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Show SCANNING THE WEEK'S NEWS of Main Street and the World Korean Peace Negotiations Stalled; Senate Group Makes Crime Report BLACKMAIL With renewed claims by Chinese Communists that Kaesong's neutrality has been violated several times, a general feeling that peace negotiations are stalled until after the San Francisco conference con-ference on a Japanese peace treaty, which began on the 4th, has de-' de-' veloped In the nation's capital. Gen. Matthew B. Ridgway has reportedly expressed the opinion that the cease-fire talks were a blind from the start and that the Allies must now be prepared for renewal of full scale conflict. The Communists have played at the game of blackmail a peace in Korea for abandonment abandon-ment of the Japanese treaty. Now that the treaty conference is underway, and the U.S. continues In its determination to sign the treaty, there is little reason to believe a settlement will be reached in Korea. To the contrary, it appears likely all-out war will flare up at any moment. The Communists have used the weeks of negotiations to full advantage advan-tage in their build-up of equipment and men in Korea. They are reported re-ported to have approximately 500,000 men in the country, with 400,000 near the front. Approximately 600 tanks and great numbers of heavy guns have been brought into the war zone. The build-up of air power is well over 1,000 planes. If the Communists have benefited from the weeks of lull, so have United Nations forces. Regiments are at full strength for the first time and have better and a greater number of weapons. Their defense positions posi-tions are the best since the Korean conflicts began. A few of the nation's leaders still believe there is a 50-50 chance of peace in Korea. But every day the odds are changing for the worse. CRIME REPORT The senate crime investigating committee concluded con-cluded its 15-month investigation with a report that said "the tentacles of organized crime reach into virtually every community throughout the country." As a solution It recommended the formation of a national crime coordinating co-ordinating council which would support and aid the activities of crime commissions in the home towns of the nation. Among its other recommendations: (1) That the federal security agency develop a nation-wide educational campaign on the effects of narcotics; (2) that the federal penalty for narcotics peddling be increased; in-creased; (3) that congress prohibit "interstate facilities in connection with any bet or wager, thus putting an end to layoff and comeback transactions between gamblers in different states"; and (4) that congress con-gress tighten laws to prevent aliens from entering illegally, and liberalize liberal-ize the deportation process. One of the most startling statements of the report was the one which Charged that some communities have been enslaved by organized crime and grafting public officials and that honest people have lost their voice in their own local government in many areas. , OATIS CASE Czechoslovakia's ambassador received a stormy welcome wel-come last week when he called on the White House to present his credentials. President Truman told him bluntly the quickest way to improve im-prove relations between the two countries would be to free imprisoned newspaperman, William N. Oatis. The ambassador said the "case is closed", but a number of diplomatic diplo-matic observers believe otherwise. They believe Czechoslovakia will try a little blackmail, such as the deal the U.S. engineered with Hungary to win the release of businessman Robert A. Vogeler, also imprisoned on spy charges. . Hungary was granted a number of minor trade and diplomatic concessions con-cessions for releasing Vogeler. Czechoslovakia's terms may be curbs on Radio Free Europe, a privately run American radio station at Munich which broadcasts anti-Communist propaganda behind the Iron Curtain. DEFENSE TREATIES The United States last week signed defense treaties 'with the Philippines, . Australia, and New Zealand. It was a major step in this country's policy of securing peace and stopping the spread of communism in the Pacific. The pacts, which following the pattern of the 12-nati.on North Atlantic At-lantic alliance by binding the U.S. to aid the Pacific countries in case of an attack on either, must be ratified by the senate. They are not expected to come up for action before early next year, however. . FOOD PRICES The Independent Grocers Alliance, which has some 10,000. members, predicts that food prices are likely to go down this fall. According to J. Frank Grimes, president of the group, "Big farm crops, and heavy production of processed foods promise to make many food price ceilings purely academic within the next few months." Whether propaganda or not. Grimes recommends the group's members mem-bers reduce food inventories in the weeks ahead. "That way, stores can be ready to jump in and buy when prices ease then launch big sales that will make them more friends among thrifty consumers." FOREIGN AID The senate last week passed its version of a foreign for-eign aid bill. The measure authorizes $7,286,250,000 to erect military and economic defenses against communism. The total was $1,213,750,000 less than asked by President Truman. . Two weeks ago the house sliced $1,001,250,000 off the $8,500,000,000 requested by the administration. Now the bill goes to conference with the house and senate working out a compromise of their differences. Whatever the. final figure, it will not be near the $8.5 billions asked by the administration. The bulk of the funds, approximately 80 per cent, in both the house and senate bills, will be. used for military aid. Later congress must vote actual funds to carry the authorizations approved by both branches. DOUGLAS UPROAR The suggestion last week by William O. Douglas,, supreme court justice, that the U.S. recognize Red China, has caused an uproar on the American scene. Douglas, who made the suggestion in an Interview in San Francisco upon his return from an expedition along the southern frontiers of both Russia and China, said recognition would give the free world a real political victory. He said recognition would capitalize on the struggle between Chinese Nationalism and Russia's drive for far eastern solidarity. solidar-ity. In the senate, however, Douglas' statement brought blasts of anger. Siiid Senator Connally of Texas, "We have not recognized Red China. We do not intend to recognize Red China. Justice Douglas is not secretary secre-tary of state. Douglas is not President of the United States. He never will be." EVA QUITS Eva Peron, politically the most powerful woman in the western hemisphere, who a few days before accepted the nomination for vice preident on her huband's ticket in the November election, last week announced her decision to quit the race. The western world, which has eyed the Argentina dictatorship with a suspicious eye, had heard reports of a serious split in the Peronista party since the President and Senora Peron had told a mass meeting that they were ready to "bow to the will of the people." Her withdrawal is expected to consolidate the party behind her husband, hus-band, Juan, and elect him to another six year term. DEFENSE President Truman in a nation-wide broadcast from San Francisco, where he attended the opening of the Japanese peace treaty conference, warned the nation that not even an armistice in Korea must be allowed to slow the efforts to strengthen the free world against future Communist aggression. "Whether negotiations in Korea are successful or not," he said, "we must continue to drive ahead to build defensive strength for our country and the free world. "The plain fact is that the Communists may try to resume the offensive of-fensive in Korea at any time. Moreover, they are capable of launching new attacks in Europe, in the Middle East, or elsewhere in Asia, wher. i ever it suits them." |