Evening star., 1941-08-31

albeit very unpleasantly, under either
the Nazi or Communist scourge.
Either one of these authoritative sys-
TENS could by its own triumph destroy
nationalism as an effective political force
in Europe. And the techniques of the
two types of dictatorship are so similar
in their ruthlessness that abstractly it
might seem almost ipanaterial which
triumphs in tie present death grappss,
If Germany defeats Russia a great
many Communists are going to find it
easy to become Nazis. And if Russia
beats Germany great many Nazis will
with equal facility change brown shirts
to red The point is that either outcome
would forward that revolutionary uni
fication of Europe to which both ideol-
ogies are dedicated. And such unifica-
ton is the more to be expected if France
has now perforce decided in favor of it,
under one or another form OF anti-demo-
cratic, authoritarian regime.
One permanent effect of this authori-
tartan trend will inevitably be the pro-
nounced reduction of British political
influence on the continent of Europe.
Of course Russia today welcomes Brit
ish aid against the Nazi just as Germany,
up to her skillful immobilization of Rus
sia in 1899, would have welcomed British
| aid against the Communists. But while
| either dictatorship would willingly utilize
| democratic assistance to crush its totali-
tartan rival it is obvious that neither
dictatorship, once victorious, would well
come democratic partnership in the re-
| organization of Europe.
Indeed, if Russia should by some
| miracle defeat Germany, it is in the
highest degree unlikely that Stain would
| feel it necessary to obtain the approval
of London and Washington before rec
ognizing Soviet Republics wherever
| Communists could be found to seize
power throughout shattered Europe.
British Gain Seen.
| 1t may be assumed that President
Roosevelt and Prime Minister Churchill
fully discussed the implications of Eu-
ropes authoritarian trend during the re-
cent North Atlantic conference And the
natural upshot of these discussions, sum-
married. in spirit if not in detail in the
| eight-point statement by the leaders of
two great democracies, was pronounce
ment of that Anglo-American unity
which is being steadily forwarded by the
| growing prospect of totaltarian unifica-
ton in Europe.
From the British viewpoint the de-
| velopment of Anglo-American unity,
which means in effect both consolida-
ton of and a guarantee for the far
flung empire, will in the long run more
than balance any loss of European in
| fluence and prestige. 1t is net gain for
England, putting the trend in over
simplified terms, to exchange an alliance
with France for one with the United
| States.
From the long-range viewpoint, this
shift is also gain for the United States
as world power, assuming that in the
alliance now tacitly formulating this
country uses its enormous influence to
extricate England from the European
tangle and does not let narrowly Eng
lish interests involve US hopelessly in the
internecine disputes of that continent.
For some English leaders naturally
! ClOuStl, WOUlu Like W COHlllu6 10 cAcI-
else control in Europe with American
backing. And some Americans are naive
enough to desire that role for their
country.
There is no question, however, that
the developing authoritarian unifcation
of Europe, whether finally achieved
under Nazi or Communist auspices, rem
ders desirable, if not imperative, clear
recognition and development of the
always latent unity between the English
speaking democracies
The development of that unity, more
over, is desirable for much more than
purposes of military defense. The polit-
ical consolidation envisioned would be
based not on somewhat hysterical fears
but rather on many mutual interests
with spiritual, cultural and economic
vitality. AS such it is the more likely to
be permanent provided it is directed
with the tact and circumspection neces-
sary in joining the destinies of peoples
whose many differences of outlook are
ill-concealed by certain basic similarities.