wisconsin, estimate that an industrial plant could turn out "sawdust" molasses at a saving of from 50% to 70% from the cost of grain feed. . At a recent meeting of the American Chemical Society at Portl~nd, Oregon, it was reported that tests conducted at the Washington and Oregon State Colleges h_ad shown that meat from animals fed with the wood molasses was normal in flavor, Used as a substitute for such cereals :is corn and wheat in feeding poultry, a small amount of soybean oil meal was added to provide the protein not contained in the ·wood molasses. The method of producing molaSses from the· cellulose of wood has been known for yea;s, but this is the first time the product has been tried in the United States as a livestock and poultry feed. Body chemistry Scientists in the United States are The typewriter itself is a standard gaining added knowledge of the key electric&.l machine with special key- chemical substances of the human body. board and type bars to make the noteS' These substances are vitamins, horand $ymbols. The typist· inserts ruled mones, and enzymes which maintain the paper and works down the colwnns. A delicate balance of 'physical health. Prog. fine horizontal adjustment helps to ~·• in this field of research was recenter the notes on or between lines of 1iorted recently at the 114th national the staff. A prism magnifier, booted meeting of the American Chemical Soto the typewriter, aids the. typist in ad- (Please tum to page 169\ 154 * Current Events Review Vol. IV, No. 5 Why Did The •.• (Continued front page 183) currency for Berlin. The issue is that the Soviet government has . clearly shown by its actions that it is attempting by illegal and coercive measures in disregard of its obligations to secure political objectives to which it is. Dot entitled and which it could not achieve by peaceful means. It has resorted to blockade measures; it has threatened the Berlin population with starvation, disease, and economic ruin; it has tolerated disorders and attempted to overthrow the dufy elected municipal government of Berlin. The attitude and conduct of the Soviet government reveal sharply its purpose to continue its illegal and coercive blockade o.nd its unlawful actions designed to reduce the status of the United States, the United Kingdom, and France as occupying powers in Berlin to one of complete subordination to Soviet rule~ and thus -to obtain absolute authority over the economic, political, and social life of the 11eople of 'Berlin, and to incorporate the city in the Soviet zone. Is Russia guilty before the world? "14. The Soviet goverrunent has thereby taken upon itself .sole responsibility for creating a situation in which further recourse to the means of settlement prescribed in Article 33 of the Charter of the United Nations is not, in ~xisting circwnstances, possible, and which constitutes a threat to international peace and security. In order that international peace and security may not be further endangered the governments of the United States, the United Kingdoon, and France, therefore, while reserving to thelmselves full rights to take such measures as may be necessary to maintain in these cire.umstances their position In Berlin, flnd themselves obliged to refer the acWorld Problem Will Greece Be •.. ( Continned from page 141) 3, °Captain of the Crags," Time, Vol. II, No. 14 -(April 5, 1948), pp. 14-15. 4. Hauser, Ernest 0. "Something Rotten in Greece.'' The Saturday Evening Post; Vol. 219, No. 40 (April 5, 1947) pp. 26-27; 129. tion of thP Soviet government to the Security Council of the United Nations". Exercises to Develop Thinking 1. Why did the Western Powers seek negotiations with Moscow? 2. What is the main !reason why the Western Powers would not ~8.ve Berlin? 3. What agreements were reached in Berlin? 4. Why were the Moscow understandings not implemented by the Soviet military governor in Berlin? 5. Why were Russia's demands unreasonable? 6. Did the Russian government use duress in. the Moscow negotiations? Why? 7. What does Russia want in Berlin? 8. Is Russia guilty of creating a dangerous situation for the peace of the world? Why? 9. Were the Western Powers right in referring the Berlin crisis to the Security Council? W~y? ATING WIKA a sister publieation to this magazine eontains abun· dant, illustrated materials of instruction in the Fili· pino ~ational Language for grad&11ehool ehildren. * 155 Significant World •.. (Continued from page TSO) taken the first step in encouraging technical education. A commission for the development of technical, commercial, and industrial studies was recently established. Immediately eight schools for training mechanics were established. These schools are now efficiently functioning. The way for technical education has thus been laid. Cooperation to promote scientific work Six countries bordering on the Amazon Basin recently met to discuss a cooperative project for research on· the Basin. These countries are Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru~· and Venezuela. France, Britain, and the Netherlands also attended the conference. The agreement to conduct a ~o operative project mil yield valuable data on the "scientific mysteries" of one of the least known regions of the world-the Amazon Ba~n. Cultural education A nation's culture is enriched by the intelligent adaptation of the elements in the culture of other nations. Recently, South American countries showed great interest on Anierican orchestral music. Musical depositories were established in South America. American folk music, music for band .concerts, vocal scores, and chamber music have been made available to the people of South America. On the papers How Can We .