Page 2
University Daily Kansan Tuesday, January 4, 1955
1954 Ends in Optimism Due to Peace, Business Prosperity
Taking a short look back at 1954, we find that the year ended on an optimistic note. Radio commentators, the President, and people in general seem well pleased with the year past and have a cheerful outlook for 1955. There seem to be two main reasons for this feeling.
The first is that business has been good and the experts say it will continue so in the year to come. Business men are counting on the economy going steadily upward for 55.
But the most important item behind this cheerful attitude is that the threat of war does not seem as close as it did at the beginning of 1954. The United Nations has closed its ninth session. This session was described by our chief delegate, Henry Cabot Lodge Jr., as "a wonderful session for lovers of freedom throughout the world."
Although the East-West controversy continues, during the past year the UN has taken a stand for free elections in North Korea and against forced labor behind the Iron Curtain. It condemned the imprisonment of the American fliers by the Chinese Communists and Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjold has planned talks with Red China's Chou En-lai about the matter.
Among other important decisions, President Eisenhower's atoms for peace plan was unanimously accepted. All in all, the power of world opinion has gained prestige in the eyes of the people of the world.
And here in America we are becoming adjusted to a fact that it takes years, not days and months, to achieve world peace. We know that we must be constantly alert, but we also realize that we must be patient.
As Arnold Toynbee, the British historian, has so aptly put it. "The hardest thing for Americans to do is to be patient—to live with their troubles as the rest of the world has learned to do."
"The most important thing we can buy in these most dangerous times is time, if we use it to positive purposes of winning to our side the uncontrolled majorities of world—the peoples of Asia and Africa—who, after all—probably will cast the final, deciding vote."
"We must believe in our ways of doing things, and believing, have the nerve and courage to live with our world dangers and troubles for a very long time. We should stave off World War III but expect, not peace (but) danger and tribulation and trials."
So we say to 1955 .upward and onward . towards patience, world understanding, strength and courage. and slow, but constant progress in freedom's fight toward world peace.
-Georgia Wallace
Fate of Hall Appointments May Affect Democratic Hopes
Governor-elect Fred Hall has hinted that he will make a fight for Senate confirmation of his own appointees to take state positions filled by "about 39" interim appointments by out-going Gov. Ed Arn.
This could precipitate a conflict in the Senate, which will convene Jan. 11.
And it also could precipitate the biggest break the Democrats ever hope to get.
If Gov. Hall does fight for and lose his appointments (as he fought for his nomination) against the Arm-controlled Republican party in Kansas, the Democrats could take a big step forward in their plans to elect a Democratic governor in 1956.
Of course, if Gov. Hall does get his appointments confirmed by the Senate, he may well lessen the gap which now divides the GOP in Kansas. He could gain or lose the following of many of the state's Republicans who now are riding the fence in this battle for power.
One thing is sure. Gov. Hall is going ahead with
his campaign promise of cleaning up the statehouse. He is not backing down to any of the Arn group.
This may be enough to carry Hall to another term. But his chances in '56 will hinge on his success in battling the Arn party in this session of the State Legislature. If he handles the situation in the right way and does all that is mortally possible in cleaning up the state government, then he may gain the life-time admiration of every living soul in Kansas—Republican and Democrats alike.
If Gov. Hall loses this round in his battle with the Arn group, then the Democrats can use this break. It will point out to the people of the state that Gov. Hall has fallen short of his goal to buck the Arn-controlled party and will show that Gov. Arn still controls the Legislature.
This corner looks for Gov. Hall to be successful in his fight in the legislature—which means only that the Democrats are out of luck again.
—Ken Bronson
LITTLE MAN ON CAMPUS by Dick Bibler
"Is there a rotten wire to splice on that pole again?"
University of Kansas Student Newspaper News Room, KU 251 Ad Room, KU 378 Member of the Inland Daily Press association. Associated College Press association. Advertising service. N.Y. Mall subscription rates: $3 a semester or $4.50 a year (add $1 a semester if in New York). Mall every afternoon during the University year except Saturdays and Sundays University holidays and examination periods. Enter at second class line 17. Enter at third class line 19. Post office under act of March 3, 1879.
