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Show J SCANNING IHt WttK'5 NEWS cf Main Street and the World LTiericen Plan for European Army pidaogered by Allied Bickering t EUROPEAN ARMY The American plan for a united European 'jiy to check Communist aggression in Europe, to which America has "j-en millions of dollars, equipment, and its greatest military brains, is the verge of being smashed. Old and bitter national feelings have lj;Tnbed out of the grave of history and asserted themselves. ' The big question is how and under what conditions West German 'ops are to be included in the European army. The United States has ;posed that West German manpower be brought into an "integrated" "ce under General Eisenhower. West Germany and France have their n views of how this can be accomplished and to what extent. The German view: She will agree to participate in the "integrated" ce only if taken in as a full partner in the Atlantic alliance. In addi-i.n addi-i.n she wants several other concessions, including maximum sovereignty Hler the "peace contract" yet to be signed. $ The French view: France would agree to inclusion of German units, J't stipulates that they can not be recruited until after the five' other ?rticipating nations have ratified the treaty. These nations are France, v'lgium, Holland, Luxembourg, and Italy. This stipulation means a tay of months at least since ratification of a final treaty is a long 4cess. In addition, the French want several other checks, particularly trol of war production in Germany as a safeguard against the re-Nlding re-Nlding of German military might. ff The three big powers the United States, Britain, and France have Steady told the Germans they can not be included in the Atlantic alli-ce alli-ce for the time being. There was a hint that if Germany signed the ropean army pact, however, and showed the Allies she could behave, -jn it would be a much easier job of selling western Europeans on the a of bringing Germany into the alliance. The three powers did offer icessions, including a seat on a projected four-power appeal board Slit will have power to review and modify the sentences of more than JoO German war prisoners. West Germany and France are still far from satisfied and remain jpicious of each other. The door is still open for a possible settlement, ...t the whole thing hangs by a thin thread. A few wrong words at the ,'ong time can still wreck the plan that has cost home towners of 'lerica millions of dollars. But more important, it could cost the west .'united front against communism. It has been said that an European a..ny can not work without West Germany and France. It is obvious, 'Jin, these two must compromise their demands for the good of the '.ole and world peace. ii RECORD DIVIDENDS The Department of Commerce reports cor-uirations cor-uirations in the United States paid a record $8,053,000,000 in cash divi-ltnds divi-ltnds during 1951, a 2 per cent gain over 1950., ;ctt nowever, many corporations reported proots aown auring me last ,lf of 1951, with a drop of 16 per cent for the month of December. It was Partly attributed to increased tax payments. I, i Dividends were reported up in all fields except manufacturing. Auto-Dsibile Auto-Dsibile dividends dropped 25 per cent and electrical machinery and nemical goods manufacturers reported dividends down about 10 per vtlit. The oil refining industry registered one of the biggest gains with 19 fcr cent, mining was up 16 per cent, railroads 10 per cent, and paper and minting 8 per cent. ATOMIC TESTS new series of atomic tests will be held at Eni- ;?1 tok atoll in the Pacific, it was announced by the Atomic Energy Com-"ssion. Com-"ssion. It was also revealed that further tests are planned for the near ' Tire in the Nevada desert near Las Vegas. In keeping with the secrecy that surrounds such tests, exact dates lf d the type of atomic weapons to be tested were not announced, ijj; Meanwhile, the British government has announced it will test its st atomic weapon this year in Australia. The British turned down an er from the United States for a site for the tests and it was understood it no U.S. observers would be on hand to witness the experiment. ia POLITICS As the political pot begins to boil in earnest, the biggest ili:estion in the minds of most home towners remains: will President Truism Tru-ism seek the Democratic nomination? There seems to be little question ni:t that the President can have it by simply saying so. Since January eiien most observers were willing to say, "I don't think he will run again", liservations have gradually changed to "he might" and "he will", of But until Mr. Truman announces his intentions, the Democratic side the question is wide open. There is increasing evidence that Senator ifauver aUhough he is unseasoned as far as presidential timber is ncerned is gaining strength. His campaign is showing surprising ength at the grassroots level and if Mr. Truman suddenly announces Ve is not interested in reelection, he will have a great advantage over ose "better-late-than-never" candidates who will come out into the 35 en. THE DRAFT The armed forces will draft 19,000 men this month 000 for the Army and 4,000 for the Marine Corps. The April call brings (. 894,000 the total of announced draftees since the draft was resumed in j ,-ptember, 1950. Also, the April call is the lowest since September, 1951, rien 16,900 men were requested by the two services. !E KOREA The United Nations have agreed to the Communist pro- lfsal for a conference after an armistice is signed in Korea to discuss I tlitical issues concerning Korea. An armistice in Korea, however, is 11 a long way from an accomplished fact. At the moment there are tree important unsettled questions. They are: e (1) The Communists want Russia included as a neutral power to help Wpervise the armistice. This is unacceptable to the United Nations since i;has been established without any doubt that Russia has trained and Applied Communists in Korea with arms of all kind. (2) The Communists insist upon their right to construct airfields in fcbrth Korea during an armistice. The United Nations deny this right. V' (3) How, where and when the exchange of prisoners of war will ike place. !6 When these questions are settled, the home towners of the nation fr-n then begin to hope for an armistice. ; ! , ! i If ; 'A" ' : 1 : PVr! 't, ', i : 1 n v The FBI, moving against night riders who have terrorized small communities com-munities and rural residents of southeastern North Carolina, arrested 10 former Ku Klux Klansmen on charges of kidnaping and flogging a white man and woman. They are, left to right, front row: James R. Hayes, Early Brooks, Steve Edmund, Pittman Strickland and Sherwood Miller. Back row: Horace Strickland, George Miller. T. C. Worley, Bob Brooks, and Ross Vfinzor. nil |