Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1944-12-22
BEHIND
THE NEWS
BY Paul
MaIlon

WASHINGTON, Dec. 21--Mr.
w Churchill's cold cutting OF
the Curzon Line through Poland
came as a shock TO the public,
but not 10 the diplomats In
volved.
A year or more ago, even
the newspapers in London knew
Britain had an understanding
with Russia for this very Stain
acquisition of prewar Polish ter
ritory. They were not permitted
10 write il publicly. but they
discussed it freely among them
selves.
The deal was reached long
back before the recent Churchill
and Eden visits to Moscow. per-
hapS as far back as the Teheran
conference, as now reported.
The European diplomatic
game for practically the past
two years has been directed on
this phase. toward working the
eXiied Polish government in
London around 10 acceptance OF
the CurZon cutting.
There was not much decep-
ton in ChurchillS position.
Last January and February he
publicly implored the London
Poles TO accept the western
Curzon slice.
VNHE sensational way he pre-
Il sented it TO Parliament as
cold cut finally acceptable to
him, may have been inspired
by a different motive. To shove
il forward on the table now,
showed up the opposition which
was pressing him on the Greek
affair.
His own Liberals, Laborites
and trade unionists (and our
New Dealers) had been repri-
manding him for opposing the
left wing and Communist ele-
ments in Greece so he presented
them with the Polish case in
which he had sold out to those
elements.
Such adroit politics rather
nullified their campaign against
him on the Greek matter.
Here no one knows what to
say (See state department an
nouncement of Monday. Or
rather they know what they are
eager TO say. but doubt if it
would do any good.
Republican Senator Vanden-
berg walked around all last
week with a speech obviously
sticking out on his chest. He
could barely restrain himself
day by day. saying he was de-
laying presentation of his views
because he did not know
whether it would help or hurt
the situation to offer them-and
he delivered only half yesterday.
TIIE disillusioning fact of the
II matter was that Britain
went to war TO save Poland.
That is how this war started.
While the British and French
were in Moscow trying to make
a deal with Stain, Hitler an
nounced a nonaggression pact
with him (Aug. y, 1881 to run
for 10 years whereby neither
would oppose the other.
This no doubt called for divi-
d sion of Poland because Russia
moved in and took her half less
than a month later.
Meantime Hitler invaded his
half of Poland Sept. II and
Britain declared war two days
later when Hitler did not an
swer Chamberlain's ultimatum
TO withdraw Nazi troops from
Polish soil britain had treaty
with the Poles undertaking to
protect them).
But the British do not now
feel or act disillusioned.
History may measure Church.
ills Cancellation against the
British war cause, but the peo-
pie everywhere since 1889 have
been impressed with Russia's
subsequent success in resisting
Nazi invasion of her own soil
and have come to accept the
theory that she deserves any
thing reasonable on her western
frontier, although the conces- =
sion violates every American
position on the war from the
Atlantic Charter to the Stettin-
Jus announcement a few weeks
back urging free determination
of their governments by Euro
pean peoples without outside
influence.
The Stettinius statement was
issued in respect TO Italy and
Greece, Where the British were
interfering. but no exception
was mentioned of Poland where
the Russians are taking.
NOV freedom of peoples" is
\ policy which the United
States can permanently defend.
II has solid moral hack-