Abstract

The Shape of Things

The article presents information related to political issues. The conference of the Balkan entente just concluded reiterated the desire of participants to keep out of the war but failed to reach any definite agreement for mutual guaranties. The official communiqué issued at the conclusion was notable, however, for the stress laid on friendly relations with neighboring states and on the need for strengthening economic ties between all the Balkan countries. According to another information, industrial activity in December, as measured by the U.S. Federal Reserve Board index, reached a new record of 128, or two points above the previous high of May, 1929. This index, however, is not corrected for secular trends, and as population has increased some 8 per cent in the last ten years, it denotes a per capita production well below that of the last pre-depression year.