Evening star., 1944-05-21
Remaking of Europe's Map
To Develop New Patterns
Russian Influence Expected to Dominate Balkans,
With Western European Confederation
on Smuts Plan Likely
Bv Constantine Brown.

are the Serbs who have been under
obligation to Russia for about $50 years.
The Serbian lamb had strayed but he
is willing to return to the fold and Rus
sia will do her utmost not to disappoint
him.
The situation has become such in the
last six months that there is little the
American Government can do, but that
the new arrangements will keep peace
in Europe for some time. The time
when this country could have imposed
its unselfish will on our associates for
q just and lasting peace In Europe has
gone. Military operations in which
hundreds of thousands of Americans
will be involved are close at hand. 1t
Is not at this moment that the American
Government can begin to haggle about
the last peace treaty created as inde-
pendent states.
And when the German armies are de-
feated and their leaders accept our con-
ditions, the voice of the United States
will be listened to with due considera-
ton and politeness. but it will lack the
effectiveness it had when all our asso-
ciates were depending on war material,
food and manpower from this country.
Two Schools Of Thought.
Highest Washington quarters fully
realize the gravity Of all these matters.
But neither rallies such as the Ameri-
cans of Polish descent nor those which
other Eastern European nations have in
mind, can do much to alter a de facto
situation.
Among the advisers of President
Roosevelt there are two schools Of
thought about the handling Of the situa-
ton. One group is firmly convinced
that the new world, entirely different
socially, politically and economically
from the pre-1939 world, will require the
full cooperation of the United States in
order to achieve the tremendous evolu-
ton the wal has brought about. Amer
lea herself, they say, is on the eve of the
most dramatic changes.
A new philosophy of life will be the
outcome Of the present cataclysm. Our
duty, say these social and political re-
formers, is to stand by Europe with
every means at our disposal Not only
should we put through everything that
has been provided in the United Nations
relief and rehabilitation agreement, but
our troops must remain as long as
needed to help the new Europe get back
on her feet. After the Germans have
been defeated, it will be necessary, they
say, to keep large American force in
Europe to help the new governments be-
come solidly established. This army
need not be located in the zones" Of
our Allies. but on the periphery as q
buffer between clashing interests.
Oppose Policing Zones.
Mr.. Roosevelt's more conservative ad-
visers are disheartened at the prospects
Of America policing zones" in Europe.
They are afraid that our idealism still Is
far away from the Europeans realism
and are strongly Of the opinion that the
American forces should be withdrawn
as quickly as possible after complete VIC
tory over the Nazis is obtained.
In all likelihood, these men say. we
will have tough war on our hands in
the Pacific. No one here doubts Britain's
pledge that after Hitler is defeated, she
will send the bulk of her forces across
the world to help America crush the
japanese. But governments can change
and it is probable that the present
British government will make room for
a new one after the war in Europe is
over. What the new set of political men
Will decide Is difficult to ascertain, II
the internal situation of the country
permits, the new government is not
likely to disavow Prime Minister
Churchills pledges. We must figure
however, on defeating the Japanese
with only token support from our
present associates.
But even If Great Britain and Russia
offered us every conceivable assistance
some OF Mr.. Roosevelt's advisers doubt
that the presence of Ameryican troops
in Europe will achieve any good purpose.
They might be in the way of the great
powers and would be the target of the
smaller nations which might see in them
the instrument which has placed them
again under further subjugation. In
either case, they will not be very well
come regardless of how insistent our
Allies are at present that large Amer
lean police force should be maintained
on European soil.