Evening star., 1943-01-10

IidS AoAAoWCu a poAlCy Ol pIdCtACdA 1ucdl-
ISM
The bitter controversy over the Darlan
incident made top American observers
suspicious Of the ultimate motives behind
the dispute.
Gen. Charles de Gaulle, the Fighting
French leader. has acquired prestige
among the United Nations because Of his
undaunted opposition to the Nazis. But
Gen. de Gaulle Is soldier and he must
have realized that it was poor taste to
put up such a stubborn fght against
group Of Frenchmen, tainted though they
were with Vichyism, when they made our
occupation of Africa possible.
The French have a reputation for
understanding and delicacy, and it was
considered strange that the Fighting
French chieftain should continue to issue
statements about what should be done In
Africa when American soldiers were
risking their lives.
And here again arises the thought that
Gen. de Gaulle would have quieted down
had he received just one hint from the
British government which is holding the
purse strings of his organization.
An unpleasant situation also might
develop regarding Russia's aims in
Europe after the war is over and the
victors gather to distribute the spoils.
Speculation concerning the Soviets
hopes Is not clear, but it is assumed that
Premier Joseph Stain, who is first
patriot, next an internationalist, would
like to restore the old boundaries of
Czarist Russia which included the Baltic
provinces, Finland, part Of Poland and
Bessarabia
The future of the Baltic States seems
settled These states, which had an
Independent existence for some 20 years,
have now been occupied by the Germans,
but before the NaZi invasion they had
been occupied by Russian armies after a
plebiscite had voted for reunion with the
Soviet. Some doubt exists as to the
validity Of that plebiscite. AS far as the
United States is concerned they remain
nominally Independent states since their
representatives continued to be carried
by the State Department in the 1912
diplomatic list.
The situation of Finland. which Is at
war with Russia and Britain but has
diplomatic relations with this country.
is liable to prove a thorn in the side Of
those who want to Great a postwar
world Of peace. Finland Is no more
Russian than Britain is American. Stra-
tegically it may be of importance to
Russia, but it is hoped here that stra-
tegic considerations will not enter into
peace conference settlements.
Yugoslavia Role Troublous.
Russia's role in Yugoslavia is creating
number Of headaches In washington.
Gen. Draja Mihailovich has been up
holding ths Allied cause even more
strongly than Gen. de Gaulle. His bands
OF guerillas have been harassed for more
than year by the so-called Partisians
organized by the Communists. The
patriot groups are receiving the advice
and support of the former charge
daffairs of the Russian legation at Bel
grade who did not return to Moscow
after the collapse of Yugoslavia and after
Germany attacked Russia.
80 IL is tnat developments In Yugo-
slavia cause real concern among those
in Washington who look on the situation
globally and think that every man or
group of men fighting the common enemy
should receive unlimited support. The
future Of the country should depend on
what its people wish it to be. The big
three'-the United States, Britain and
Russia-should try to reconcile the va
rious factions, but 1t is worrisome for
the American policy-framers to think
that power politics again may take a
major role in the Danubian Basin.
American diplomats abroad, particu-
larly those in Russia and Great Britain,
have delicate task ahead. They are
asked to speak in friendly yet firm tone
and emphasize that the people of the
United States are willing to make ex-
treme sacrifices only on condition that
there is no recurrence of power politics,
strategic considerations and imperial
needs. Should these old ailments of
Europe once again come to the fore. all
our sacrifices would have been in vain.
Consolidation of an isolationist spirit
stronger than the pre-war variety might
be the American peoples answer to such
politics.