NOTES OF THE DAY

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 127, 22 February 1921, Page 4

NOTES OF THE DAY

Criticism of the reparation terms imposed on Germany, apart from the combination of bluster and whine they have inspired in the Fatherland itself, seems to be largely of a negative character. The British Labour Party’s Parliamentary Committee deprecates the arrangements made at the Paris Conference, and considers that "if Germany is given breathing space she will make good tho actual devastation.” The simple faith of the Labour Party reads queerly in the light of Germany’s unrepentant attitude. In fact, the absence tf any proposal from Germany on the lines suggested is a leading feature of the existing situation. No doubt if the German Government and people honestly aimed at repairing the havoc wrought by their land, sea, and air forces, there would be room for further negotiation. It has been computed that the present value of the sum of more than eleven thousand millions sterling which Germany is called upon to pay over a period of forty-two years, is little more than one-third of that amount, and no doubt if Germany undertook to hasten the process of reparation the Allies might be induced to lighten their total claim. As yet, however, the sole idea of her Government and people seems to be to evade their obligations to tho Allied nations.

All who have noted the good work done by Lieut.-Colonel Sleeman in reorganising cadet training will greatly regret bis impending departure at tho expiration of his engagement with the Defence Department. During the last year or two Colonel Sleeman has carried out hie duties under somewhat discouraging circumstances, but be hoped that the excellent schemes of instruction he has planned will not be neglected as time goes on. At all times Colonel Slee. man has acted upon a recognition, to use his own words, that "cadet training must not bo regarded from a military point of view only,” but as an opportunity of strengthening the physical, mental, and moral character of the oncoming generation. Undoubtedly the fullest use ought to be made of the period of cadet training in inculcating ideals of sound manhood nnd citizenship, and Colonel Sleeinan is entitled to lasting gratitude for the untiring zeal and enterprise with which ho has laboured to concentrate attention on this national problem. If his ideals are pursued, as they certainly should be, the cadet organisation will servo an invaluable purpose in promoting public spirit and good citizenship.

The scant success thus far achieved in securing any material reduction in shipping freights to and from this country is in marked contrast to current experience in some other parts of tho world. For instance, Klio London "Times” reported recently in its commercial columns that attention had been attracted by the acceptance of a freight of five and a half dollars a ton (equivalent. at the then current exchange to about .£1 125.) for a voyage with coals from an Atlantic port of the United

States to Rotterdam. Thia rate showed a drop of 4s. per ton on, the freight accepted on a similar cargo a few days earlier, "and with rates of more than twice as much in October, and of from three to four times as much early in the year.” The "Times” commented that managers of United States vessels had not been alone in modifying their views ou rates, in view of a supply of tonnage in excess of the present demand. One great obstacle to a reduction in freights so far as ships sailing out of the United Kingdom are concerned is the abnormal price of bunker coal. Figures recently published show that ships sailing out of Liverpool are at present paying in some cases seven or eight times as much for bunker coal as in 1914. In the case of on« passenger and cargo vessel engaged in the North Atlantic trade the cost of coal for a round voyage was £2500 six years ago, and is now £17,900. The coal bill per voyage of another ship, trading to East Africa, has increased from .£ll2O to .£9500. Other instances only less extreme are cited.

One of yesterday’s cablegrams reported an announcement .by the American President-elect, Mr. Harding, that he has selected ae his Secretary of State Mr. Charles Evans Hughes, who unsuccessfully contested the Presidential election in 1916. Probably the report ie accurate, for American newspapers were freely predicting two months ago that Mr. Hughes would be appointed to this important office. To people outside the United States the prospective appoint ment is of interest chiefly as it bears on the attitude of that country towards the League of Nations, and it may be noted that in a speech which he delivered in 1919, Mr. Hughes proposed seven amendments to the League Covenant. The most important related to the Monroe Doctrine and to the much discussed At tide X. Observing that any objections Mr. Hughes had to the League had been removed, or were easily removable, the New York "Evening Post” recently expressed a belief that ns Secretary of State he would bo found exerting himself "on behalf of our entrance into the only international body practically possible.” Probably, however, there would have been firmer grounds for such hopes if Mr. Elihu Root had been selected for the principal post in the Harding Cabinet. At best, the attitude of the incoming Secretary of State towards the League has been lukewarm, and in recent days he has been strictly non-committal on the subject.