Covenanter Witness Vol. 55 - Rparchives.org

Current EventsBy Prof. William H. Russell, Ph.D.PEACE MOVESSecretary of State Dulles has launched a major effortto restore peace in the Middle East. Continued strife alongthe border between Israel and Egypt, and bad feeling between Israel and the other Arab countries,are a major obstacle to the defense of the Middle East against Communism. Israel needs a stable peace to pursue her internal development, but the Arab states refuse to recognize her rightto national existence. In a speech on August 26, Dulles urgedthat Israel pay indemnities for the property lost by Arabrefugees, and promised that the U. S. would participate inan internal loan to help her do so. He also offered Americanaid in settling permanent boundary lines. If the other problems are solved, President Eisenhower will recommend aformal American commitment to guarantee the bordersbetween Israel and the Arab states. Great Britain is infavor of a similar plan and Israel will probablybut the Arab countries will be reluctant to yield.TRADE BARRIERSaccept it,Eight European governments have protested against the50 per cent increase in our tariff on foreign bicycles, recently approved by President Eisenhower. Great Britain,The Netherlands, and West Germany are most directly affected, but other countries joined in the protest to expresstheir concern over U. S. trade policies. Bicycles have beenone of our fastest-growingimports in 1950 we bought $2million worth from Europe, and last year $23.8 million.American bicycle manufacturers have complained of the"competition,"even though their own sales have remainedsteady or increased. In general, Europe buys about twiceas much from us as she sells, and the balance has becomemore unfavorable in the past year. The European concernabout the bicycle tariff is thus quite understandable. Lastyear President Eisenhower also approved an increase in thetariff on Swiss watch movements. Though he speaks infavor of freer international trade,Eisenhower seems unableto withstand the pressure of American business interestswhich demand special protection.DOWN ON THE FARMThe Russian farm experts have finished their well publicized tour of the United States. In five weeks they travelled almost 12,000 miles, visiting farms and ranches intwelve states. Most Americans seemed anxious to makethem welcome, and a friendly tone prevailed throughouttheir visit. The Russians were especially impressed by thegreat use of machinery in American farming. They werealso interested in our cattle-feeding methods, in corn andhog production, and in the use of grain sorghum in dry regions. Meanwhile a group of American farm experts hascompleted a visit to Russia. They seem to agree that theRussians have much to learn from us, particularly in theefficient use of farm labor. The Soviet government publishedtheir suggestions in full. Regardless of the effects on farming, the exchange of visits has "built up good will between thetwo countries.COUNTING THE COST146Final estimates indcate thait the northeastern floodsfollowing Hurricane Diane were the most costly in ourhistory. The death toll of around 200 does not comparewith the Johnstown Flood of 1889, in which 2,200 drowned;but the total property loss in August's flood was almost$1.67 billion. The grestest property damage was $900 millionin Connecticut, where the flood swept through industrialtowns. The resort area of eastern Pennsylvania had the highest death toll. Over 20,000 homes were destroyed or damaged, and many thousands were made jobless when theirfactories were wrecked. The Red Cross began a campaignto raise $8 million for disaster relief, and within a week hadcollected about half that sum. Federal agencies have authorized special loans for reconstruction. For nearly twentyyears the Army Corps of Engineers has had plans for acomprehensive flood control program in the Northeast, butCongress has appropriated only enough money to carry outa few of the biggest projects.TROUBLE IN THE SUDANA major revolt has broken out in the Sudan, the largestate along the Nile River south of Egypt. Great Britain andEgypt ruled the Sudan jointly from 1889 until 1953, whenthey agreed to set up a native parliament. During the pasttwo years, local leaders have taken over many positionsin the government. The British and Egyptians agreed towithdraw their troops whenever the Sudanese parliamentwished. A Constituent Assembly would then be elected todecide whether the Sudan should join Egypt, go into theBritish Commonwealth, or become an independent nation.The recent revolt began when the parliament decided to callfor this election. The northern part of the Sudan is aridcountry, inhabited by Moslems who are sympathetic toEgypt, while the southern part is tropical, held by paganNegroes. The two sections have long been hostile. Severalhundred southern Sudanese troops revolted against theirnorthern officers, and British Iroops may have to remainlo keep order.JAPAN ENVOYSThree key men of the Japanese government have cometo the United States, led by Mamoru Shigemitsu, ForeignMinister and Deputy Premier. They are not seeking anydirect handout, but want several concessions from our government. Japan wants full sovereignty over the Bonin andRyukyu islands, and the release of the remaining Japanesewar criminals. Theyalso would like our consent to an increase in Japan's trade with Red China, and a greater sharein trade with Southeast Asia. Premier Hatoyama needs atleast some of these gains to bolster his government againstthe Socialist opposition, which claims that he is subservientto the U. S.HUNGER IN HAITIA desperate famine threatens the island republic ofHaiti, in the Caribbean Sea just 600 miles from the tip ofFlorida. Last fall, Hurricane Hazel blew down nearly allthe breadfruit trees, and about half the coconut palms andcoffee trees. Roads, communications, and irrigation workswere badly damaged. Then a severe drought this springCOVENANTER WITNESS