Covenanter Witness Vol. 55 - Rparchives.org

offensive,"Current EventsBy Prof. William H. Russell, Ph.D.KOREAN SHOWDOWNKorea is again in turmoil. President Syngman Rhee ofSouth Korea has never accepted the division of the countryby the truce of 1953, or the presence of Polish and CzechCommunists on the "neutral supervisory commission. Forseveral months, South Korea has charged that North Koreawas building up large military forces. Rhee claimed thatthe Polish and Czech members of the truce commissionprevented any effective inspection, and that they acted asspies and saboteurs in South Korea. Finally he demandedthat the commission be abolished and its members sent home.The U. N. Command has released evidence supportingRhee's charges, but it is still responsible or the safety ofthe truce commission in South Korea. Recently angry mobsof South Koreans tried to storm the buildings of the commission, and forty-four Americans were injured in thefighting. Syngman Rhee issued an ultimatum for the withdrawal of the Poles and Czechs, then withdrew it twohours before the deadline. This is not the first time thatRhee has proven a troublesome friend. The U. S. is seriouslyconcerned, for if South Korea can be accused of breakingthe truce, the Communists will have an excuse for renewing the Korean War.MANPOWER CUTSoviet Russia has announced a reduction of 640,000 menin her armed forces. This is a major move in the "peacefor the size of the Russian army estimated atup to five million men has always been one of the West'sgreatest military worries. The U. S. has relied on superiorequipment, but there is doubt whether we have enough ofa lead for security. In disarmament talks, Russia has always rejected proposals that would reduce her numericalsuperiority. The new reduction is to be carried out by December 15, 1955. Of course we will have no proof that itis actually done. But the Russians may have decided thatnuclear war will not require so much manpower,and thatthe money can better be spent on industrial and agriculturalimprovements for the benefit of the people.TIGHTER CREDITThe government is gently applying the brakes to thenation's economic boom. Federal Reserve banks raised theirrediscount rate, which led private bankers to increase theirinterest rates on loans by about one-fourth of one per cent.The Federal Reserve Board is keeping a sharpaspects of consumer credit,eye on othersuch as automobile financing, butterms are not expected to change this year. Poth theFederal Housingistration, in a surprise move,Administration and the Veterans Adminquirements for home financing. Theytightened their credit recut the maximumterm of mortgages from thirty to twenty-five years, andincreased the required down payment by two per cent.This means that veterans will no longer be able to buyhomes with no down payment. The effect of the new housingregulations will not be felt for several months, and construction is still expected to set new records this year.NEW AIR CHIEFTo replace Harold E. Talbott as Secretary of the AirForce, President Eisenhower has chosen Donald A. Quarles.114An engineer and business executive, Mr.Quarles spentmost of his career with Bell Telephone and Western Electric.For the past two years he has served as Assistant Secretaryof Defense for Research and Development, being responsiblefor such programs as rockets and guided missiles. Talbott,who was forced out because of his business dealings fromthe Pentagon, has gone back, as he says, to "make myselfa little dough." We hope that his successor will have higherstandards of public service.TEACHING THE THREE R'SNational magazines and newspapers have stirred up atempest over whether school children are getting adequatebasic instruction, especially in reading. Some would evenhave us believe that America's future is threatened by arising generation of illiterates. A study recently completedin Evanston, Illinois, points to an opposite conclusion. Students in fifteen junior high schools were given the sametests that had been taken by children of the same age andgrade back in 1933. Testing conditions were duplicated asnearly as possible. The reults were about the same in arithmetic computation, but today's pupils were three to sixmonths ahead in reading comprehension, vocabulary, spelling, and arithmetic reasoning. Similar experiments in othercommunities have shown comparable results. Undoubtedlythere^ is room for improvement, but the older generationhas always complained that its children did not learn toread or spell well enough.HOPE FOR DEMOCRACYPakistan, one of the United States' best friends in Asia,is making new efforts to settle its domestic problems. Acountry of 76 million people, created when India becameindependent in 1947, Pakistan operates under grave difficulties. Most of the territory and political power is inWest Pakistan. A thousand miles to the east, separated byIndia, is East Pakistan, which has a majorityof the population and industry, and a strong Hindu minority. For sixyears a Constituent Assembly wrestled unsuccessfully withthe problems of government. In October, 1953, it was dissolved by the Governor General, Ghulam Mohammed. Heruled by decree and tried to keep power in the hands ofthe Moslem League. But when elections were held lastspring for a new Constituent Assembly, the Moslem Leaguegained only 35 out of the 80 seats. Early in August the Governor General and Prime Minister both resigned, to be replaced by a coalition government. The Assembly is now atwork and may be able to agree on a permanent form ofgovernment.HELPING NATUREGetting bald? You may want to consider buying oneof the "hairpieces" which are the basis of a fast-growingindustry. From 500,000 to 750,000 American men now wearsome false hair, compared with only 100,000 a few yearsago. The well-known fact that many movie and TV starsuse these accessories has made them more acceptable withthe general public. The price of a good hairpiece rangesfrom $100 to $350, and the business totals around $20 million a year. Women obviously have nomonopoly on vanity.COVENANTER WITNESS