Rumania and other Black Sea neighbors of Russia would be visibly annoyed, and Rumania is a close ally of France. What was to be done, therefore, occupied the minds of responsible authorities at Paris.

GERMANY

More Heroics

Sometime ago, General Erich von Ludendorff accused ex-Crown Prince Rupprecht of Bavaria of "welching" on the "beer-hall brawl" (TIME, Nov. 19, 1923). The former Crown Prince retorted by calling the General's accusation false and the General faithless to the monarchist cause.

Both men claimed that they had been insulted. General Ludendorff was reported to have expressed a desire to fight a duel with the exCrown Prince, but etiquette does not permit a commoner the impudence of fighting with royalty, so the irate General demanded that Rupprecht should appear before a court of

honor to defend himself (TIME, Nov. 10). This demand was likewise called "impossible" and "Ludy" became socially and politically ostracized.

At this point, Field Marshal von Hindenburg interceded on behalf of Ludendorff, drew up the following document for both to sign:

"General Ludendorff expresses regret to His Royal Highness for the offense General Ludendorff committed against His Highness. The Crown Prince retracts with regret that he said General Ludendorff uttered calumnies and criminal insults; also that he accused General Ludendorff of unreliability in his adherence to the monarchy."

Ludendorff signed, Prince Rupprecht did not. The former ravedmany doubted his sanity. Field Marshal von Hindenburg washed his hands of the affair, voiced his profound dissatisfaction with Ludendorff's behavior.

Bavarians, most of whom regard and treat Prince Rupprecht as King of Bavaria, supported the Prince's attitude toward the General and there

LUDENDORFF

Many doubted his sanity

that he had better pitch his tent in another part of Germany.

In answer to rumors concerning a plot to reestablish the Monarchy in Bavaria, Minister President (Premier) Held said:

"It is not true that the Bavarian monarchists are seeking a monarchist restoration by extra-legal means, through a Putsch or violence, although the monarchist idea is deeply imbedded in the Bavarian people. Nor is it true that serious efforts are now in progress to give concrete expression to the monarchist idea.

"To be sure, the monarchists hope that the realization of their aims will eventually permeate the entire population. One prerequisite to such a development, however, is the spread of the monarchist plan through the Reich in the same measure."

Boycott

ITALY

At Rome, assembled the Italian Parliament minus its Opposition.

Some 150 Socialist Deputies, true to their promise made after the murder of Matteotti (TIME, June 23), boycotted the Legislature with the result that 250 Fascisti and a mere handful of Liberals and Communists disported themselves on the benches and tried to make the Chamber of Deputies look crowded.

The opening proceedings were entirely uncharacteristic of Italian Parliaments. Whatever the Fascisti said.

boo. And, more strange, there was a total absence of that usually irresistible temptation for the Opposition spokesman to speak at the same time the Government spokesman. At least in this respect, the boycotted Parliament was superior to its predecessors.

In his opening speech, Mussolini paid tribute to the murdered Deputies Matteotti and Casalini and to the recently deceased General Ricciotti Garibaldi, son of the great Liberator. After resuming his seat, the leader of the Communists arose to inform the Chamber that his Party would not sit in the present Parliament. He made himself objectionable-so much so that a mighty, muscular Fascist towered over him with menacing fists, shouting: "I don't hit because the mere sight of you makes me sick." A fight was avoided; and a few minutes later, the Communist concluded his speech and led his followers from the Chamber to the delighted taunts from the Fascisti of "encore."

After four days of uninspired debating, the Chamber of Deputies approved the Government's foreign policy and returned a vote of confidence in Mussolini by 315 to 6 votes; 26 Deputies, led by ex-Premier Orlando, who was elected on a Fascist ticket, abstained from voting. Ex-Premier Gioletti, heading the Liberal Opposition, and his supporters voted against the Government.

Dialog

In Rome, simultaneously on the eve of the reopening of Parliament, were held plenary meetings of Fascist and Socialist Opposition Deputies. The first assembled to hear a speech from Premier Mussolini; the second to approve a proclamation to the Italian people. Reports of both meetings were published in Italian newspapers at the same time and they showed the yawning chasm which divides political Italy. This is particularly brought out by The New York Times, which presented the chief points made in the form of a dialog:

MUSSOLINI: "The reopening of Parliament is a proof of my Constitutional intentions."

OPPOSITION: "Parliament is a bluff with which you hope to cheat public opinion."

MUSSOLINI: "The Fascist Militia is Constitutional because it has sworn faithfulness to the King."

