Evening star., 1941-12-16
Supreme War Council Urged
Eliot Says Allied Powers Must Have Agency
To Develop Master PIon Against Axis

may be dealt with, and by which vic
tories may be followed up and de-
feats prevented from becoming dis
aSters.
Such an Allied supreme war coun-
Gil cannot, of course, be given pie
nary authority. The sovereignty Of
the several states concerned is i'm
bued with a responsibility which
cannot be delegated. We are faced,
therefore, with the paradoxical ne
cessity Of creating an agency which
shall have authority and still not
have it; which shall be able to COM
mand, and to coordinate, and still
not possess in all matters the power
Of final decision.
Would Need Confidence.
The usefulness of such a supreme
war council will lie very largely in
the confidence which the partici-
pating governments and peoples
have in its decisions, their willing
ness to allow it to function without
constant interference, to subordi-
nate what may seem to them i'm
portant national interests in the
furtherance of a common interest,
and in the wisdom, experience and
forbearance of the individual rep
resentatives selected as its members,
as well as the influence and author
ity which each national representa-
tive commands among his own
people
Probably such a council cannot
be composed Of heads OF states. The
three chief nations - the United
States. Great Britain and Russia
now cooperating against Germany
are too far distant from one
another to permit Of frequent con-
ferences between their executives.
each Of whom is concerned with
complex and pressing problems Of
government as we'll as those OF mil
itary effort. But the authority and
position of the men delegated to
represent each state on the supreme
war council must. both in political
status and individual character, be
as eminent as possible. Each must
occupy such a position with refer
ence to his government and to his
people as to assure him the fullest
freedom OF action consistent with
the principle Of sovereignty. 1t goes
without saying that he must enjoy
the complete confidence Of those he
represents, so that his decisions will
not lightly be overridden.
Fundamentally Political.
The supreme council must be
fundamentally political body be-
cause the decisions which it takes
and the recommendation which 1t
makes will be in the highest realm
Of state policy, recognizing the
principle Of the supremacy of the
civil over the military power. How
ever, since its decisions will largely
have effect in the military field,
each national representative should
have an able and experienced mill
tary adviser, with a proper stafY, as
we'll as q naval adviser for the naval
powers. Economic and political ad-
visers will also be required.
Such an agency for the united
control and direction Of the Allied
war effort against the Axis is an
essential ingredient of victory. The
immediate necessity is for the recog-
milton Of the principle Of united
action by the establishment OF a
formal alliance between the powers
concerned and the establishment of
suitable means for co-ordinating
their efforts. 1t is quite likely, in
deed it is certain, that many of the
details will have to be worked out
in practice; what is needed now is
to make beginning, for time is
precious and our enemies know well
how to make the best use Of it.
(CopyriGht 1Q41 New York Tribune Inc