Evening star., 1943-10-24
Public
Continued From Page C-10

soclates Is regarded IN many ot11clal
quarters as tantamount to defeatism.
There is no reason why this country
and Russia should not be able to CO.
operate for many years after the war.
In the past we did not like the Soviet
form of government. But it would be
foolish to direct our likes and dislikes
on the basis of what form of govern
ment any country has.
The Communist system has worked
splendidly in Russia and the democratic
system has worked we'll in this country
There is no reason why the two nations
should not work together indefinitely
! provided we respect each others politi-
cal PHILOSOPHERS and do not try to
change them by interfering In the
others internal affairs
Even the suspicion that Russia now Is
endeavoring to establish its influence
over the whole of Europe should not
worry us. We have frequently stated
that this country does not intend to
interfere with the form of government
any nation wants to establish for itself
Not Our Concern.
II the French or the Poles or the
people of the Balkan States want to 90
into the Soviet fold it is their business.
The American Government has promised
all members of the United Nations their
sovereignty will be returned to them
after the Axis is defeated and that
pledge must be kept if we want to con-
tlnue to enjoy our old prestige of hon.
esty In the four corners of the world.
Hence the criticism sometimes voiced
against Russia for wanting to deprive
some of the border nations of their SOW
erelgnty and territorial integrity is
justified. But once their sovereignty is
re-established, it will not be our busi-
ness to interfere, If these people want
to belong ideologically and economically
to the USSR zone of influence.
The same thing applies to our closer
associates, the British. In the past the
British have regarded criticism from
this country as wholesome thing. Re-
Gently, however, our friends across the
Atlantic have been much more sensitive.
This was shown in the case of the five
1t is an important point that the group
OF five, which was sent on a fact-inding
mission by the Senate itself, included
such 100 per cent administration hackers
| as Mead of New York and such admin
istration opponents as Lodge of Mas
| sachusetts
They were not dispatched by the ad-
mlnlstration, which is pledged to a
| definite policy in regard to the Allies
but by 96 men who represent all the
political groups in the United States.
They were compelled to report to their
colleagues what they had seen and
heard. Their criticism was moderate
| but they disclosed only a small part of
what Is generally believed in Washing
ton to be the real truth about how the
taxpayers money is being lavished on
! all our foreign associates They care
fully refrained from entering into anv
| political controversies such as the actual
| situation in India or Iran
They merely discussed the question of
lease-lend and the building of so many
expensive installations abroad, the status
| OF which is questionable after the war.
They showed their concern regarding
the future problem of international COM
munlcatlons and wanted America s
rights made secure before the war is
| ended. They did not report the re-
luctance of the British government to
discuss now the question of oil lnstalla-
tons in Africa where important Ameri-
can assets were invested before Pearl
Harbor day and whose status is un-
certain because the necessary leases
have not been obtained in time.
The five Senators MADE a factual re-
port, which brought down severe criti-
clsm and the charge that they we're
attempting to disrupt the good relations
between partners who are fighting a
bitter war.
And because most of the questions
pertaining to lease-lend and other re-
lated arrangements are still shrouded
IN mystery, it is natural that their mild
| criticism and their sO-called revelations
| caused somewhat of a sensation among
the people in the country who know so
little about what is going on.