OPPOSITION: "The oath of faithfulness has no value because you have stated that the militia must remain devoted to Fascismo and act as the bulwark of the Fascist revolution."

Punches with Kicks

At Westminster Hall in London was delivered the first of a series of memorial lectures to be given in memory of the late Walter Hines Page, U. S. Ambassador to the Court of St. James' during the War.

The first lecture was given by Sir Auckland Geddes, ex-British Ambassador to the U. S., before 3,000 people. Lord Balfour presided, and Premier Baldwin and U. S. Ambassador Frank B. Kellogg were present on the platform.

Sir Auckland did not mince matters. He had come to tell the Nation the plain, unvarnished truth. He had come to deliver a much-needed punch and characteristically he hit with all the force of his intellect. Said he:

"Walter Page, before the War, was able to see that this great Empire, owing to its conscious diversity, was likely to yield more and more to a compact Empire. It is no use to pretend that America does not at this time profoundly influence us and the Empire. We know we have yielded the position of leadership to America in connection with the work designed for the higher service of humanity.

"The Dominions speak of us as the motherland and of our Parliament as the mother of Parliaments. I think that the insistence on the word 'mother,' which is affectionate in intention, makes that a tribute to something of old age, if not senility, in regard to our institutions.

"They look upon the Government of

Washington as of their own generation, and any one who knows of what the people of our sister dominions are thinking knows that some of them, particularly those who look out on the Pacific, feel that in Washington there is an instinctive understanding of difficulties which, when they come to London, they have laboriously to explain to Downing Street.

"In Canada, American newspapers, magazines and goods are all there; an invisible border divides the territories under the British flag and the flag of the United States. They pass and repass that border and play the same games with one another without knowing anything of the difference in nationalities.

"It often happens that when our Dominions look to us here there is no sympathetic answer, no understanding; and they look to Washington. And Washington is not devoid of eyes and will look back at them."

Such punches with such kicks both surprised and pained some of the audience. It was evident, however, that all had been deeply moved.

FRANCE

Remembered

In a little Breton village, a peasant walked aimlessly about. His eyes strayed to a spot where men were busy loading apples into a railway car; and, at the same time, he perceived a familiar face. Where had he met this man? After some ruminating, it suddenly dawned upon him. Approaching the man, the peasant inquired politely: "Excuse me, monsieur, are you not Lieutenant Knätsch?"

Mighty proud was First Lieutenant Knätsch, who had come to Brittany to buy apples for making German champagne, to have his name and rank remembered; and he replied vigorously that his name was indeed Knätsch. "Good!" exclaimed the Breton.. "I have a little account to settle with you." Thereupon, he set about beating the German; and if it had not been for the intervention of workmen the latter would surely have been killed.

The peasant afterwards explained that he had received cruel treatment at the hands of Knätsch while a prisoner-of-war in Germany..

RUSSIA

Opéra Bouffe

"His Majesty" Cyril I, "Tsar of All the Russias," decided to convoke a "Crown Council of all Russian Grand

Dukes who recognized him as Emperor." At the same time, His Majesty appointed Grand Duke Dmitri Pavol vitch as his representative in Paris with Count Igor Sacken and Count Tolstoy Miloslavsky respectively as Military and Civil Counselors. These facts were published by Possledny Novosti, Rus sian newspaper printed in Paris.

The comic behind these grandiloquen: phrases was that the "Tsar of All the Russias," known as “Cyrille Égalité" (TIME, Nov. 17), is recognized by only a handful of Grand Dukes. Last September, he took the singularly inconse quental step of proclaiming himself Tsar, as if Tsar, crownless and throneless, had any significance.

Her Majesty the Dowager Empress Marie Féodorovna, who lives in Denmark, disputed his claim to the throne in a momentous letter addressed to Grand Duke Nikolai Nikolaievitch, to whom she referred as head of the House of Romanov, thereby implying that he was the rightful successor to her son Nicholas. As she has never been able to bring herself to the point of believing that the Tsar was murdered at Ekaterinoslav, the question of the succession, out of deference to the Dowager Empress, to outward appearances has been a dead issue for the Grand Duke Nikolai. He has preferred to remain quiet and believes with his cousin (the Dowager Empress) that "our future Emperor will be designated by our fundamental laws in union with the Orthodox Church and the Russian people."

As a beau geste, Grand Duke Cyril's attitude is distinctly amusing; as a serious movement, it seems wholly devoid of sense. Meanwhile, it must be a source of laughing satisfaction to the Bolsheviki to know that the ranks of the Royalist Russians are so hopelessly split.

