Mastoiditis
a painful and dangerous inflammatory condition in the mastoid hollows of the temporal bone at the side of the skull. Bone decay may be caused by infection from the ear cavities, and great danger arises on account of the thinness of the layer of bone which here protects the brain. The first mastoid operation is said to have been performed by the French surgeon Jean Louis Petit in the early part of the eighteenth century.
MEMEL.
Renounced by Germany under article 99 of the Treaty of Versailles, the German government undertaking to accept any settlement in regard to it which might be made by the Allied and Associated Powers. It was placed temporarily under the government of an Allied Commissioner supported by French troops. On December 27, 1922, Russia laid claim to it as a necessary outlet for her lumber trade. In reply, Lithuanian irregular troops, aided by a revolutionary movement in the city, seized possession in January, 1923. The Allies demanded withdrawal of the troops and the resignation of the revolutionary government. These demands being complied with, the Council of Ambassadors awarded Memel to Lithuania (February 16, 1923) with lishment of autonomy and the organizacertain conditions relating to the establishment of autonomy and the organization of the port to serve both Lithuanian and Polish regions of which it is the natural outlet.
MESOPOTAMIA (IRAK). A treaty of alliance between Great Britain Irak was signed at Bagdad, October 10, 1922. It provides that the government of Irak shall be guided by British advice in all international and financial relations during a period of twenty years, but otherpendence. At the Near Eastern Confer- ence at Lausanne, 1922-23, the Turkish Nationalists demanded that the district of Mosul, incorporated with Mesopotamia since the World War, should be returned to Turkey. (See MOSUL.) The British-French agreement of 1920, divid- ing the Mesopotamian oil concessions, was declared to be null and void in 1922, but controversies in regard to these coning the Mesopotamian oil concessions, was declared to be null and void in 1922, but controversies in regard to these concessions continued.
MEXICO. Recognition of President Obregon by the United States Govern- ment was withheld during 1921 and 1922, owing to difficulties arising out of provisions in the Mexican Constitution of 1917. Under article 27 of that Con- stitution, the government has the right to expropriate private property for pubstitution, the government has the right to expropriate private property for public interests and to impose on private property such limitations as the public interests may demand. In order to protect American property rights, the U. S. Government demanded, as a condition of recognition, that a treaty be made guaranteeing those rights against the danger of confiscation, -a demand which was refused by President Obregon as being an infringement of Mexico's sovereignty.
Other difficulties arose from the imposition of heavy oil taxes which American oil companies at first refused to pay, and from new federal agrarian laws by session of lands alienated by concessions to foreigners made during former adminn of interest payments on istrations. An important agreement for the resumption Mexico's foreign debt was signed by Secretary of the Treasury Huerta and Thomas W. Lamont for an international committee of bankers June 16, 1922, the agreement being ratified by the Mexican Congress in September. Congressional elections were held July 2d and resulted in large gains for the coalition parties supporting President Obregon. On Noagreement being ratified by the Mexican Congress in September. Congressional elections were held July 2d and resulted ment announced that practically all armed opposition to the government was at an end, the country being more nearly at peace internally than for many years. ment of payments due on debts. Such Population. At the end of 19 population of Mexico was 13,887,080, a decrease of 1,293,279 since 1910.
MICROFARAD. (See CAPACITY.) MORATORIUM, a legal postpone postponement may be established by ment of payments due on debts. Such legislative enactment or proclamation within a state to meet disturbed financial conditions, or it may be granted by one as well as by several American states. nation to another unable to meet its obligations. Moratoria of various kinds on German and other reparations payand degrees were declared by most of the ments has been agitated almost con- European nations during the World War, The question of a long-term moratorium outcome of the French invasion of the stantly since the conclusion of peace. In Ruhr. (See REPARATIONS.) the case of Germany, the Reparation Commission voted in January, 1923, that the question was suspended pending the A MOROCCO: SPANISH ZONE. the Spanish arms, leading to widespread the Riff country, beginning in July of 1920, was attended during the succeeding two years by repeated disa the Spanish arms, leading to widespread discontent in Spain and demands for Spanish withdrawal from the country.
An important fac disasters to factor in the situation was