•. (Continued from page 146) y£'ar. Only in this way can we move to~ ward world rule of law, which is the ultimate objective of us all. Exercises to Develop Thinking 1. In what sense does the world pos·sess world law? 2. Name some pregress made by the United Nations. 3. llow is the United Nations holding the world together? 4. Why are the nations of the world using the :United Nations in the settlement of their problems? 5. Cite specific examples in which the UfJ.ited Nations was able to make warring factions heed the counsel of the U .N. in the settlement of their problems. 6. Why do you think the United Nations is going to bring about profound political changes? 7. How is the United Nations adapted to a changing world? 8. What may be done to strengthen the United Nations? magazine. is entitled Escritura. The fifth international leprosy congress 'was 1·ecently held in Havana. Many important papers on the treatment of leprosy were discussed. The University of Brazil at Rio de Janeiro has opened a new course in journalism to encourage writing for the sake of the nation. The United States has presented to the Mexican government a set of microfilms· that traces the relation between Mexico and the United States. The gift is very valuable in the promotion of close ties between the two govunments. Argentina has launched a large scale program to develop its petroleum and natural output in order to An examination of the newspapers make Argentine independent of its fuel from Latin America shows many inter- supply. Venezuela has launched an esting news item. Uruguay has publish- agricultural program to develop sisal. ed a new literary magazine for the Fiber industry in this country is impurpose of ·developing greater interest portant because of the shortage of hair in the culture of the country. The new fibers iii the world's market. 156 * Current Events Review Vol. IV, No. 5 What Made The •.. (Continued from page 138) have been quite incapable of discharging the function assigned to it in the directive. With respect to . trade arrangements bet.ween Berlin and the Western zones of Germany and third countries, the report noted that Sokolovsky asserted for the Soviet authorities the exclusive l'ight to control such trade. This clairm, the report explained, obviously contradicted· the Clear meaning of the agreed directive and in no way constituted a reasonable -approach to the problem of working out a mutually satisfactory basis for the trade of Berlin. Why the Berlin negotiations failed In summing up the Berlin conversations, the White Paper said: •i Marshal Sokolovsky in Berlin th us took a position contrary to the explicit &ssurances given by Stalin in Moscow, ,.,·ith respect to transport restrictions, currency, and trade. Moreover, he manifested increasingly an attitude of indifference about the progress or failure of the negotiations. uThe week of technical discussion in Berlin thus proved even more futile ana frustrating than .the month of negotiations in Moscow. The military governors were unable to submit an agreed report. Marshal Sokolovsky remarked that there was nothing to report." 'The three Western governments then delivered an aide-memoire to Stalin and Molotov asking the Soviet government to affirm the previous understandings and to issue the necessary instructions to the Soviet military governor to carry out the directive. Motailed instructions" to the military governors. The three Western governments then <lispatched the notes of September 22, asking that a date l>e set for the lifting of the blockade to create conditions that would permit a continuance of discussions.-Text released by USIS. Exercises to Develop Thinking 1. What was Stalin's formula for the solution of the Berlin question? 2. Why do you think Stalin presented his formula? 3. Why is the blockade unreasonable? 4. Why is negotiation possible only in an atmosphere relieved of presSure? 5. Why do you think Stalin defendtd the restrictions on transport? 6. What is the currency question? 7. Why is a solution to the currency question difficult? 8. What is the relation of the solution of the currency question to the control of Germany? 9. Why did Sokolovsky refuse to implement the Moscow negotiations? 10. Enumerate the lessons taught ty the Moscow negotiations. Subscribe to ATING WIKA a magazine in the Filipino National Language for grade-school children and for Teachers in Elementary Schools Send for sample copy. One year . . . . . . . . . . . . P7 .50 One semester . . . . . . . . . 