GERMANY

More Heroics

Sometime ago, General Erich von Ludendorff accused ex-Crown Prince Rupprecht of Bavaria of "welching" on the "beer-hall brawl" (TIME, NOV. 19, 1923). The former Crown Prince retorted by calling the General's accusation false and the General faithless to the monarchist cause.

Both men claimed that they had been insulted. General Ludendorff was reported to have expressed a desire to fight a duel with the exCrown Prince, but etiquette does not permit a commoner the impudence of fighting with royalty, so the irate General demanded that Rupprecht should appear before a court of honor to defend himself (TIME, Nov. 10). This demand was likewise called "impossible" and "Ludy" became socially and politically ostracized.

At this point, Field Marshal von Hindenburg interceded on behalf of Ludendorff, drew up the following document for both to sign:

"General Ludendorff expresses regret to His Royal Highness for the offense General Ludendorff committed against His Highness. The Crown Prince retracts with regret that he said General Ludendorff uttered calumnies and criminal insults; also that he accused General Ludendorff of unreliability in his adherence to the monarchy."

Ludendorff signed, Prince Rupprecht did not. The former ravedmany doubted his sanity. Field Marshal von Hindenburg washed his hands of the affair, voiced his profound dissatisfaction with Ludendorff's behavior.

Bavarians, most of whom regard and treat Prince Rupprecht as King of Bavaria, supported the Prince's attitude toward the General and there

LUDENDORFF

Many doubted his sanity

that he had better pitch his tent in another part of Germany.

In answer to rumors concerning a plot to reestablish the Monarchy in Bavaria, Minister President (Premier) Held said:

"It is not true that the Bavarian monarchists are seeking a monarchist restoration by extra-legal means, through a Putsch or violence, although the monarchist idea is deeply imbedded in the Bavarian people. Nor is it true that serious efforts are now in progress to give concrete expression to the monarchist idea.

"To be sure, the monarchists hope that the realization of their aims will eventually permeate the entire population. One prerequisite to such a development, however, is the spread of the monarchist plan through the Reich in the same measure."

Boycott

ITALY

At Rome, assembled the Italian Parliament minus its Opposition. Some 150 Socialist Deputies, true to their promise made after the murder of Matteotti (TIME, June 23), boycotted the Legislature with the result that 250 Fascisti and a mere handful of Liberals and Communists disported themselves on the benches and tried to make the Chamber of Deputies look crowded.

The opening proceedings were entirely uncharacteristic of Italian Parliaments. Whatever the Fascisti said,

boo. And, more strange, there was a total absence of that usually irresistible temptation for the Opposition spokesman to speak at the same time the Government spokesman. At least in this respect, the boycotted Parliament was superior to its predecessors.

In his opening speech, Mussolini paid tribute to the murdered Deputies Matteotti and Casalini and to the recently deceased General Ricciotti Garibaldi, son of the great Liberator. After resuming his seat, the leader of the Communists arose to inform the Chamber that his Party would not sit in the present Parliament. He made himself objectionable-so much so that a mighty, muscular Fascist towered over him with menacing fists, shouting: "I don't hit because the mere sight of you makes me sick." A fight was avoided; and a few minutes later, the Communist concluded his speech and led his followers from the Chamber to the delighted taunts from the Fascisti of "encore."

After four days of uninspired debating, the Chamber of Deputies approved the Government's foreign policy and returned a vote of confidence in Mussolini by 315 to 6 votes; 26 Deputies, led by ex-Premier Orlando, who was elected on a Fascist ticket, abstained from voting. Ex-Premier Gioletti, heading the Liberal Opposition, and his supporters voted against the Government.

Dialog

In Rome, simultaneously on the eve of the reopening of Parliament, were held plenary meetings of Fascist and Socialist Opposition Deputies. The first assembled to hear a speech from Premier Mussolini; the second to approve a proclamation to the Italian people. Reports of both meetings were published in Italian newspapers at the same time and they showed the yawning chasm which divides political Italy. This is particularly brought out by The New York Times, which presented the chief points made in the form of a dialog:

MUSSOLINI: "The reopening of Parliament is a proof of my Constitutional intentions."

OPPOSITION: "Parliament is a bluff with which you hope to cheat public opinion."

MUSSOLINI: "The Fascist Militia is Constitutional because it has sworn faithfulness to the King."

OPPOSITION: "The oath of faithfulness has no value because you have stated that the militia must remain devoted to Fascismo and act as the bulwark of the Fascist revolution."

strikes the Fascisti as heavily as any other citizens."

OPPOSITION: "We have no faith in the Justice of a Government whose actions should be investigated by Magistrates."

MUSSOLINI:

"The present Parliament can and must function."

