Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1941-12-20
Supreme War Council?

NOW CIldC tllC A61lI dbdlIlSt dSklCS.
sion has assumed worldwide pro-
portions, 1t is logical that there
should be worldwide naison, both
militarily and economically, among
the powers allied against the Axis in
the hfe-or-death struggle. The
need for some sort of supreme war
council is greater In this world war
than in the other one, for, whereas
the center of combat operations then
was in Europe, today there is
scarcely quarter of the globe which
does not have an actual or potential
fighting front. As Russian Ambas-
sador Litvinoff aptly has put it,
these far-flung fronts actually are
separate sectors of one great battle
field" And the foe of the United
States, Of Britain and Soviet Russia,
chief allies in the grim conflict, is a
common one-the Berlin Rome Toxic
Axis. What happens In Russia, in
Africa and in the Far East are mat
tiers of mutual interest to all adver-
saries of the Axis combine.
There are increasing indications
that plans are being discussed for q
more effective Indignation Of the
Allied war efforts, If not for creation
Of q supreme command Of the type
which evolved from early confusion
during the first World War. Presi-
dent Roosevelt disclosed yesterday
that inter-Allied conferences already
have been held for some time. The
coincident promotion of Lieutenant
General Douglas Macarthur to the
rank of full general naturally has
started speculation as to what role
he might play In a co-ordinated
military and naval setup. His rank
would At him to serve not only as
field commander of all American land
forces but as supreme Allied COM
mander as we'll. II such a command
were to be created.
If the Allies Of today are to profit
by the experiences of the Allies of
World War I, they must lose no time
in concentrating plans for overall
coordination Of production, supply
and war strategy. Effective unity Of
economic and strategic activities was
not obtained for about three years
after the outbreak Of the other war.
There was competition for supplies
and conflict between French and
British commanders in the field,
while Russia and Italy did their re-
spective fighting almost as lone
wolves. In November, 1917, however,
after the defeat Of the Italians at
Caporetto, Britain, France and Italy
organized a Supreme War Council,
with each country represented by its
Premier, second civil official and a
military expert. This council had
ambiguous powers and lacked au-
thority to enforce its decisions as to
strategy. The council accomplished
little. A few months later efforts to
form joint British and French re-
serve force failed because the two
nations could not agree on a leader.
1t took the German break through in
the spring Of 1918 to Danish differ
ences and achieve wholehearted
unity. General Foch was made gen.
eralissimo by joint agreement Of
France, Britain and the United
States, who entrusted him with "the
strategic direction OF military opera
tons" Nevertheless, Allied COM
manders, including General Pershing,
had the right to appeal to their re-
spective governments-as Pershing
did in successfully resisting efforts to
infiltrate American doughboys into
French and British armies.
It would be most unfortunate If
efforts to bring about a closer CO.
ordination among the Allies Of 1941
were impeded by shortsighted, selfish
considerations or by failure to COM
prehend the worldwide implications
Of the fighting in each Of the scat
tered sectors. It will require far
seeing craftsmanship OF the highest
order to work out a practicable and
efficient plan, satisfactory to all par
ties, but the urgency Of such an
understanding becomes more and
more evident with each passing day.
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1t is probable that the Nazis have
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