Evening star., 1942-07-15
Enemy States Pledged
Justice and Freedom
Writer Holds Atlantic Charter
Assures Axis Populations
Riqht of SeIf-Goyernment

NSut VI SCt t-SOSSIHtHEu
To the Editor of The Star:
Felix Morley in his article in The
Sunday Star asserts that our war aims
include "the suppression of Japan, the
humiliation of Italy and the debase-
ment of Germany"
But the war aims not only of this
country but also of all the United Ma
tions, so far as the public has been in
formed, are contained in the Atlantic
Charter. This provides for the liberia
ton of the nations conquered by the
Axis, for the restoration of the status
quo ante except as modified at the desire
of the peoples concerned, and for the
observance of "the right of all peoples
to choose the form of government under
which they wish to live"
In the application of these principles
the present enemy peoples would be
treated on exactly the same basis as the
rest. This equality of treatment is also
provided for in the economic and social
clauses of the charter which state that
raw material supplies and markets will
be available to all the peoples of the
world on virtually equal terms and that
measures would be undertaken to secure
improved labor standards, economic
advancement and social security" for
all nations.
The only form of discriminatory treat
ment would be the proposed disarmament
of the aggressor powers which would be
followed by the reduction of the arma-
ments of the other countries.
In other words, our enemies would be
forced to free their victims and surrender
the means of launching new attempts
to enslave them in the future, but other
wise they themselves would be quite as
free and quite as able to promote their
economic and social progress as the rest
of mankind.
Such are the aims of the United Ma
tions as officially announced and as
emphasized in many recent statements
by the authorized spokesmen of our own
administration. 1t is unnecessary to
point out that these accounts of our
aims bear only a remote resemblance to
that which is given by Mr.. Morley
This discrepancy is even more apparent
in the case of Mr. Morley's assertion that
the japanese in case of their defeat
would be blocked up" in their own is
lands. According to our published war
aims, the japanese would have full op-
portunity to develop their industries and
their trade, though they would no longer
be able to pillage and murder the other
peoples of Asia and the South Seas
They would be blocked up no more
than any other peoples of the world, who
if the war aims of the United Nations
should be carried out, would all be COM
PEELED to abstain from the conquest and
exploitation of other countries.
With regard to Mr.. Morley's statement
that "the Germans have more than a
little reason to believe that the control
of their destinies is to be handed over
to the Russians" in the event of the vic
tory of the United Nations, he ought GER
tainly to submit the full evidence for
this assertion. Arrangements to carry
out the policy mentioned would con-
stitute complete violation of the Allan
tic Charter.
1t is curious that projects of such i'm
portance have been ignored by our press
The newspapers have stated that Russia
recently asked for the recognition by
Great Britain OF the right to acquire a
certain organ of control over the Baltic
coastal regions, but had withdrawn those
claims at the request of the United
States. 1t seems incredible that this
country should not have taken steps tt
block demands relative to Germany
which would be far more in contact
with our announced war aims than the
Russian proposals regarding the Baltic
Until Mr.. Morley has had the oppor-
tunity to present the supporting evidence
for his serious charges against the
integrity of the United Nations, il
Is hardly proper to discuss the matter
further. But there is one thing thai
needs to be said. We have no means OF
making sure that the United Nations, as
the bitterness engendered by the con.
flict increases, may not abandon the lofty
and humane objectives which they have
proclaimed. To prevent this from oc.
curing should be a major concern o.
the American people.
1t is difficult, however, to see how thi;
object will be promoted by the pub.
lication in our press of statements i'm
plying that such objectives have never
really been espoused or that they hav,
already been given up. Indeed, state
ments Of this sort, written by our mos
eminent authorities and appearing il
our most solid and patriotic newspapers
seem precisely the sort of ammunition
| which is best adapted to the purposes
not only of the enemies of our cause IL
this country, but also of the Axis govern.
| ments In their endeavor to convince thei
peoples that defeat would mean annihila
! ton. F.. r. FLOURNOY.
Praises Secretary's Willingness