OPPOSITION: "The only solution of the present situation is to hold general elections."

MUSSOLINI: "We have increased the prosperity of the country."

OPPOSITION: "You are responsible for the higher living costs and lower wages."

Caetani's Farewell

In a farewell address in Manhattan to the Italy-America Society, Prince Gelasio Caetani, Italian Ambassador to the U. S., who is returning home next month, stoutly defended the Fascist régime in Italy. He spoke of what had been accomplished: balanced budgets, reduction of internal indebtedness, prosperous industries, etc., and said that the Government was arranging to redeem $15,000,000 worth of bonds falling due in the U. S. in 1925. Said he:

"We-that is, Mussolini and his faithful followers, including the most patriotic elements of Italy-are going to see that this work is carried out to a finish. After all, Fascismo has caused a revolution, a spiritual revolution, and it intends to defend it as every revolution has had to defend itself. Bolshevism, or any of its attenuated forms, is not going to set foot again in Italy and I hope the world may soon be free of that nightmare. There is no reason to be duly alarmed by radicalism."

Bolshevik Insulted

As Bolshevik Ambassador Dr. Constantine Yourenev was driving through Rome to interview Premier Benito Mussolini, a Fascist dashed forward, snatched the Red Flag from the automobile, wiped his feet on it. The Ambassador was visibly annoyed; the Fascist was arrested; Premier Benito expressed "deep regret."

Bloodless

Where shirts are black and blood runs hot, challenges to mortal combat are by no means out of fashion. But enlightened Italian society does not impugn a man of high station if, in the rush of affairs, he finds it more convenient to surrender his duelling privileges to some staunch friend.

In one General Balbo, Premier Benito has such a friend. Oft and again some

thing or another. Last week it was General Peppino Garibaldi, fiery little grandson of the Liberator. Rebuked for criticizing the conduct of the National Militia on Austrian Armistice Day (Oct. 31), Peppino demanded satisfaction of the Militia's chief. But all

PEPPINO GARIBALDI

He challenged Benito

Peppino got for his pains was the prompt acceptance of Balbo.

Which polite and eminently excusable evasion, of course, left Peppino free to decline in turn. The last that was heard of Garibaldi - to - Mussolini - to Balbo was that the Permanent Court of Honor at Florence would consider the matter of redress for alleged contusion of Peppino's feelings.

HUNGARY Karolyi's Law Suit

Count Michael Karolyi, living in London while his wife tours the U. S. to "make a little money," scion of one of Hungary's most ancient and famous families, the man who early in 1918 took the oath of allegiance to Emperor Karl and later, in the same year, proclaimed Hungary a republic with himself as first President, who, allegedly, "sold" the country to the Bolsheviki in 1919 and who is probably the most hated man in Hungary, once more entered the legal lists to recover his confiscated property.

At Budapest, Hungarian capital, the Supreme Court began to hear the suit over Count Karolyi's property, confiscated by order of two lower courts on the grounds of high trea

The State Attorney moved that the defendant's free and entailed property be confiscated because "the material and moral damage perpetrated by Karolyi against his country is immeasurable." He is officially ac

cused of:

1) Inciting workmen to strike during the War in an endeavor to force peace on Hungary.

2) Communicating with the enemy. 3) Establishing a republic and changing the constitution without the consent of the people.

4) Creating soldiers' councils and handing over power to the Bolsheviki.

5) Fleeing the country and intriguing against the State.

CZECHO-SLOVAKIA

Ill

Thomas Garrigue Masaryk, President of Czecho-Slovakia, "Father of the Czecho-Slovak Republic," friend of the late U. S. President Woodrow Wilson, lay ill in bed at Prague, capital of the Republic.

In what was said to be his "last statement and testament," he bequeathed some advice to the Nation. He counseled the country to work for the creation of a Danube Federation* as the best hope for the future of Central Europe.

AUSTRIA

To Carry On

The Nation-wide railway strike, which started a fortnight ago (TIME, Nov. 17) and had as two of its principal effects the resignation of Chancellor Ignaz Seipel and a threat to the League of Nations' reconstruction scheme, was ended. Due to the strike's tremendous unpopularity, it was believed that the strikers were utterly defeated.

Following the settlement, the Central Committee of Parliament-a body with wide powers-requested Chancellor Seipel to carry on. The Chancellor accepted on condition that the opposition parties would pledge themselves to support the League's reconstruction plan. The necessary assurances were anticipated.

