Evening star., 1940-12-24
Guide on Peace Terms
Needed by Congress-,
1ydings Asserts
Senutor Sees Intelligent
Decision on U. S. Policy
Handicapped by Mystery
Ry ]. A. O'LEARY.

BY j. A. OLEAhI.
The possibility of bringing about
q "just peace" between Great Bri-
tain and the axis powers should be
explored before the future course
of this country in the present world
crisis is decided, Senator Tydings,
Democrat, of Maryland declared to-
day.
Just back from a Southern trip
the Marylander pointed out that
members of Congress could act more
intelligently on the important in
ternational questions awaiting con-
sideration if they knew what are
the minimum demands of the op-
posing sides in the European con-
fiict.
''Is it possible to secure just
peace in Europe between the axis
powers and Great Britain?" he in
ouired. What, precisely, are the
conditions upon which they would
agree to a peace? 1t strikes me that
upon the answer to these two ques-
tions must largely depend ra-
tional, safe and sane conduct of
American world policy. If we had
q clear and accurate answer to each
of these questions from both Britain
and the axis powers, we would know
better just what steps our own Ma
ton should take"
Stresses peace of Justice"
Senator Tydings hastened to make
1t clear he did not mean "a peace of
appeasement, but peace with jus
tice." He also outlined some of the
conditions he thought would be es-
sential to just peace.
First" he said, certainly Norway
Denmark, Holland, Belgium and
France would have to have their po-
litical sovereignty and independence
restored. A peace which would do
less than that is certainly impossible
of accomplishment at this time.
Second, formula would have to
be worked out for such countries as
Poland and Czecho-Slovakia found
ed primarily on the national origin
of the subjects of those countries.
1t might be a Polish state could be
set up, Germany to have that part
of old Poland predominantly in
habited by Germans. In other
words, in Poland and Czecho-Slo-
vakia an approach to the question
would have to be made from the
standpoint of realistic justice.
Third, with such peace would
have to come a measure of interna-
tional security, which could only be
achieved by some degree of disarma-
ment, without which any peace
would be short lived.
Rehabilitation staggering"
Fourth, in any case, whether the
peace comes soon or late and by
agreement or force of arms, the
problem of world readjustment and
rehabilitation is staggering. The
longer the peace is delayed the more
difficult and expensive becomes the
rehabilitation to all nations, both
in the war and out of the war"
The Senator said that with such
conditions in mind as a basis for
thought and action, "one wonders
just what the position of Britain
and the axis powers is"
I'VE can only speculate" he con-
tinued, "but, as member of Con-
gress, it would be healthy if our
national legislators had more def
mite information. Then we could
act more intelligently in the inter-
est of our own country and of world
civilization. We would know who
stands in the way of just peace.
We would know why we are prepar-
ing and what our immediate and
eventual role is likely to be.
Certainly America would not look
with favor upon a peace based on
appeasement, but would look with
favor, I hope, upon a peace whose
fundamental parts were made of
justice. We all should try for such
a peace of justice, for what is the
alternative? The continued slaugh-
ter of men, women and children in
all belligerent countries, a catas-
trophic destruction of property run
ming into billions, the eventual ex-
penditure of hundreds of billions to
prosecute the war and for rehabili-
tation and readjustment that will
come thereafter. the departure from
democratic methods of government
to totalitarian methods in varying
degree either to fight the war or
prepare. It's aftermath will leave so
many problems of want, disease and
suffering that the whole system on
which society is conducted may be
revolutionized, so that democracy is
only hollow shell.
Could Guide U. S. Course.
Therefore, I ask, is there a basis
for a just peace? What are the
minimum demands of the axis pow
ers and Great Britain? OF course,
II we find a just peace cannot be
established, then we could proceed
with a will and vim and more
rightly project our countrys course
IN its future international dealings.
Perhaps efforts have been and
are being made to find out what is
possible of accomplishment. I hope
they are and that something con-
crete will come from these efforts.
If such efforts fail and we were ap-
prised of their failure we could
proceed with more certainty and
speed to put this Nation in a state
where it could deal with any emer-
gency that might arise. So far the
Congress has not learned that any
such efforts have been made and
may even now be taking place."