Evening star., 1944-08-17
Dewey's Power Politics
Views Held Good Sian

Views Held Good Sign
But COP Nominee Is Not Clear
On Force Limits, Says Writer
By David Laurence.
Gov. Dewey has spoken fortnrightls.
his views on some of the proposals that,
may be advanced ut the four-power
conference to meet here next week. And
this Is q good sign in itself, because 1t
shows a readiness to examine In the open
some d the major principles that must
govern the machinery for preservation
Of peace throughout the world.
But the Republican nominee is not
clear when he argues that it is all right
for Great Britain, Russia, the United
States and China, to maintain by force
and military cooperation "for some
time after the war" the peace Of the
world. while at the same time he says
that he does not wish this authority to
be exercised permanently"
The same objections to a concentra-
ton OF force In the hands of four ma
tions can be made whether such power
is to be exercised in the transition
period after the war or permanently.
The small nations will not look with
favor upon any four-power ,organiza-
ton which dominates the world. Mu-
tual distrust and suspicion will grow.
The only opportunity for the buildings
Of a lasting peace would seem to lie in
a universal organization Of equal SOW
ereign nations, with every nation ac-
cepting full responsibility for peace.
This was the basic idea Of the League
OF Nations which was rejected by the
Republicans in 1919.
Administration View.
But it is significant that while Mr.
Dewey discusses this subject in crit
ical way, SO far as the public is aware,
the views of President Roosevelt are
not at all at variance with those OF
Gov. Dewey. Mr.. Roosevelt has indi-
Gated through pronouncements by Sec
retary Hull that worldwide organ
ization, or general international organ
ization,' would be established contain
ing nations large and small, but, until
such time as the general organization
can take over, the responsibility for
maintaining peace would be on the
four major powers. So far as is known,
the Roosevelt administration has never
intimated that it wanted to maintain
a four power alliance permanent"
The only explanation for Gov Dewey's
outspoken comments is that he wants
to show the American people that he
is thinking about these questions and
that he is taking issue with what is
really believed to be the Russian view
point. 1t may conceivably happen that
what Gov. Dewey has said may be OF
aid to the Roosevelt administration be-
cause it is well known that the Russian
viewpoint Of four-power organization
with an international air force is not
one that the State Department here
has felt that it could indorse
Both the British and Russian points
of view, of course, look somewhat to-
ward the sphere of influence" theory
of regional power. The British natur-
ally favor the idea of regional systems
because they fear that the interest of
the United States in world affairs is
transitory and that to depend on the
Congress of the United States with its
divisions of opinion as between inter-
nationaNsts and isolationists is to try
to build the peace Of Europe upon
Quicksands.
The Russians, on the other hand,
also are believed to fear that the iso-
lationists in the United States will
come into political power and that peace
In Europe and Asia might better be
arranged between Great Britain and
Russia on the one hand. with such In
cidential assistance as can be obtained
from China and the United States on
the other.
In Line With Thinking.
welt and Secretary Hull are represented
as believing that plans for an interna
tional organization must be made at
once and that the period of transition
should be definitely limited so that all
nations, large and small, may have
part in the universal organization.
What Gov. Dewey has said, therefore.
Is in line really with the thinking of
the Government officials here and will
be of constructive value in shaping the
policies of our Government in the forth
coming conference, for, irrespective OF
the outcome of the presidential cleo
ton, Gov. Dewey's leadership is likely
to impress itself on a substantial sec
tion Of the Republican party and it
would be folly for the State Depart
ment to embark on any course that Is
likely to invoke such sharp differences
of opinion as to imperil the eventual
ratification Of the treaty.
Secretary Hull has indicated that he
wants in every way to keep the con-
ferences concerning postwar organiza-
tion free from partianship and politics
and he has asked Republicans to sit in
on his conference.
Foreign delegations to the forthcom-
ing conference are likely to take into
account that unless there is substantial
agreement in the United States on
foreign policy, the opportunity for
American participation in any world
organization is likely to be impaired.
Reproduction Rights Reserved)
Cuuse of the South
From the Topeka Capital.
Southern Democracy Is at the cross
roads in this presidential election year.