Evening star., 1944-02-06
Effect Of Polish-Soviet Issue
Is Still Difficult to Weigh
Time to Disclose Whether Dispute and Cairo
Rumor Are to Upset Moscow and
Teheran Agreements
Bv Constantine Brown,

worried. The British government be-
lieved until after the Munich confer
ence that Hitler had no other plans or
ambitions.
But when it became obvious that the
Fuehrer intended to dominate the entire
European continent and thus destroy
the centuries-old British political system
Of balance Of power the London govern
ment did not hesitate. The attack on
Poland, which was the first indication
that Hitler had started on his road to
make himself the ruler of Europe, was
the signal for war.
Britain, utterly unprepared as she
was, accepted the challenge. There was
not a single man in Britain who did
not realize in September, 1899, that
Britain was making dangerous gamble,
involving her very existence as a world
power. The militarymen knew full well
to what degree Germany was prepared
for war. They also knew how lacking
France and Britain were in regard to
manpoWer and modern war equipment.
Britain had to take this mortal risk.
The only hopeful element she had was
the eventual Intervention of the United
States. Prime Minister Churchill be-
heved that America could not afford to
witness the disappearance of Britain
and somehow or other she would come
to the rescue. The Prime Minister, one
OF the outstanding political men of our
generation, proved to be right.
The situation developed favorably
from the day the Nazis failed to invade
England. 1t changed radically when
Hitler attacked Russia and had to send
the bulk OF his forces to the vast Russian
battlefields.
But while Russia, until few months
ago, was only faithful partner of Brit
ain and the United State in the war
against the Reich, feeling of uneasiness
has arisen in London over what seems
to be RusSias insistence that she be
given complete free hand in Eastern
Europe, some say as far as the Elbe
River In Germany, the Adriatic in
southeastern Europe and to the borders
OF Sweden and Norway in the north.
Interested in Poland.
Britain went to war nominally for the
defense OF Poland's independence. In
TACT, she saw in Hitler's conquest of that
country the first clear sign that he
wished to offset the balance of power in
Europe. Now Russia demands about
the same, in a different form it is true.
from Poland. 1t wishes to settle the
boundaries of Poland, according to her
own lights without even consulting her
associates, as has been provided in the
various agreements among the enemies
of the Axis
Ihe British are no less interested in
Poland's independence than they were in
1889. And, what is more important. they
are no less concerned that the balance
OF power in Europe will be upset. To the
British it Is immaterial who intends to
upset the balance. The important factor.
from the British view, is that it must
be preserved at any cost. And since
Britain, in order to preserve the funda-
mental principle of her foreign policy,
rlsked destruction in 1899, it is difficult
to believe that she will give it up now.
1t Is in this light that many expert
enced political observers have read the
articles in such London newspapers as
the Observer. the laborite Tribune and
the liberal Spectator 1t also is in this
light that they have read the speech OF
Foreign Secretary Eden
Britain realizes that after the war is
over there will be drastic changes all
over the world, particularly in Europe.
They know that economic. social and
political life will be revamped They ad-
NIT that boundaries have to be moved
here and there. There will be important
regrouping of nations and Europe will
present far different aspect from that
of 1889
All these factors are understood by
Britain's statesmen and they are ready
to face the new world But one thing
they are hardly likely to give up-policy
of balance of power. How they are 60
ing to cope with this new threat no one
can say at this time. But it seems GER
tain that re-orientation of British pol
icy, in order to safeguard the cardinal
point, is in the offing.
This may have important repercus-
sions on the whole political and military
strategy of the United Nations. 1t all
depends on whether the two diplomatic
blockbusters have been powerful enough
to make the Russians and the British
realize that the war against the Nazis
has not yet been won and some sort of
compromise solution is more essential
now than ever.