"Federation of all states along the banks of the Danube (Czecho-Slovakia, Austria, Hungary, Yugo-Slavia, Bulgaria, Rumania)an old idea opposed strongly by Foreign Min

EGYPT

Out and In

Several weeks had rolled by since Premier Zaghlul Pasha of Egypt quit London after his memorable interview with Premier MacDonald of Britain over the Sudan (TIME, Oct. 6, 13, COMMONWEALTH). It had been freely rumored that if the aged and infirm Premier returned to his homeland empty-handed, which he did, he would be obliged to resign.

The day following the opening of Parliament by King Fuad I, the whitehaired, worn Premier arose to announce his resignation and that of his Cabinet. He said that the state of his health made obligatory this step. He also said: "I cannot work amid intrigues!"

But the people of Cairo had yet to be reckoned with; and they were more determined than were the Senators and Deputies. Crowds walked about shouting: “Zaghlul or revolution"; school strikes and student parades became common. The upshot of all this commotion was that the Premier had an audience with King Fuad, announced afterward that he would remain in office.

Japanese history. He believed in violence and had determined to kill the Prince Regent. He committed a great crime in attempting to injure the imperial family, which has never oppressed the poor."

Then, donning the black hat, he solemnly condemned Namba to be hung by the neck until dead.

"Long live the Communist Party of Japan," yelled back the defiant Namba.

Way back in the village of Yamaguchi, Namba Sr., hid his shame. Ever since the crime, ten months ago, no member of the family has been seen outside the house. It was feared that the father contemplated committing hara-kiri as an apology to the throne; if so, then many people are in favor of it, for not long ago one sent a dagger to him by mail and he has received several threatening letters. So incensed have been the villagers at the shame thus brought upon the village that police have had to protect the Namba home.

The Unknown Patriot

The body of the unknown Japanese patriot who committed hara-kiri several months ago close to the compound of the former U. S. Embassy (TIME, June 9) as a protest against the enactment of the U. S. Immigration Bill (TIME, April 28, June 2, et seq.) is to be disinterred from Aoyama Cemetery and reinterred in the military cemetery where lie some of Japan's greatest heroes.

It was due to Mitsuru Toyama, head of the Black Dragon Society-an organization active in agitation against the U. S. after the passage of the recent U. S. exclusion bill-that permission was accorded to exhume the unknown patriot and give him what is virtually a national burial. In the mili tary cemetery, a great tomb will be erected over the grave, and its position will be near the last resting place of General Nogi who distinguished himself in the Russo-Japanese War and who committed hara-kiri on the night of the funeral of the Emperor Meiji.

LATIN AMERICA To Die

Three months ago, Mrs. Rosalie Evans, U. S.-born widow of a British subject, was murdered by Mexicans (TIME, Aug. 11, 18).

Last week, one Alejo Garcia and one Francisco Ruiz were sentenced to death for the murder, after a trial lasting several days.

A foreign observer said: "After the

between Deitain

CINEM A

The New Pictures

out.

The Siren of Seville. Priscilla Dean has only one fault that bulges That is her disposition to play before the camera too infrequently. It is the opinion of many that she is a figure, that she should be fixed in the fronk rank. The Siren is one strong proof. The story tells the familiar bull-ring yarn-the matador who becomes famed and forgets his childhood sweetheart. The sweetheart saves his life in the final bullfight scene, wholly preposterously. All this Miss Dean whips into fresh and agile entertainment. There are not many actresses equipped for such a task.

Forbidden Paradise. Pola Negri and Ernst Lubitsch, playing again on the same team that made Passion, are inevitably excellent. They chose a play called The Czarina in which Doris Keane starred not so long ago. The story is an amiable satire on the delights and drawbacks of Royalty. Rod La Rocque plays the captain of the Guard whom the star promotes in rank as he rises in her affections. The picture is one of the best Miss Negri has ever made and final proof that the famous duet of NegriLubitsch is a dominant addition to the camera industry of California.

Married Flirts jumbles familiarly about with wives and husbands who will not stay firmly married. Two wives and two husbands are shuffled back and forth with no particular success as entertainment. Pauline Frederick is included to bolster up an obviously weak narrative. The sum total is singularly meagre.

The Fast Set was what they called Spring Cleaning. The latter will be recalled as Frederick Lonsdale's exceedingly sophisticated idyl of London society. The husband, to eliminate certain of his wife's domestically distasteful tendencies, invites a street walker to a formal dinner party. Certain specially flavored bits of sex discussion have been eliminated in the picture, taming the result down to the censor's level. It is seldom that what is known as a "society drama" makes a deep dent when caught by the camera. Outdoors is more tractable to the director then the shifting suavities of the drawing room The Fast Set makes no ex