Evening star., 1940-03-04

was issued to the neWspa pers merely
constituted the usual smoke screen
to assure the German people and
perhaps the outside world that the
Nazi government was not weakening
in the least. -
The same thing will happen when
Mr.. Welles visits Britain and France.
The press dispatches will state in
most extreme terms the determina-
ton of the British and French to
fight to the bitter end All this is for
domestic morale and world con-
sumption. Behind the scenes, how
ever, is practical understanding
on the part of each of the belligerent
governments that the present war
is colossal mistake, that its eco
nomic consequences for all the world
are terrific and that some way must
be found by disinterested influence
to bring the belligerents out of the
war and into peaceful reconstruction.
First Step to Peace.
The Welles mission is really the
f1rst step toward peace. 1t is the
first of a series of steps looking to-
ward the making of peace through
the mediation Of the Government of
the United States. 1t may take
months for the peace effort to sue
coed but it has to have beginning
No peace oVertures are popular in
any belligerent country in Europe
unless they ostensibly encompass the
complete surrender of the other. But
it will be noted that the terms given
out to be discussed in the press in
Berlin concerned such vague gen.
eralities as British sea-poWer and
economic living space-things that
might be called war aims" Yet
their very abstracthess and vague
ness seemed significant to observers
here.
Naturally the official press mes
sages will say that each side pre-
sented It's case vigorously and the
man on the street will be told that
there is no chance for peace now.
But Britain and France know the
cost of waiting one year, two years
and three They know the extent
of Germany's reserves just as much
as the Nazis do. The question Of
what price each government would
be willing to pay for peace this
year and skip the next two or three
years of war is the one that a neu-
tral mediator can explore. Under
secretary Welles went to get in
formation and impressions. He will
have seen every important states
man on both sides before he makes
his personal report to President
Roosevelt. Allowing for exaggera-
tions and bluff on each side, certain
common denominators of fact will
appear when . Mr.. Welles gets
through with his mission
Public or Private Plea?
Then will come the problem of
whether President Roosevelt should
make public or a private plea
for peace. He will at least have
convinced Germany that Americas
motives as a mediator are disinter-
ested-something that might not
have been possible before the Welles
mission was determined upon. Also
1t would not be surprising If diplo-
matte relations between Berlin and
Washington were promptly re-estab-
lished. so that a more direct chan
mel of communication can be main
tained hereafter.
No government at war, of course,
Hikes to be in the position of seeking
peace. It's a sign of weakness. But
1t Is also a fact that peace is more
seriously discussed behind the scenes
In all countries than the public has
been led to expect.
President Roosevelt is the recip-
lent of information from various
sources. In fact. the decision to
send Sumner Welles to Europe was
made. according to an article in
the United States News. as a conse-
quence Of visit of two important
men from Europe who conveyed
unofficially to Mr.. Roosevelt a few
weeks ago belief that change in
the personnel of the Nazi govern
ment might be possible if certain
peace terms could be secured.
Difficult Mission.
The information is represented to
have been of such significant
misunderstanding been relayed
after talks with Herr Goering-that
Mr.. Roosevelt felt 1t was his duty to
investigate the matter officially.
This is also reported to have inter-
fered with the Presidents plan to
announce before now his disinclina-
ton to be candidate for a third
term-a statement which is not ex-
pected to be issued by the White
House until after the President is
better able to judge whether he can
be of further avail as peacemaker.
This cannot be determined, nat
urally. until Sumner Welles returns
and presents a personal report.
Mr.. Welles has had a difficult