Evening star., 1943-08-20

VI dIioH tiidI HAS f&$$
been developed David Lawrence.
through several conferences since
the outbreak of war. But the more
often the Churchill Roosevelt meet
ings occur, the more remarkable is
the manifestation of confidence
which British and American peoples
seem to exhibit in the capacity of
these two leaders to reach agree
ment.
Indeed, perhaps at no time in
modern history have two powerful
nations, each independent and with
an ingrained national spirit, been
brought together through their
leaders to carry out the most deli
cate and difficult of all international
tasks, the making of war
National pride has wrecked many
an alliance. Jealousy has under
mined many a collaboration. But
there seems to be in the Churchill
Roosevelt meetings depth of un-
derstanding which arises perhaps
out of the same attitude of mind
and the same cultural backgrounds
of our respective peoples.
Mutual Respect, Patience.
1t is interesting. too, to observe
that, although close friends, there
is no hesitation on the part of the
British and American press to re-
fleet criticisms of their respective
chieftains or of each other. The two
nations are sufficiently close to ex-
anime criticism and to apply their
lessons when they are pointed. No
doubt there will be plenty of differ
ences of opinion, especially as post
war problems with their materialis-
tic aspect begin to come on the
horizon. But, meanwhile, the init
macy of the military and naval and
aerial officers is something of which
the British and American peoples
may well be proud.
There is a mutual respect, pa
tience in trying to get each others
viewpoint and above all, a recogni-
ton of common purpose that must
disconcert the Nazis as they see
Britons and Americans and Ca
nadianS and French fighting in the
Mediterranean. Even more than
that is the notable skill with which
actual military operations of a joint
nature are carried out.
1t is sometimes suggested that
Army and Navy and air forces do
not SynchroniZe. well because they
are rival services, and that foreign
nations have the same problem. But
in the present war, especially in
the African and Sicilian operations,
the unity and harmony of command
has completely erased any such
Idea.
The Quebec conference, of course,
will make many critical decisions,
perhaps outlining the course of the
war for the next year or more. The
public accepts with complete conf
dence the necessary secrecy which
surrounds the decisions and the
whole planning process, knowing
that the experts are there along
with the civilian heads of govern
ment. Men trained all their lives In
war preparation, the best leaders
America can offer-Gen. Marshall,
Admiral King, Gen Arnold and
Admiral Leahy--sit down with the
Army, Navy and air men who rep
resent Britain's high command.
Complete Agreement Usual.
But this meeting is not novel. It
Is a mere continuation of the ses-
sions Of the Combined Chiefs of
Staff who meet regularly in Wash
tngton. The months and months of
planning which this international
high command carries on is not
known to the public and cannot be
until the war is over.
Headlines perhaps overempha-
size the part Messrs. Churchill
and Roosevelt play, but these heads
of state, on the other hand, defer
almost entirely to the ideas of their
military naval and air advisers
Only rarely have these meetings
ended with any feeling of disap-
pointment in either country. Usually
the minds of the leaders-both mil
itary and political-have met, and
IT there has been reluctance to give
as much attention to one sector as
another, 1t has not been because c'
any national feeling so much as 1t
has been from a lack of under-
standing of all the factors involved.
AS time goes on the differences of
opinion are diminished and the war
planning embraces a wider and
wider scope.
Britain and America are closer
and more intimate allies today than
any written treaty of alliance could
ever have outlined The tuo nations