Evening star., 1939-11-29
Urges Restoration of
Independent Ukraine.

>-'~~FNN>"S - IA 0AACs
To the Editor of The Star:
There can be little doubt that. in the
event OF German victory, the present
war would result in the greatest of evils.
Her present frame of mind indicates that
Germany would then accommodate her.
self IN such a way that Europe would
probably be ruled by "diktat' from
Berlin and no nations independent
existence would be secure. But there is
also a great danger that victory Of the
allies might easily result in an evil,
perhaps Of lesser proportions, If it were to
reintroduce the system of Versailles.
With this in mind, We should approach
the question OF what should follow the
end Of today's European conflict.
The recent peace move made by the
rulers OF the Netherlands and Belgium
gave the British and French govern
ments an opportunity to state their war
aims Lord Halifax, British foreign
secretary said in his speech of November
7: I'VE are fighting in defense of free
dom, we are fighting for peace, we are
meeting challenge to our own security
and that of others, We are defending the
rights of all nations to live their own
lives. we are fighting against the substi-
tuition Of brute force for law as the
arbiter between nations and against the
violation of the sanctity of treaties and
disregard for the pledged word
This was followed by Clement r.
Attlee's definition of British labor's war
aims, which among others demanded:
Recognition of the right of all peoples,
regardless of their color, creed or ma
tional strength, to live and develop their
own characteristic civilizations without
infringing upon the rights of Others"
Similar statement was made by Pres-
dent Lebrun of France
These are highly inspiring declarations
especially to the nations now subjugated.
Being OF Ukrainian origin, must say,
that they are particularly welcome by
about 100000 Ukrainians, who today
are the largest subjected nation in
Europe.
However, one cannot help recalling
that similar lofty declarations and prom
ises had been made during the World
War of 1914-18, but they were not real
lied, Notwithstanding the victory of the
allies. Taught by bitter experience, it is
only natural that this time we should
examine those statements carefully.
In my opinion, they are not quite ex-
plicit. One question requires clarif1ca-
ton: What exactly is meant by "all ma
tions," or "all peoples? To the words of
Lord Halifax, for instance, may be at
tached two different meanings: First,
that Great Britain and France identify
their conception of peace, freedom and
just order with the order which resulted
from the last World War and therefore,
are fighting for their own preservation
as well as for the restoration of that
same order; second, that they see the
necessity for the introducing of new
and better order in Europe, based on the
principles guaranteeing lasting peace,
true justice and self determination of all
the peoples of Europe, without exception.
One cannot but attach this same dou-
BILE meaning to the declarations of Presi-
dent Lebrun and Mr.. Attlee. Meanwhile,
the general impression indicates that the
first of the above two guesses would be
correct.
Therefore, we should like to know
definitely, whether Lord Halifax. speak
ing OF "all nations" had in mind only
all the European states that existed until
the time Germany began annihilating
her smaller neighbors and whose bound
aries were fixed at the end of the last
war, or whether he meant all the ethnic
groups with distinct national and ira
ditional characteristics, which should
exist rs sovereign, independent nations?
The Ukrainiaus put great hopes IN