Evening star., 1942-08-19
Moscow Conference

cow Is an event of manifold signif1-
canoe. In the first place, the mere
fact that Britain's Prime Minister,
accompanied by key British and
American soldiers and officials, made
the long and potentially perilous
trip from his post to the Soviet
capital at so critical a moment, re-
veals the urgency of the meeting.
This war has abundantly proven
that, despite marvels of modern sci
ence such as the radio and the long
distance telephone, nothing can re-
place personal contacts between
leaders where absolute secrecy is
paramount and where complete
meeting of minds is imperative.
The Moscow visit Is logical sequel
to Foreign Commissar Molotov's
trips to London and Washington last
June. Since then, Russias situation
has rapidly worsened, and the need
for common action against the Axis
offensive Is acute. The Russian peo-
pie are crying in anguished tones for
the creation of that second 'front.'"
desirability of which was acknowl-
edged at the Molotov conferences.
Axis propaganda has been busy try
Ing to sow doubt and disillusionment
In Russian minds. Nothing could be
a better tonic for Russian popular
psychology than the visit OF Britain's s
Prime Minister and his distinguished
colleagues to Moscow, with the en-
phasis on cordial solidarity and
unflinching determination. Apart
from specific decisions arrived at in
four days of conferences, this psy-
Geological factor should not be un-
derestimated.
While the discussions themselves
are official secrets, there can be little
doubt that the visitors eagerly sought
more specific information as to Rus
sia's military situation and pros
poets. Hitherto, Soviet secretiveness
has been handicap to Anglo-Amer-
ican plans for a second front. So
fortnight a person as Winston
Churchill would hardly let the op-
portunity slip to stress this in his
talks with Joseph Stain, and that
archrealist could appreciate the
point. 1t should be noted in this
connection that, concurrently with
the leaders conversations, staff talks
went on between the visiting British
and American generals and their
opposite numbers in the Soviet mill
tary hierarchy. The likelihood of a
fuller understanding of the strategic
problems involved is self-evident.
The presence of British and Amer
ican commanders in the Near and
Middle East, including General Sir
Archibald Wavell, Britain's COM
mander in chief in India, emphasized
the scope of the conferences. How
ever, the Far Eastern theater of war
vast, at least officially, excluded. The
Russian communique states that "a
number of decisions were reached
covering the field of war against
Hitlerite Germany and her asso-
ciates In Europe" This specifically
exempts Japan, with whom Soviet
Russia Is still on technically normal
terms. Diplomatic appearances are
thus carefully preserved.
A final sidelight on the Moscow
Conference is that it is clearly part
Of larger politico-strategic pattern.
We know that Mr. Churchill stopped
OF at Cairo on his way to Moscow for
consultations with General Smuts,
the Premier of the South African
Union, and other personalities. Fur
thermore, there are indications that
he may have held still other confer
ences after leaving Moscow on a re-
turn journey whose conclusion has
not been announced. Altogether, it
is reasonably certain that this ex-
tenslve tour was filled with activities.
the results of which are bound to be
translated into momentous actions.