Evening star., 1943-10-10
World Cooperation
And Sterilization
By ODen L. Scott.

emerge from this war. One Is a test
to discover what may be the shape OF
the worlds political machinery, If any.
The second is a test to determine what
may be the direction and the shape of
world economic organization.
In the political field the explorations
concern the United States and Russia.
This country and Britain will seek in
meetings now to be held to determine
whether and to what extent there is to
be basis for postwar political co-opera-
ton with Russia. At the same time
there Is an effort to induce Congress to
assure Russia that the United States
will have a postwar interest in some
world organization.
In the economic field the first ex-
plorations concern Great Britain and
the United States Britain's Lord Keynes
has sought basis for reconciling diff
ferences between American and British
viewpoints on a plan for world money
stabilization SO that Congress can be
asked to give the go-ahead signal on a
full-dress conference in the United
States this winter.
Both OF these preliminary tests are
tentative and rather narrow in scope.
Each one has to be geared to the atti-
tuoe OF the Congress. Yet until these
preliminary tests are successfully con-
cluded nothing broader can be under
taken.
The explorations now to be made by
the Russians and ourselves are of funda-
mental Importance. Ever since the Brit
lsh at Munich, with apparent approval
by this country, turned their back on
Russia and dealt with Germany instead,
the Russians have been deeply
suspicious. This suspicion has continued
during the war. 1t has been shared, as
well, by this country in it's attitude
toward Russia. Now the time has come
when the question must be answered
whether both the United States and
Russia are prepared to turn from a
policy of isolation in a postwar world
or whether one or the other. or both
Will remain isolationist.
Russia apparently wants the United
States to give proof that it intends
before the Russian government makes
any commitments on a course of post
war action. This country seems to want
the same assurances from Russia with
regard to its Intentions The problem
Is to lind basis for this proof and then
10 get down to the business of determin-
ing the policies that will govern in peace
agreements affecting Europe and. later.
ASIA. The key issues revolve around
Germany and its place after the war.
lhls country and Britain appear to be
prepared to deal very harshly with the
German nation. The Russians appear
to be making gestures that suggest that
they want TO find basis of cooperation
with postwar Germany that Is under
leadership friendly to Russia. Nobody
now can say how the tests in this field
Will turn out
In the field OF money, the outline is
somewhat more clear.
Officials of both countries realize that
plan for world money stabilization by
Itself Is the answer to nothing yerv
fundamental and may be putting the
Is felt that If Britain and this country
can agree on plan for control in this
held, the basis will have been laid for
tacKilng the problems of international
investment and international control of
raw material pricing and distribution.
Inc problems involved in the eXplora-
ton now under way are not easy of So
lllflOn The ic not
interests of the United States and Great
Britain in the economic field are not
parallel. Britain will end this war as q
net debtor to the outside world, even if
leaSe-lend aid is not classed as a debt.
The United States will end the war as
the worlds great creditor nation.
II they are to enjoy any prosperity, the
British must expand their exports far
above the prewar level. To accomplish
this result they must be sure that Brit
lsh pounds are abundant and easily OBJ
tanned. In word, they seek what
might be called controlled imitation
The British are prepared to do a great
deal OF economic planning. They fear
that the United States, by contrast. will
go in for some postwar defation and will
not be the big market for British Empire
goods that 1t must be if there is to be a
sound basis for stabilized world cur
rencIeS
The British are afraid of anything that
looks like return even to a modified
gold standard. This country has most
OF the worlds gold and wants to give
that metal a restored standing as a cur
rency basis. The British want to be able
to adjust the value of the pound sterling
10 mt the needs Of export trade while this
country is holding out for a more rigid
relationship between currencies. leaving
more adjustments to internal control of
costs through lowering of wages, in
creased efficiency, etc.
Even SO, it is probable that an agree
ment can be reached between this coun-
try and Britain on broad plan for cur
rency control in the postwar period.
II so, this agreement probably will rest
upon the idea that the United States
after this war, as after the last war, will
undertake to finance world DEVELOPMENT
on very broad scale. This means that
currency agreement really will be
linked with the hope of agreement on a
plan for control of international invest
ment and for control over distribution of
raw materials.
Both in the political field and in the
economic field, however, the problems
now to be faced are difficult and in
volved. The fact that they are being