Evening star., 1943-09-07

oay, dICer long
period of transi- ley
ton or proba- David Lawrence.
tion, to admit other nations to
participation.
President Roosevelt disclosed his
views in magazine article by For
rest Davis last spring and Prime
Minister Churchill has since ex-
pressed his concurrence in speeches
abroad.
Lately there has been an effort by
this school of thought to get the
Republican party in America to
adopt the same line. Clarence Bud
ington Kelland of the Republican
National Committee, who was identi-
fed prominently with the noninter-
ventionist group before Pearl Har-
Dor, has come out enthusiastically
for the principle, and now Gov.
Thomas Dewey of New York public
ly proposes the same thing, though
he wants it to start of with Brit
ish-American alliance and then
later invite Russia and China to
join.
Negation Of Wilson Plea.
This principle of domination of
the world by four major powers is
the very negation Of what President
woodrow Wilson pleaded for in his
speeches during and after the World
War. Likewise, in 1899 and 1910,
before Russia entered this war, the
constant stream of appeasement
talk that came out of Berlin via
neutral capitals and by way of
American businessmen who visited
there was made up Of the same kind
of doctrine. The only difference
was that the world was to be divided
up into four major or regional sys-
TENS, with Russia and the United
States dominating their respective
spheres. Of interest and with Japan
dominating the Far East, while Ger
many, Of course, was to dominate
the continent of Europe. England
was to be left free to manage her
empire but not to interfere with
Nazi development Of the European
continent.
Today another four-power plan Is
espoused by well-meaning persons in
all Of the four countries and when
1t Is suggested to some Of them that
this Is the very way to cultivate the
seeds Of . third world war the an
swer usually given Is that Britain,
America, Russia and China can be
trusted to. avoid the pitfalls and
carry on > benevolent four-power
control.
What Is overlooked Is that France.
though fallen today, will rise again.
Her people will never be content
to be the vassals OF any four
power agreement. Likewise, the
German people will in their frus-
tration seek to rise again and 1t is
conceivable that some day France
and Germany will find themselves
compelled to join arms against the
four world bosses, believing that in
such an alliance alone can they
mobilize strength to regain equality.
Plain Talk Needed.
The unwillingness or reluctance Of
Allied spekesmen today to be forth
right and explicit about the part
that France, Germany, Italy,
Czechoslovakia, Poland, Greece, Hol-
land, Belgium, Norway, Denmark
and Sweden are to play in the fu-
ture organization of the world, not
to mention Latin America, Is to hold
back the support Of the moral forces
Of the world that can do so much
to rebuild the foundations Of a
lasting peace.
The fact that Republican leaders
are willing to make an alliance with
Britain and give the latter a free
hand In Europe is not surprising.
1t affords the easy way out-the way
to shift responsibility to Britain and
keep America "out Of Europe's quar-
rels"-a favorite Republican posi-
tion for the last two decades or
more. The real surprise is that the
liberals in the Democratic party are
90 passive In the face of such a
bold return to the balance of power
doctrine which has twice wrecked
the peace of the world.
What is the alternative9 A re-
turn to the League of Nations cove
nant which gave every nation equal
sovereignty and provided for a trus-
teeship over conquered territories.
1t was no defect in the pact itself
that brought on this World War.
1t was the failure of the British and
American governments, as well as
the French and Russian govern
nents. to adhere to the sanctions
provided for in that covenant and
failure to enforce the international
agreements relating to disarmament.
II there Is after the next armistice
more courage and more character
among the statesmen OF the Allied
countries the League covenant can
be made effective. For 1t is the only
pattern that insures conquered and
conauerors . position Of equality
and opportunity In the family of
Nations prerequisite to an endur-
Ing peace.
eNsproduction RiEhts Reserved.)