Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1944-10-08

III rOStWoT europe
Far-R Reaching Change Requires
Fresh Points Of View
By William Fl. Harrison.
Although . great many people still
think OF IT In terms OF the past, the
Europe likely to emerge from this war
will be fundamentally different from
the old Europe. Up to 1899 there were
four major countries on the continent,
plus one on the edges OF the continent
Russia. Germany, France. italy and
Britain. But when the shooting stops,
this lineup will be SO radically changed
that all former concepts relating to it.
at least as far as power is concerned
will seem as outmoded as gaslight or
milady's last years hat.
Not for long time, II ever, will
France recover sufficiently from the
catastrophe Of 1910 to restore itself to
q place of martial pre-eminence in
Europe which before the war
was considered one Of the worlds
mightiest land powers. Italy. as a re-
suit of the disasters 1t has suffered, APP
pears destined to remain weak in arms
for many decades, perhaps for gener-
ations. AS for Germany. for the sake Of
an enduring peace. the Allied nations
have made the high and necessary re-
solve to take united action against 1t
to render 1t permanently incapable Of
future aggression. Thus, for years to
come, In military sense at least, Rus
STA seems slated to be the only major
power on the continent.
This profoundly significant develop
ment, for which no exact parallel can
be found in the history of several CEN
turtles, means that vacuum Is In the
making in Western Europe, and Britain
-anciently tied to the continent, though
not physically part of its not UNI
aware of the uniqueness Of the situa-
ton. Indeed, almost year ago, In one
Of the most pregnant addresses deliver
ed by any leader In this war, Field
Marshal Jan Christian SHUTS, Prime
4eAxAAAnhSA Va 0OuSAl <A4IlSd dliu OklG Oh
the most learned and distinguished OF
British statesmen, called attention to
it as something so ar-reaching as to
require an almost revolutionary point
OF view on the part of every nation con-
cerned. particularly England-the heart
OF the Empire and Commonwealth-and
Norway. Holland, Belgium and France.
The case presented by Field Marshal
SHUTS may be outlined as follows: When
the war ends there will be only three
truly major military powers in the
world-the United States, the Soviet
Union and Britain. But in this trinity,
which will have to assume the chief re-
sponsibility for maintaining the next
peace. the British-materially weakened
in recent years both in their home
islands and the European sphere-wil be
heavily outweighed by the Americans on
one hand and the Russians on the
othes. America, with its immense
strength and boundless resources, will
be colossus. So, too, will Russia,
standing powerfully astride two conti-
nents, with Germany, France and italy
in sharp decline from their former
status In the west and with Japan
shattered In the east. In such circum-
stances, to effect a better balance
among the big Three" and to I'LL the
vacuum in Western Europe. Britain
should work out the closest possible
association with the Norwegian, Dutch,
Belgian and French nations and these
four lands might even become sovereign
members Of the Commonwealth, thus
ending England's island position and
creating a great new European state,
great not only in its worldwide
ramiflcations." but also as "an equal
partner with the other colossi In the
leadership Of nations"
This line of thinking has not been
limited to Field Marshal SHUTS. Not
long after 1t was first made public,
Eelco N. van Klef7ens, the Dutch For
eign Minister, while rejecting the idea
of union with the British Common
wealth, declared that in the future there
might well be created "a strong for
nation in the west, with America,
Canada and other British dominions as
an arsenal and q vast reservoir Of power,
with England as q base, especially for
air power, and the West European main
landry which mean the Netherlands,
Belgium and Francois bridgehead."
And just within the past fortnight,
Foreign Secretary Anthony Eden
strongly suggested that Britain's pres
ent policy seeks to establish the most
intimate ties with the Norwegians, the
Dutch. the Belgians and the French to
achieve q position Of strength more
nearly equal to that OF Russia and
America, as advocated by the Smuts
thesis.
In many respects that thesis appears
to contemplate creating check against
Russia and to be at variance with Sec
rotary Hull's hope that as the provisions
of the Moscow Declaration take effect
there will no longer be need for spheres
OF influence, for alliances, for balance
Of power or any other of the special
arrangements through which, In the un-
happy past, the nations strove to safe
guard their security or to promote their
interests" Yet, there seems at the same
time to be considerable point to these
words by Field Marshal SHUTS: II re-
member before the last war. and during
the last war, we were very much con-
cerned with the danger Of what was
called the balance Of power We
wanted to get away from 1t because 1t
was the old system In Europe that had