Current Situation

With domestic politics quiet for the moment, the equally political conference of the Allied Premiers over the eternal question of German reparations is again to the fore. The acridly partizan politics in Paris threaten as usual to hold up agreement upon the Experts' Plan. Yet the business community in the U. S., although heartily weary of futile European conferences, is unusually hopeful that this time some definite basis of concerted action regarding Germany can be secured. How much actual buying in U. S. markets this would develop, is problematical.

The West is reviving under better grain prices and rapidly maturing crops. Money continues easy, and now the fear of higher rates because of crop financing is being allayed. But industry is very dull, although not sufficient wage-cuts or layoffs have been occasioned to injure retail merchandising. Even the stock market has acted somewhat weary and dispirited, despite strength in utility stocks and the better railroads.