Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-06-15
u. S. Realism
Noted in Pact
With Soviet
Reds Agree 10 Return
Unused Munitions
BY PAUL MALLON

WASHINGTON, June 15.-To
w understand just what the
Russian agreements mean-and
particularly what they do not
mean-you must read beyond the
Washington and London texts
back into the mutual aims and
the differences which brought
them about.
Mr.. Roosevelt started with the
war aim of the four freedoms
of speech, of religion. from want,
from fear. He worked out the
Atlantic Charter with Mr..
Churchill. implementing the first
two by pledges for self determ-
ination of peoples and against
seizures Of territory, etc.
But the Atlantic Charter did
not specifically mention speech
and religion. 1t did mention want
and fear, and suggested economic
methods of avoiding them by
free access 10 raw materials,
dropping trade barriers, etc.
In this new WaShington-MoS-
COW agreement, there is no spe-
cific mention Of any Of the free
domS. Three references are
made to the Atlantic Charter.
The preamble notes that the
Russian government accepted
the basic principles of the At
lantic Charter" But the official
announcement and the text of
the agreement both mention a
new phraSe-just "the attain
ment of the economic detectives
OF that charter.
I ANGUAGE of diplomacy is
IL generally as significant as
the wording of law. Unofficial
interpretations are uncertain,
but you will find enlightening ex-
PLANTATION in this instance in the
column published June 9.
The Russians had been politely
pressing Britain and the United
States for a postwar promise Of
her 1941 boundaries, including
half of Poland, the Baltic states,
parts of Rumania.
This was an untimely request
in the midst of war, because 1t
raised, for one thing, the ques-
ton of carrying the four free
doms and Self-determination TO
that half of Poland, Latvia, ES-
tonia. Lithuania. etc.
While some claim has been
that religious freedom is pro-
vided. but not encouraged. in
Russia, no one will claim either
freedom of speech or political
freedom would be promoted by
even such a modest acquisition
of territory by the Reds.
The United States and Britain,
therefore. declined to make such
a promise, and the agreements
represented what London and
Washington were willing to do
in lieu of such a promise. Pri-
marily the agreements postponed
settlement of that troublesome
point until after tory is
achieved.
THE Washington agreement
Il kills the former arrange
ment for Russian payments for
lend-lease war materials, pay
ments which were to have
started within five years after
the war was over and he con-
cluded in 10 years. The Russians
will give back what they have
not used and pay for what was
used in some manner yet to be
negotiated, without a time limit.
The British felt constrained
to go further than we did. They
made an actual 20-year mutual
(politicaD defense treaty in a
formal way, while ours was
technically an economic under
standing and a new lend-lease
arrangement.
The British seemed to guaran-
tee Russian boundaries, but they
did not say whether these are
to be the 1871 boundaries or the
prewar borders. The British
thought it necessary, presum-
ably, to show extra good faith
TO Moscow, in view of Soviet
ill-feeling over CZecho-Slovakia.
Munich and other matters to
which we were not a party.
Also the British may feel
some inner embarrassment at
having been unable themselves,
before this to establish a second
front, which has been primarily
their obligation. One will be
established. You may not doubt
that. because it affords the only
logical way for either OF us TO
win the war.
THUS relations between the
Il three strongest United Ma
tons have been placed formally |
on restrained and realistic
war basis. This may forecast
postwar difficulties, but at
least every one knows fairly !
how he and the other fellows
stand.
You can see realism in the
British treaty proposal 10 keep
both Russian and Britain in arms
until a European security agree
ment which will inspire their
confidence is reached
IL il takes 20 years. That is the
point. II forecasts a long arm
istice.