4.00 lotov replied on September 18 i;n an M~i·la aide memoire suggesting,_'_'".::'_::01.::·e_d_::e_::-_ _:=:=9:=3:=3==R=a==on=S'°t'°.,'°Q'°u:=t:=.a:=p==o,===u="=~ World Problem * 157 What Lesson Did ••. (Continued from page 143) What did Russia's satellites learn from the Allies? The Danubian Conference failed. It resulted in the creation of Two · Danubes. The Am.ericans would continue control of the Danube from Ulm, Germany to. Mauthausen, Austria, a distance of 350 miles. Russia would control 4/5's of the river. Did the Russian satellites learn anything from the Soviet Danube treaty? In a speech delievered by Walter A. Radius~ deputy cha!rman of the American delegation of the Danubian Conference, seve~al points were mentioned as object lessons for the Russian satellites. He said among other things: 1. The Soviet draft convention recently signed by the Soviet Union and her satellites fail to recognize the "interest of the rest of Europe and the world in_ the Danube conunerce, and even the interests of Danube countries in trade with other regime." 2. The record of the Belgrade Conferen'ce shows that those important phrases "freedom of navigation" and ''non-discriminatory treatment" have different meanings depending upon those who use them. While giving nQminal, but limited, recognition to those basic principles, the Soviet draft provided n·o assurance of performance. 3. The American delegation was able to bring to the attention of the delegation of the Russian satellites the soundness of the American position and the interests of the American · people on the economic welfare and political independence of the satellites themselves. Strong arguments were l'sed to ;;how why the Soviet draft was very disadvantageous to them. 4. "The policies and actions of the Soviet Union in the Danube region were challenged directly in an internationa1 meeting where, at least in the confere:nce hall, no censorship prevailed." Russia's satellites heard directly from the American delegation why Russian policies are not conduciVe to worid peace. Exercises to Develop Thinking 1. Do you think the control of international water;ways is related to world 1ieace? Why? Cite an example to support your answer. 2. Why is the control of the ,Danube important to Europe? 3. Can you explain why the Russians want to exclude the Western powers from the Control Commission? 4. Why do you think the American IJlan calls for the pre-war control of the Danube? 5 . Explain the lessons learned by the Allies at the Conference. 6. Explain the lessons learned 'by Russia's satellites. Subscribe to ATING WIKA a monthly magazine that con· tains abundant illustrated materials of instruction in the Filipino National Language fo1· grade school children. Subscription rates : One year ( 10 issues) • . . . P7 .50 One Semester (5 issues) 4.00 ATING WIKA 933 Raon St., Manila 158 * Current Events Review Vol. IV, No. 5 The Philippine . . • (Continued from, page 152) of trade and publicity offices abroad are also being considered. Philippine exports Three Philippine products have been recently boosted abroad. Allied headquarters in Japan has approved the expoi:t;ation of iron ore to Japan. The Economic Cooperation Administration adniinistering the European Recovery Program has authorized the purchase of $220,000 worth of Manila hemp and $1,380,000 worth of copra for France. It has also authorized the purchase of $187,000 of Manila hemp for Norway. Spreading medical knowledge Under the auspicies of the World Health Organization (WHO), a medical mission has arrived in Manila. The medical mission is similar to medical missions sent abroad by WHO for the purpose of spreading medical knowledge. The medical mission is interested in spreading knowledge of new drugs and medical techniques developed during World War II. The Philippines and the United Nations The members of the Philippine delegation are playing active role in the present session of the General Assembly. Through a motion filed by the Philippine delegation, discussion on the convention outlawimg genocide, mass extinction of people, was begun. The Philippine delegation has supported a proposal of the delegate from India that the General Assembly authorizes the holding of two sessions of the ECAFE next· year. National Affairs Science Marches • • • (Continued from page 154) ciety, an organiza.tion composed of 68,000 members who carry on research in the chemistry of medicine, food and agriculture, gas and fuels, industrial plastics, and other broad fields. Important among the research projects described in the several hundred papers read before the Society were those attacking the problem of widespread vitamin deficiencies which retard growth and lower the body's efficiency and resistance to disea::;e. The reports revealed that scientists are finding less costly methods of producing vitamins needed the world over, as well as better ways of utilizing them. For example, a way hils been discovered to make vitamins soluble in water and thus more readily absorbed by the body. Vitamins such as A for growth, D for bones, and E, the. anti· sterility factor, are utilized by the body from 5 to 20 times more rapidly from <.1.queous mixtures than from those traditionally used-alcohol, and fish and vegetable oils. An added advantage js that the water solutions can be given by intramuscular injections, an aid -to those who are unable to absorb vitamins in capsule form. Experimep.ts have shown that breastfed babies obtain up to 800% more vitamin A when their mothers take the vitamin in water rather than in oil solution, according to the reports of the scientists,. In the past, they noted, there were instances of babies dying frdm vitamin A deficiencle$ in breast milk. * 159 .Y'nt'Mdacin?ORIENTAL HISTORY by DIOSDADO G. CAPINO, M.A. Editor, Current E11ents Review Order your printed copy of