The Waterbury Democrat., 1943-08-16

been adopted, legally and officially, by Congress or Parliament. It may have been adopted by resolution in the conventions of various societies of o-gooders, but it is neither part nor parcel of the declared foreign policy of any government. Though now two years old, which is old enough to be toddling around, mak- 1 ing cute remarks and influencing the neighbors as promising child, the sad fact is that the Atlantic Charter has been so neglected or abandoned that 1t remains exactly what it was on the day 1t was writ ten-a declaration by two individuals on the common principles on which they base their hopes for better future World'
 POINTS OF THE CHARTER The chances are that today 999 out of every 1000 people couldn't tell you what the Atlantic Charter contain ed. That being the case, it may not be amiss by way of birthday celebration to take it point by point and see how closely it comes to stat ing the principles for which you or your men and boys are fighting:
 First: Their countries seek no ag- grandizement, territorial or other.".
 Well, maybe that holds good for the United States, but Great Britain has lost Burma, Borneo and other Pacific possessions, and is she going to give up Lybia Eritrea and the other African gains?
 Second: They desire to see no territorial changes that do not ac- cord with the freely expressed wish es of the people concerned"
 The Japs have reportedly played a smart game in Burma and the Meth erlands East Indies, in gaining the cooperation of native leaders. Are those leaders going to want to renew ties with the old countries?
 The remaining five points are somewhat long, so they can be sum- marked.
 Third: They respect the rights of all peoples to choose their own form of government, etc.
 What happens If the Italians and the French decide they want to go Communist, or if Russia imposes its National Committee of Free Ger many before British and U. s. troops get to Berlin?
 NO SOLUTION YET
 Fourth: They will endeavor fN furthar tho inuv,,nv,x Ill states -. to the trade and raw ma terials of the world.
 Fifth: They desire for all, improved labor standards, economic advancement and social security.
 These were the two keystones of the new world order which, while admittedly ideally nice, still remain as stumbling blocks because no one has yet come forward to show how they are to be achieved.
 Sixth: They hope to see a peace which will afford all nations the means of dwelling in safety within their own boundaries to assure all men freedom from fear and want.
 Again, noble ideal which today seems even more difficult of attain ment than it did two years ago.
 Seventh: Enable all men to tra- verse the high seas and oceans with out hindrance.
 That must be broadened to include something about the air, for there is already fear that the next world war may be fought over information al air rights.
 Eighth: They believe that all na- tiOns must come to the aban- donment of the use of force '. disarmament Tightening the crushing burden of armaments.
 This at time when 1t seems in- evitable that the world must be po- liced by the United Nations for some years to keep order.
 What the Atlantic Charter would seem to need is broadening, revi- sion, bringing up to date. And it can mean nothing until it is made national policy by Russia, China and other United Nations.