The first treaty between the United States and an Indian tribe was negotiated with the Delaware tribe on Sept. 17, 1778. The last treaty to be ratified by the Senate was made with the Nez Perce tribe in August 1868.
Daily hansan
EDITORIAL STAFF
RUSINESS STAFF
Editorial Editor  Letty Lemon
Editorial Assistants
Dot Taylor, Amy DeYong
Executive Editor. Elizabeth Wohlgemuth
Managing Editors. John Herrington,
Joe Foster
NEWS STAFF
Business Mgr. Bill Taggart
Advertising Mgr.
Marketing Mgr. David Conley
Circulation Mgr. Kenneth Winston
Leonard Jurden
Business Advisor
Nanev Neville
News Editor            Ron Grandon
Assistant News Editor  Gretchen Guinn Glenn Troman
Wire Editor            Dana Leibengood
Society Editor         LaVerie Yates
Assist Society Ed.    Mary Bess Stephens
News-Editor           Karen Hilmer
News-Editor Advisor
Calder M. Pickett
Iran Offers Oil Reserves Strategic Position in Asia
Iran, next to China and Egypt, the oldest nation in the world, has been one of the leading stories in newspapers and a major topic in the legislatures of the world powers for the past several years. Two factors have made it a "hotspot" in southwestern Asia, geography and oil.
Blocking the lower land gate to Asia and standing in the way of the traditional Russian ambition for access to the Indian ocean, it has drawn much interest from Russia, Turkey, Great Britain, France, and the United States. Today Russia, especially, has its eye on the country for an addition to the Communist "clan" while at the same time obtaining the valuable oil.
Iran has been a buffer state throughout its history. The little country, roughly one-fifth the size of the United States, has existed simply because it was to the interest of the great powers, principally Great Britain and Russia. And yet Iran is poor. Illiteracy, disease, and undernourished people are major problems. Its area is estimated to cover 629,343 miles in which more than 19,140,000 people live.
More than 17 million Iranians live and work on farms. The vast oil industry, the principal source of income for the government when it was operated by the British, employed barely 60,000 persons. Rural areas have benefited little from modernization programs designed to build roads, establish schools, and extend health facilities.
The history of Iran, reaching back to hundreds of years before Christ, is one of rising and falling dynasties. This mighty military power of ancient days was conquered by such leaders as Cyrus, Alexander the Great, the Parthians, Mongols, Turks, and Russians, with internal dissatisfaction occurring throughout the years. From the 17th century on the Turks, Russians, and Great Britain struggled for control of the country.
In 1954 Iran was in the headlines largely on account of the oil dispute, a controversy which began in 1901. An Australian named William Knox D'Archy discovered indications of oil in southern Iran. However, it was decades before the world knew of the immense oil reserves.
The D'Archy company was bought in 1909 by the Anglo-Persian company (re-named Anglo-Iranian company in 1935) with 54 per cent of the shares belonging to the British government. Twenty-four years later the Iranian government signed a new agreement with the Anglo-Iranian oil company which was to remain in force for 60 years. The royalties to Iran were increased and later the company offered to guarantee a yearly payment of $16 million.
Sentiments varied with the Iranian people over the dispute. Some felt the country should get a larger share of the profits, while others wanted the government to nationalize the industry.
The Anglo-Iranian oil company, with Great Britain controlling 53 per cent of the stock, built the world's largest oil refinery at Abadam.
Last October an agreement was at last reached taking over the former monopoly of the Anglo-Iranian company. Only time will tell how satisfactory it will be. An international consortium of eight of the world's largest oil companies will operate the industry for 25 years, using Iranian techniques. The companies are divided as follows: the Anglo-Iranian company, five United States companies, the Royal Dutch Shell company, and a French company. The division of profits between the consortium and Iran is on a 50-50 basis.
Christian Century remarked that the agreement is the most important gain for the West.
"Iran seemed ripe for Communism many times since it broke with the British oil monopoly three years ago.
"Iran has swung toward friendship with the West. Today the West has its chance to help Iran's rulers use its wealth wisely. If the wealth now coming to the government from the oil royalties does not improve the people's lot, but fills the pockets of the rulers, there will be trouble, and Communism has another chance."
—Nancy Neville