the book,-now! Indispensable * It is the first textbook that presents a unit discussion of all problems in the Course of $tudy in Oriental History prepared by the Bureau of Public Schools. The materials required for student readings have been presented in an easy, readable, and interesting manner. The discussions are integrated so that ·the required specific objectives in the Course of Study in Oriental History may be achieved psychologically. Timely * Materials that remain scattered in the different required references enumerated in the course of study and 'in new references such as recent pamphlets. historical reports, historical surveys, and special studies on Asiatic affairs are presented for a reasoned, integrated, and easy understanding of all the problems given in the Work-~heel of the course of study. Well-organized * A series of specific objectives based on the general objectives given in the ceurse of study indicates the unit organization. A Preview is given to introduce each unit. The study materials are organized into relatively important problems. The main problem for each unit is subdivided into a number of minor problems which are intended to focus attention on the type of understanding desired. rather than on the narrative sequence of events. Useful * The bbok provides widely rnried learning activities. Each unit is provided with diHerent activities, problems, and suggestions for enriching .the knowledge. experience. and training of the students. There ar~ (I) Self-testing Exercises; (2) Individual and Cooperative Activities; (3) Significant Words and Terms; and (4) Names We should Identify and Understand. Illustrated * The book presents generally helpful pictures, maps, cartoons, charts, and tables. Pictorial illustrations are given with elucidating captions. Up-to-date * All units are brought up-to-date with the addition of new problems designed to complete understanding of the unit. * A new unit (UNIT VII-How the Far East was Involved in World War II and Post-War Developments in the Orient) has been included in the book. Materials as of Sept. 30, 1948 have been incorporated. High school instructors and principals who may wish to examine ORIENT AL HISTORY by Diosdado G. Capino for possible adoption in their classes are invited to send us trial orders. Books, sent in response to said orders, may be paid for in 10 days after receipt thereof or returned at our expense. Price-f'4.00 per copy, paper-hound f'6.00 per copy, cloth-bound Please send your orders to MANLAPAZ PUBLISHING COMPANY 123-125 Reten Sampaloc, Manila JHANILA EDUCATIONAI. ENTERPRISES, INC. 933 Raon Quiapo, Manila MANILA EDUCATIONAL ENTERPRISES, INC. 2'33 Raon St., Manila Please send me the following: N c. of copies Unit Price World History, Capino, Vol. I P3.00 World History, Capino, Vol. II .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 3.00 Oriental History, Capino . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.00 General Science Manual, Pangilinan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.90 Biology, San Juan, Vol. I . .. . .. . . . . . . . .. . . . . . .. . . . . . . .. 3.00 Biology, San Juan, Vol. II . .. . .. . .. . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . .. .. 3.00 Biology Laboratory Manual, San Juan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.50 Philippine Social Life, Capino Vol. I . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.50 Philippine Social Life, Capino, Vol. II .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 2.50 Economics for Phil. High Schools, Celeste et al, Vol. I . . . . 4.00 Vol. II . . . 4.00 lnclosed is a post office money order for F' • .••••.••••• in payment of this order. Name ...............................................•.....•........... Address ............................................................. .. Republic of the Philippines Department of Public Works and Communications BUREAU OF POSTS Manila SWORN STATEMENT (Required by Act No. 2580) The undersigned, Delfin R. Ma!llapaz, publisher of CURRENT EVENTS REVIEW, published monthly in English at Manila, after having been duly sworn in accordance with law, hereby submitc; the following statement of ownership, management, circulation, etc., which is required by Act No, 2580, as amended by Commonwealth Act No, 201: ~~!c:;.8 ~ D~~~~~~o &G.M~~f~~~z.:: .............................• , .• ,.. 113·1¥,5 Re~n, M9;!1ila Publisher - D. R. Manlapaz .. , Printer - Nation::! Printing Co .. Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 728 Lepanto, Quiapo, Manila Office of Publication. •...•..•.•.... , . . . . • . . • . • . . . . . • . . • . • . • • . . • . • . . • . 123-125 Reten, Manila Bondholders, mortgagees, or other security holders owning one per cent or more of total amount of security: NONE In case of publication other than daily, total number of copies printed and circulated of the last issue, dated August, 1948: 1. Sent to paid subscribers ..•..... Sent to others than paid subscribers Total •.....•.....•........• .•..•..•..•....... 5,650 .•.....•......... 2,350 ...............• 8,000 (Sgd.) D. R. MANLAPAZ Publisher Subscribed and sworn to before me this 27th day of September, 1948 at Manila, Philippmes the affiant exhibitin& his Residence Certificate No. A-165810 issued at Manila, on February 12, 1948, (Sgd.) MODESTO CULIDO Post Office lmpector