Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-01-16
Moves Vital
To Peace
Analysed
Recent Developments
Emphasize Russio's
Key Position
BY PERTNAX.

by PEhIlNAA.
Several Developments Of great po-
litical importance support the view
expressed this week by Admiral
William H. Standby. United States
Ambassador in Moscow, that "the
conditions in which peace can be
made are not discernible." The de-
velopments concern Poland, Czecho-
slovakia, Yugoslavia and, indirectly.
Greece, Of all the European nations,
the most cruelty afflicted by the war.
Their governments (now In Lon
dom realized long ago that quar-
rels and conflicts within their group
had contributed to bringing about
catastrophe. And to prevent such
discord from occurring in the future.
they decided to bind themselves to
a closer mode of association than
ordinary alliances or even "oollec-
tive security"
In November, 1910, Poland and
Czechoslovakia agreed to unite In a
federation on the day the Anglo
American Russian victory had ma
terialized. Yugoslavia and Greece
did the same, some months after
ward. Since then, nothing has been
heard Of those far reaching schemes.
Today, 1t Is clear that they are little
more than castles in the air.
Barriers Discussed.
In the case OF Poland and Czecho-
slovakia, the fact that the claims
which Russia intends to put for
ward, at the time of the peace. have
not yet been disclosed, seemingly
raises an insuperable bar. In the
other case, the root Of the trouble
Is that the Yugoslav union is being
shaken to its foundations.
Yugoslavia was, by itself, fed
Grafton. II 1t were proved that
Serbs, Slovenes and Greats cannot
tremendously live together, 1t would
be meaningless to speak of a larger
federation with Greece. Besides, the
Communist forces which compete
with Gen. Mikhailovitch are a dis
migrating force and, rightly or
wrongly. their action is commonly
ascribed to Russian influence.
Some months ago Gen. Wladyslaw
Sikorski and Edouard Benes, re-
spectively the heads of the Polish
and Czecho-Slovakian governments,
undertook to translate into concrete
obligations the federative principle
on which they had bestowed their
blessing. Then, the Polish Premier
had to realize that the proposals
which came from the Czechs merely
embodied some military alliance of
kind and stopped short OF the full
and intimate partnership which had
been considered before.
On the part Of the Czechs, that
attitude Of reserve is not to be won
dered at. AS in the past, the Slavs
Of Bohemia will be sentimentally
inclined to look for protection to
the Russian empire. It does not
matter to them that the Soviets
| replaced the Romanoff dynasty.
The old bond is likely to hold fast
and 1t must have been tremendous
ly strengthened by the achievements
Of the Red Army
Frontiers Are Key.
Therefore, before committing him.
self to Federal union, Mr.. Benes
must be sure that territorial con-
troversies are not going to break
out between the Poland of tomor-
row and the Soviet Union. OBJ
viously, a Russian-Polish agreement
must be a preliminary for Polish
Czechoslovak consolidation. All con-
troversies about frontiers have first
to be disposed of.
The whole question turns on the
chance of settlement between
Gen. Sikorski and the Kremlin. 1t
was announced last month that the
Polish Premier had made UP his
mind to 60 to Moscow and breach
the subject with Premier Stain.
Gen. Sikorski Is the wisest, the
most enlightened premier Poland
ever had. He Is better fitted than
any one else to perform the task.
However, the probabilities are that
he will not report himself to the
Russian capital unless he can Judge
that the odds are not heavily
against him.
In Yugloslavia. as Is we'll known,
Gen. Mikhailovitch, Minister of
War, is not left free to concentrate
on the invaders: Germans, Italians.
Hungarians, Bulgarians. His "Tcher-
niks" are not alone In the field.
Croat politicians and irregulars are
at work. whose purpose 1t is to
safeguard. for the future, the King
dom Of Croatia in the extensive
limits it has received from the Ital.
Ian conquerors-those nearly 60 as
far as Belgrade.
Moreover, national assembly
met in December at Bihac, Bosnia.
where Croats and Communists
mixed together as they have done
for long time in the so-called
army OF partisans. It's aim was to
discredit the Yugoslav government
In London, to spread the belief that
the latter must not be taken to
be the true representative of the
people.
Cabinet Reconstructed.
The reaction was immediate. II
took the form of a cabinet recon-
struction. While Foreign Minister
Nintchitch withdrew (perhaps be-
cause he had not succeeded in com.
ing to an agreement with Molotofr
last May. the Yugoslav premier.
Mr.. Yovanovitch, expressed his re-
solve to resist more vigorously all
dlsruptive elements, and he selected
the new ministers accordingly.