Evening star., 1944-12-19
Adherinq to Principles

lac SGdCcIliCliI VII tIlc IOlloll QuCo-
ton which has been made by Mr..
Stettinius on behalf of this Govern
ment serves notice to the world that
the United States will not abandon
the high principles of international
relations to which it is committed
and which constitute, in the judg
ment of this country, the only basis
upon which a just and enduring
peace can be erected.
Mr.. Stettinius says that this Gov
ernment would not object to a "mu-
tual" agreement for adjustment of
the Polish border issue by the United
Nations directly concerned" That
obviously refers to an agreement
freely made between Poland and
Russia and not to unilateral set
tlement imposed by the Russians or
imposed by Russia and Britain. Fur
thermore, instead of merely ac-
quiescing in such an agreement this
Government, as Mr.. Setttinius makes
clear, would welcome it as IAN essen
tial contribution to the prosecution
of the war against the common
enemy" That may be interpreted
as an appeal to the Polish people
and the Polish governmental -in-exile
to compose their differences with
the Russians But there cannot be
read into it any such threats as
were implicit in Mr.. ChurchillS re-
cent statement-threats that Britain
might cease to recognize the present
government-in-e exile and that Lon
don might give its approval to a
frontier settlement imposed by force
of Russian arms.
|. If an agreement should be reached,
and if as a result of that agreement
the government and people of
Poland" decide that it would be de-
sirable to transfer national groups,
the United States will assist in every
practicable way. Here again this
Government reveals its willingness
to concur in any settlement mutually
agreed on, however drastic it may
be. But, also we again make plain
our resolve to be guided by the
decision of the government and
people of Poland concerning their
internal affairs, not the wishes of
Russia or Britain
Finally, we diSclaim any purpose
to guarantee specific frontiers. This
is to be the function of the inter-
national security organization to-
ward which we are working, and in
which we hope and propose to play
a responsible part 1t should hardly
be necessary to suggest to the British
and the Russians, however, that the
American people, firmly believing in
the clearly defined principles enun-
clated by this Government, will find
it difficult to lend their support to
postwar organization designed to
uphold settlements arrived at in
contravention of these principles.
Considering all of these matters,
no one can doubt that the next few
weeks will severely test the unity of
the United Nations. Russia has sub
scribed during the war to the essen
tlal principles advocated by this
country. Belated efforts to note an
exception with respect to the Polish
question will not stand up under
candid examination. The Soviet
leaders must decide, and soon,
whether they will abide by the prin-
ciples they have Endorsed or whether
these principles are to yield to self
interest in the adjustment of their
dispute with the Poles. Among the
people Of the United States the
earnest hope is that Russia will
pursue the former course. The other
can lead only to fatal deterioration
OF that close relationship between
the two countries which has con-
trlbuted so much to the prosecution
OF the war and which could play
so vital part in the maintenance
of peace