Evening star., 1944-02-06

Unlike the kind used by bombing
planes, diplomatic blockbusters often
create great stir which dies down after
short time. Either there is just lot
of noise, or their effects are more per-
manent and lasting. 1t all depends on
the causes which have prompted their
launching.
. In the last few weeks we have had two
such political bombs. One emanated
from Moscow when Pravda, the Com
munist party newspaper. published a
Cairo rumor" that British ofIitials we're
talking peace with the Germans in con-
travention of the British Russian treaty,
which is scheduled to run for another
Is years.
The other came from the floor of the
House Of Commons and was launched
by the suave Anthony Eden, British
Foreign Secretary, who served notice on
Russia that the British government
stood behind Poland and its government
In exile on the matter of principles in
volved in the Polish-Soviet dispute Mr..
Eden, reiterating his governments posi-
tion, said the borders of Poland as they
existed on September 1, 1899, continued
to be recognized and that whatever
readjustment might be made should be
the result of free negotiation between
the Soviet government and the Polish
government in exile
Friendly to Moscow.
On the Sunday preceding the declara-
ton of the heretofore strongly pro-
Russian British Foreign Secretary, lead
ing London conservative, liberal and
labor newspapers, all known to repre-
sent the viewpoint of their respective
parties. INDUCED in polite warnings to
Moscow. The view of the conservative
Observer was particularly interesting.
since it said editorially that If Russia
persists in her present attitude of set
ting single-handed all problems inter-
esting to her but affecting the United
Nations, 'the Moscow and Teheran
agreements will become scraps of paper"
In Washington, the State Depart
ments attitude was to minimize the
whole affair. Responsible high officials
brushed it of as one Of those unimpor-
tant and inevitable differences of opin-
ion which can have no lasting effect on
what has been solemnly agreed on at
Moscow and Teheran.
But many competent observers in off,
cial and unofficial life were not able to
conceal their uneasiness over the two
diplomatic blockbusters exchanged be-
tween Moscow and London
For some time there has been feeling
in certain quarters here that the strong
attitude taken by Russia in regard to
most matters concerning Eastern Eu-
rope might not be particularly pleasing
to the British government. 1t is pointed
out, for instance, that while the Moscow
agreements were hailed in this country
with unrestrained enthusiasm in both
oficial quarters and among those not
familiar with the workings of diplomacy
the British government and the press
had a much more reserved attitude.
Long-Standing Policy.
Britains foreign policy has been
established for many centuries and since
the days of Queen Elizabeth has fol-
lowed the same steady line 1t is a
mixture of lofty idealism and stark
realism.
The face of the British Empire has
changed often during those many years
But the policies remained unchanged
Any loss of territory was compensated
for by the acquisition of other lands or
some friendly agreements whereby what
appeared to be, loss turned out eventu-
ally to be to the advantage of the
empire.
So far as Europe is concerned, Brit
ain, small territory with a small popu-
lation compared to the rest of the CONT
nent, maintained her political and eco
nomic interests by playing a very skill
ful game called the balance of power.
The game consisted in never allowing a
single power in Europe to have a domi-
nant voice. Whenever such a state
threatened, Britain supported other
powers or groups of powers to neutralize
the danger. This policy can be detected
in the Napoleonic wars and, later, the
downfall of Germany and the Kaiser.
After the First World War the late
Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain was
denounced by many as an appeaser and
tool of the so-called Cliveden set,
which was described as a pro-Nazi, pro-
Fascist organization. Mr.. Chamberlain
was merely following the traditional
lines OF British policy. So long as Hitler
seemed to desire to incorporate into the
Reich only the German-speaking
peoples of Europe the British were not