Evening star., 1943-09-03


tune now because both sides are
engaged in desperate struggle and
the mere mention of surrender by
the one indicates weakness just as
modification of the unconditional
surrender ultimatum will be con-
strued as retreat by the other. There
is no one on the Allied side who
wishes the conflict to end sooner
than the absolute defeat of the
Nazi war lords and the criminals
who have aided and abetted their
cruelties. But there will be time
when the German people who have
been misguided will want to throw
off the yoke of Hitler, just as the
Italian people have endeavored to
rid themselves of Fascism and Mus
solini., Will the leadership of the
Allied cause assist in accelerating
the defeat or will its tactics cause
.stiffening of resistance?
There is a definite hint in the
Pope's address which counselS, in
effect, that consideration be given
to the peoples who are ready to talk
peace. The Pope says:
do not disturb or impede the
desire of peoples for peace by ac-
tions which instead of encouraging
confidence rather than infiame
hatreds anew and strengthen deter
mination to resist.
Belief in the Dawning.
Give all nations justified hope
of worthy peace which does not
clash with their right to live and
their sense of honor. Let 1t be
clearly seen that there is loyal
accord between your principles and
your decisions, between statements
about a just peace and facts.
only thus will it be possible to
create a propitious atmosphere
wherein peoples who are less ia
vored than others by the trend of
war at any given time may believe
In the dawning and developme ID
of a new sense of justice and CO.
operation among nations and draw
from this belief the natural con-
sequences of greater confidence in
the future-free from fear that the
preservation of the integrity, of the
honor of their fatherland may be
compromised.
This is but another way of saying
that mere swashbuckling cries for
unconditional surrender mean only
humiliation to a nation that it does
not willingly accept, and that, on
the other hand, the stimulus to fight
to the last ditch is strengthened
thus bringing about needless sacri-
fees on all sides.
This is but another way of saying,
also, that the Allies have not an
nounced the bases of just and
lasting peace but have insisted in
stead on military subjugation with
out telling what opportunity, if any,
lies ahead for conquered peoples.
True enough there have been abb
stract statements about the inten-
ton to liherate peoples once their
rulers or armies have surrendered
but this. does not meet the need in
Italy. for instance, at the moment
nor is it calculated to break down
the German peoples feeling that
there is no alternative except to
follow Hitler blindly to the end
Opportunity Here Again.
Back in the days of the last war
the late President Wilson built up
by series of speeches and official
statements the outline of generous
philosophy. He asked for uncondi-
tional surrender as the basis of the
.armistice itself but he pledged terms
of peace. SO concrete that peoples in
enemy lands took hope and felt
that by overthrowing their leaders
they were Fastening the day of a
new era in Europe.
There are many persons today
who forget that Germany's Navy
was completely destroyed and her
army demobiliZed and her arma-
ment eliminated. 1t was no fault
of President Wilson that in the
decade that followed, both Britain
and France, who were near at hand,
failed to see that Germany stayed
disarmed. The economic situation
inside Germany went from bad to
worse and gave the dictator regime
Its chance.
ho The opportunity to win the Ger
man and italian peoples to our side
by concrete terms of peace to be
applied after surrender of their
armies is here again. The Pope
says, Real strength need have nc
fear of generosity
Aa' Reproduction Rights Reserved)