CURRENT QUESTIONS

[So far as space permits questions from readers, particularly those arising out of articles in THE SPECTATOR, and dealing with fact, not opinion, will be answered on this page week by week] 1. Can some explanation of the workings of foreign money exchanges be given ? What is an elementary explanatory work on the subject ?

Foreign exchanges could not be adequately explained in the brief space available here. A clear statement is given in A.B.C. of Foreign Exchanges, by Clare and Crump, or in Money, by D. H. Robertson.

2. What is the meaning of " Sudeten German," and how has it originated ?

" Sudeten " is a geographical term, and the Sudeten Ger- mans are German-speaking citizens of Czechoslovakia (for- merly Austrians) living in the region of the Sudetes mountains in the north-west of the country.

3. What is the number of Methodists in Germany, and how does the Methodist Episcopal Church in that country keep within the lines laid down by Herr Hitler for Protes- tant Churches generally ?

The number was in 1937 just over 30,000. The Church is so small that the Government is probably content to interfere very little with it.

4. Are any experiments or improvements such as those in vogue in the women's prisons being tried in the men's prisons ?

A large number, the most important and the most appreci- ated being the recently introduced earnings scheme, whereby a small payment is made for work done in convict prisons, and the proceeds may be spent at a prison canteen on tobacco and food. The recreation hours and the installation of wire- less are other recent developments of considerable psycho- logical value. So is "the wall-less prison" at Wakefield. See letter on page 1012.

5. Is there much genuine Communist propaganda in the West Indies helping to cause any of the present trouble ? No reliable evidence of such activity appears to be forth- coming.

6. Why are positions in Government Departments seldom occupied by public school boys ?

Positions of responsibility in such Departments are occupied very largely by public school boys.

7. Do you know of any other organisation at all like the Peck- ham Centre (since it seems to be one of the few hopes of civilisation) either in this country or elsewhere ? The Peckham Centre is described as the Pioneer Health Centre, and the organisers do not so far know of any similar institution.

8. Have you any figures for the result of the Czechoslovakian elections (for the whole country) which would throw any light on Herr Jaksch's position ? Arc there any factors which make his importance more or less than would be indicated by the votes cast for him ?

The Czechoslovakian elections will not be completed till June 12th. The greater part, however, of the German dis- tricts have already polled, and the statement that 92 per cent. of the German vote was in favour of Herr Henlein appears to be broadly accurate. This would leave Herr Jaksch's party with only 8 per cent. of the votes cast. There has been no suggestion of any intimidation. At the same time, knowledge of what happened to anti-Nazi Austrians after the seizing of that country by Germany might be expected to send over a considerable number of doubtful votes to Herr Henlein.

9. What sports, if any, have been subsidised as a result of the " Keep Fit " campaign ? Individual sports are not subsidised, but practically all sports may benefit by grants from the National Fitness Cam- paign, for such grants are made for capital expenditure on playing-fields, swimming baths and gymnasia. Some £2,000,000 has been disbursed for these purposes already.

to. Why are there so many labour troubles in France ?

Since the time of M. Blum's first premiership in 1936 great strides have been made in social reform—the 4o-hour week, holidays with pay, collective bargaining, &c. The rigidity with which these reforms were imposed, the relative depression of French industry, the struggles between the Senate, backed by the big employers and financiers, and the Popular Front Government and its vast working-class support, which led to financial crisis and intense political feeling, have all tended to produce labour unrest.

r. How can Germany's economic pressure on the Danubian States be checked without loss to ourselves ?

By trade agreements with Danubian States for the promo- tion of trade by the mutual reduction of tariffs, &c. ; by waiving rights in certain cases under the most-favoured- nation clause ; and by loans.

12. What briefly are the mutual relations between the Arab States or areas of Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Yemen, Hedjaz ? In 1924-5 the Hedjaz was conquered by Ibn Saud and incorporated in Nejd. In 1931 treaties of bon voisinage and of extradition were signed by Saudi Arabia and Iraq, and later in the same year a similar treaty between Saudi Arabia and the Yemen. In 1936 Saudi Arabia and Iraq signed a ten-year treaty of Arab Brotherhood and Alliance. In 1937 the Yemen adhered to the treaty. Relations between the three Arab States are, therefore, cordial.

13. Can you give figures to illustrate the economic effects of the war on Japan, e.g., statistics of imports and exports (a) before the Manchurian adventure ; (b) after it and before the present one ; (c) now ?

JAPANESE TRADE FIGURES (In Millions of Yen)

1937 1938

1930 1934 1936 (First three months) Imports .. 1,517 2,245 2,703 1,007 624.1

Exports .. .. 7,742 2,148 2,667 701 569.7 Manchurian War September, 1931—February, 7932. Invasion of China July, 7937.

74. Is sugar the only crop in Jamaica that by a slump in the last few years accounts for the present unrest ?

The sugar crop is the only produc3 of Jamaica to suffer a serious slump. The production of bananas, an even more important industry in Jamaica, declined from 20,379,326 stems (E2,174,406) in 1935 to 18,762,794 stems (E1,911,605) in 1936, but increased in 1937 to 26,955,489 (E2,656,883).

15. Have you any recent figures showing the first line air strength of the chief European Powers ?

Up-to-date official figures are unobtainable. But the following estimates are by competent authorities.

Swiss EXPERTS' ANALYSIS FOR 1937 (Die Welts:ceche).

country. Great Britain France .. Germany Italy .. U.S.S.R. • • • • • • • • • • Bombers. Fighters.

7,100 500 goo Boo 950 600

85o 900 7,700 1,200

Others.

300

400 35o 250 700

• • • • • • • • •

Total.

1,900

2,100

1,900

2,000

3,600 ITALIAN EXPERTS' ANALYSIS FOR 7937 (Rivista Aeronautica).

Country.

• 'ombers. Fighters.

Others. Total.

France .. .. 850

590 62o 2,050

Germany

.. 1,350

450

450

2,250 Great Britain .. i,000 43o 440 1,870 U.S.S.R.

.. 1,400 1,500

1,700 4,600