Evening star., 1944-03-05
CIurificution Needed

Clorificution Needed
The pace of political developments
in Europe, bringing to the fore prob
lens demanding expeditions deci-
sions, makes 1t imperative for the
United States not only to clarity its
own position vis-a-vis Britain and
the Soviet Union, but also to find out
precisely where the Churchill and
Stain governments stand. Presum-
ably this will be the main purpose
Of the visit to be made soon to
London by Undersecretary OF State
Stettinius and a staff OF American
diplomatic experts.
From the standpoint of principle,
the framework of Allied postwar CO.
operation has already been estab-
lished by such documents as the
Atlantic Charter and the declara-
tions OF Moscow, Teheran and Cairo.
But agreement upon a principle does
not necessarily lead to agreement
upon the way in which the principle
is to be put into practice. In the
strictly military sphere, there seems
to be no reason for misgiving on this
score, because the joint general
commitments of Britain, Russia and
the United States apparently are
being carried out in specific and
concrete instances pretty much ac-
cording to the original letter and
spirit without any important hitch.
In the political sphere, however,
there are indications that the same
degree OF smoothneSs is lacking and
that differences as to detail and
method will have to be ironed out
If tomorrow's world is going to be
reordered along the lines formally
proclaimed by the United Nations.
AS far as Finland is concerned, for
instance, Britain, which is at war
with the Firms, appears to be in
full agreement with the preliminary
peace terms offered by Russia, but
the United States, which is at peace
with the Firms, has committed itself
only to the extent of urging that
HelSinki continue conversations with
Moscow. Similarly, although Prime
Minister Churchill has sided with
the Stain government in approving
the Curzon Line formula as the basis
for a settlement of the Polish bor-
der question, no clear-cut American
stand has been taken beyond Secre-
tary Hulls offer to help mediate the
matter. Nor is it clear just what our
position is as regards Italy and
Yugoslavia
These are but a few Of the prob
lens calling for specific agreements
within the broad framework of post
war principles enunciated by the
Allies. Less immediate but perhaps
even more formidable are the prob
lens of what is to be done with Ger
many, how France is to be recon-
stituted, and how the governments
in exile are to be regarded when
the occupied countries are liberated,
one by one, from the Nazis. OF
course, nothing must be allowed to
interfere with the task OF winning
the war as quickly as possible, but
at the same time it must be recog-
nized that if chaos is to be avoided
in Europe, a program must be
worked out now to meet the political
situation that will obtain when the
shooting stops and which exists, in
deed, even while the shooting
goes on.
In many ways, because they are
bound together by treaty and be-
cause both are geographically close
to the problems, Britain and Russia
seem to be following a firmer and
better defined course than the
United States, even though they do
not always see eye to eye and are
cloudy themselves in respect to
many issues. Accordingly, there is
real and pressing need for a fresh
exchange of views, both to make our
attitude clear to the British and
Russians and to make theirs clear
to us.