Evening star., 1943-09-12
Surrender Of Italy Paves Way
For Allied Attack on All Fronts
By Constantine Brown.

While the political aspects Of the war
which can have serious repercussions
on our strategy-remain beclouded be-
cause Of Russia's enigmatic attitude. the
military phase Is better than at any time
since December I, 1S41.
The most cautious and careful military
observers agree that our preparations
are not beyond the most optimistic ex-
pectations and that We are ready to
assume the offensive, both across the
Atlantic and the Pacific.
Plans fof American British operations
on all fronts have been completed Short
Of some political upheaval, such as
peace between non- -Hitlerite Germany
and Russia-there is nothing which can
prevent an Allied attack in Western Eu-
rope within the next year, now that italy
is out of the war.
Politically, the situation remains OBJ
scure and some of the most intimate
advisers of President Roosevelt hope that
he and Prime Minister Churchill will
soon find some formula to Offset the
strong unconditional surrender" slogan
adopted in q moment OF enthusiasm at
Casablanca.
It is now realized in political and
diplomatic circles in Washington and
London that such rigid formulas are
detrimental to the United Nations unless
they are adopted by all. The Russians
do not believe in them and have told
us 50 plainly. Hence, in order to avoid
additional misunderstanding and fric-
tions with our eastern Allies, particularly
in the postwar era, 1t will be necessary
for the American and British leaders
to adopt other less rigid, though less i'm
pressive, conditions for peace for our
enemies in Europe.
See Delay in Policy.
The Russians believe that you can
catch flies easier with molasses than with
vinegar. They have told us that they
do not seek the destruction Of the Reich
but Of its present political body. Mos
COW describes our policy as unrealistic,
and our idealistic doctrines of uncondi-
tional surrender are regarded by them
as likely to prolong the war-without
benefit to any one.
The Russians have promised the Allies
to fight until the Germans are defeated.
They maintain that defeat of the Ger
mans could be brought about more
quickly If the people Of the Reich de-
cided to quit. And the Germans can
not be induced to give up as long as
complete dismemberment of their co,n-
try is threatened.
In spite Of the assurances given them
by President Roosevelt in his Ottawa
speech, unconditional surrender" means
the break up Of Germany into small
states, some of which may be united
with central or western members OF the
United Nations.
Russia has never promised to fight
until the Germans surrender uncondi-
tionally. They have left themselves free
to negotiate peace with whatever nom
Hitler government may be established ir
Berlin. Thus, unless the American and
the British governments modify theil
rigid peace terms to dovetail with the
Russians view, the possibility Of . Rus
sian-German negotiated peace looms
strongly in the foreground and is caus-
ing some uneasiness in military quarters
But for the present it must be as-
sumed that there will be no break In the
United Nations front. The armies of the
United States and Britain will be ready
to Jump across the English Channel in
the next few months while the Russians
will be in position to drive against the
Germans from the east.
Our preparations for an invasion from