Evening star., 1943-02-12
81 United Nations
Expected 10 Confer
In Washington Soon
Views Are Now Beino
Exchanged Between the
Governments Concerned
BY PERTINAX,

NEW YORK. Feb. IA confer
ence Of the 81 United Nations sool
may be held in Washington. View
on such a meeting are being ex
changed now between the govern
ments concerned.
Before the United States entered
the war, representative Of the Brit
ish government and its Allies hae
met twice in London. on June /.
and on September "a, l94l. But NJ
such assembly ever has taken place
since the coalition which had gath
cred under the leadership OF Eng
land was immeasurably strength
ened by American belllgerency anC
by the declaration Of the United
Nations, made public on January
8, 1912.
Why should a procedure be
scrspped which the British and then
the Russian government deemed
beneficent 18 months ago? Why
should the United Nations be denied
today participation in what amounts
to much more than the performance
of a rite. as it carries with it the
assurance that all will be consulted
about the main issues of war and
peace?
The promoters Of the scheme are
wont to stress those points. And
they point to the psychological re-
percuSsions upon their own people
at home of the mere fact that, to
their knowledge, an assembly Of the
United Nations is in session.
In remote British dominions, in
Russia. in the Nazi-ridden countries
of Europe. in South America, all
men, free or enslaved, would feel
forthwith that an international
structure was Immediately taking
shape. With friends and foes the
voice OF President Roosevelt and
Winston Churchill would carry
greater weight than ever.
German propaganda broadcasts
daily that the leaders of the great
alliance are at loggerheads. Ger
man propaganda is repellent to all,
but they nevertheless have their
doubts as to the measure OF har-
mony which obtains between Wash
ington. London, Moscow, etc. A sue
cessful conference Of the United
Nations is more likely to dispel
those doubts than any other demon
stration of mutual good will.
Many Difficulties.
The difficulties in the way, how
ever, are numerous:
/. The most obvious one (and it
has been frequently mentioned in
recent weeks in relation to the set
ting up of a four power councin
arises out of Russia's neutrality
toward Japan. Were Russian rep
resenta tives to be present at the
Washington conference Japan
might take offense and try to
retahate. So runs the argument OF
the critics. But an answer can be
found in the text of the United Ma
tons declaration. which provides
for Russia's special position.
Incidentally. Brazil which became
one of the United Nations only the
other day, and did not declare war
on Japan. has the same interest as
Russia. But the matter does not
end there. It is contended by some
that the true way of approach to
the creation of a four-power council
is through conference OF the
United Nations. A permanent board
consisting of the United States.
Great Britain, Russia and China
would naturally emerge from the
initial session.
Q. To settle the agenda of the
meeting is another problem. Par
ticipant delegations must not be
left free to raise any particular point
they have at heart. Only questions
of extreme Importance could safely
be discussed. At the London con-
ference of September. l94l, the At
lantic Charter of the preceding
August IA was adopted and many
volunteered comments and interpre-
tations Of their own.
French Complications.
3. Fighting France was invited to
share in the London conferences OF
June ano September, l94l. But the
United States Government did not
see its way to let Gen. Charles de
Gaulle append his signature to the
declaration Of January 3, 1912.
reiteration of that policy would fur
ther complicate French affairs.
1t is impossible to foretell whether
those sets of obstacles will or will
not be overcome. But the demand,
within the United Nations for some
mode of collective representation, is
not going to abate even if 1t falls
at the first attempt.
Meanwhile, a "committe OF re-
habilitation and relief is fairly sure
to be set in motion here on Herbert
H. Lehman's return from London.
An organization is already at work
in the British capital under Sir
Frederick Leith Ross with the at
tendance of all United Nations, in
Guiding Fighting France. Hencefor-
ward, its business will be TO deal
with the eventual distribution of
supplies while all questions of A.
nancing. procurement. etc. are ear
marked for its Washington counter
part.