Evening star., 1943-03-07

Tne speech on postwar objectiveS de-
ivered by Sumner Welles at the Univer-
sity Of Toronto last week was notable in
content. But more notable was the fact
that the Undersecretary of State selected
foreign soil as the locus for these par
ticular remarks. It was the Canadian
setting, rather than what was actually
said, which gave particular point to this
official warning Of "divergencies" in the
aims of the United Nations.
Between the United States and Can
ada, as Mr.. Welles emphasized at the
outset Of his remarks, there are no
longer any real impediments to a uni
fled policy. And even for the Western
Hemisphere as whole: 1--WE have
evolved a system of international
relationships which constitute perhaps
the highest achievement in the sphere
Of practical international living which
civilized man has so far created"
This Is not the first time that the
Undersecretary of State has approved
the philosophy of regionalism as step
toward effective world order. In his
Memorial Day address at Arlington last
year he asserted that the regional fed
Grafton" of the New World should con-
stttute q cornerstone in the world struc-
ture Of the future"
It Is, however, matter of more than
philosophic significance when ali official
with the policy making power possessed
by Mr.. Welles decides to advocate re.
gionalism to a Canadian audience. For
three general lines of action are open to
that Dominion. It can work effectively
to bring the British Empire into an ex-
elusive Anglo-American grouping. Al
ternately, 1t can decide that. Canada's
paramount interests are with the "re-
gional federation" of the New World. Or,
thirdly. Canada can more deeply inte-
CRATE itself with the far-fiung British
Empire.
The Undersecretary's intimation that
Canada must choose was not lessened by
his condemnation, at Toronto, both Of
the Hawley-Smoot Tariff Act of 1880
and Of the subsequent Ottawa Agree
ments. establishing pronounced system
Of tariff preferences within the British
Empire.
Britain Must Choose.
In pointing out that Emergencies be-
tween the United Nations should be
honestly confronted during the period
Of enforced wartime unity, the Under
Secretary Of State has tacitly Underlined
perhsps the most setious Of these p6ten-
tia1 Emergencies.
This Is the issue Of whether British
interests are to be primarily concen-
trated on the political structure Of Com
tinental Europe, or whether Great
Britain can afford to abandon its his
toric balance Of power policy there in
order to cooperate wholeheartedly with
New World Federation which Is at
least relatively unconcerned with the
details Of European settlement.
The issue Is by no means academic.
And 1t is currently brought to the fore
by the unconcealed intention Of Russia.
In the event Of German defeat, to annex
not merely Estonia, Latvia and Lithu-
ania, but also large part Of Poland,
Rumania and possibly Finland as con-
stituted by the Treaty Of Versailles. The
American reaction to Russia's expan-
sionist program will naturally depend in
large part on the British attitude. And
the British attitude, In the last analysis,
will be determined by the decision as to
the continuation or the abandonment
OF the policy Of balance Of power.
Nothing Is gained by pretending that
there is no uneasiness regarding the fu-
ture relationships Of Russia with the
Anglo American combination. Nothing
Is gained by pretending that the openly
revealed ambitions Of Moscow can, by
any stretch Of the imagination, be made