Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1942-12-29
Prepare for Peace

After this war-what? The hope
OF the United Nations is peace-a
lasting peace. The Axis peoples, II
not their leaders, probably entertain
the same hope. And 1t was the hope
OF the Allied nations when they won
the First World War.
The present war is in It's fourth
year. The signs all point to Anal
and definite victory for the United
Nations The leaders of the Axis
powers, if they win, intend to impose
their will on the rest of the world.
! What are the ideas of the United Ma
tions? Does the Atlantic Charter re-
fleet them? Or may the address last
night by Vice President Wallace be
taken as preview of the program
which the administration has in
mind?
The Seventy-eighth Congress of
the United States is about to as
semble. Like its predecessor, it will
be a war Congress. It must also be
peace Congress. 1t must plan for
peace. 1t may help to make peace
within It's two-year span of life. 1t
can, If it will, set the wheels in mo-
ton, or help to start them. 1t can,
II 1t will, initiate a meeting of the
minds Of the legislative bodies in all
the United Nations. 1t can, if it will,
authorize the Executive to take
counsel with the rulers of the other
United Nations, if such authorization
be necessary. 1t can, II 1t will, be-
come forum for the education of
the American people, as we'll as the
peoples OF the world, on the subject
Of just peace.
1t has been said that this country
wanted nothing out of the last war,
ana That 1t got nothing. The A-.-.4-
can people, however, want something
out OF the present war. They want
security from recurring world con-
f1icts and they intend to have it. no
matter how long they have to fight
for 1t.
Yet there are two schools of
thought among members Of Congress
today. One holds the theory that
the only problem facing this country
and the rest of the democratic ma
lions Is winning the war. 1t is in
clined to wait and let the conditions
then confronting the country and
the world dictate the peace The
other school believes that it is as
essential to prepare for peace, in
time OF war, as it is to prepare for
war in time of peace, II the peace
is to be stable.
In recent months a great deal OF
! lip service has been given to the
cause OF international cooperation"
after the war, as well as serious and
sincere thought and effort. Too
many have said that some measure
Of international cooperation will be
essential, while holding in their
hearts hope that, once the war has
ended, the pledge of international
cooperation will become merely
scrap of paper, They retain the
opinion that America can stand
alone, and they prefer to fight for
that aloofness, no matter what it
may cost in blood and misery, rather
than enter into real and effective
international cooperation.
One Of the foremost advocates Of
adequate preparation for peace in
the Congress is Senator Austin of
Vermont who has been assistant
Republican leader OF the Senate in
the present Congress. and who will,
1t is said, occupy the same position in
the new Congress. Many months
ago he advocated steps looking to
some agreement on the kind of peace
which the United Nations will de-
mand. Other voices have been lifted
for peace program now, including
former President Herbert Hoover.
The preparation for peace should
be as non-partisan as the prepara-
ton for war. Republicans in the
House are almost as numerous as
their Democratic colleagues. They
are more numerous in the Senate
than they have been for years. Here
is an opportunity for constructive
work by both parties.