Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1944-09-13
BEHIND
The News
BY Paul
MaIIon

In the matter of seating for
pictures, for instance, il was ar
ranged so the Russian delegates
would be on the right hand OF
the Americans. For many gen.
erations past, the British always
have sat there or at the head OF
European peace conference
tables.
Indeed, one business analyst
reporter here was officially adj
vISed that his comments on the
meeting were mot helpful 10
American-Soviet relations, as If
the official attitude should con-
troll the press accounts.
INVESTIGATION indicates the
L extreme Difference to Russia,
however, is not necessarily being
carried 10 the extent OF accept
ing entirely her wishes in the
peace. The Moscow idea of an
international air force, for one
instance appears TO haVe-been
rejected.
The attitude seems due rather
TO a prevailing diplomatic inn
preston that the Russians are
sensitive and easily offended,
which should put them in a
good bargaining position.
Behind it also is the unan-
nounced conviction high in
Washington and London that
there will be war with Russia
within Is years unless mutu-
ally acceptable postwar peace
understanding is reached now.
The British are especially
afraid of Russia. They see her
not only sitting at their usual
place at this conference but in
the Balkans as well. and indeed
likely TO sit there over all
Europe.
For instance, there were four
French underground movements,
all separate, but the strongest
of these was the Russian. In
the temporary De Caulle- eabi-
net, these clements are acquir-
ing posts of power.
THE BALKAN nations, for
Il merly guided by British
financial and political policy, are
at least unsettled. and the same
problem in Italy has reached
the point of a clash, despite our
efforts to postpone meeting the
issue as long as possible.
This is an unavoidable, APP
parent and dominant matter of
the peace and to try to hold the
public head in the sand will not
solve the situation. The truth
is Russia is establishing a new
place for herself in the world,
Formerly the was a revolu-
tionary minority in the world.
and therefore naturally antag-
onistic to the world status, but
now she has acquired status Of
great power and therefore needs
a conservative world order. The
Russians seem TO me to be
ultra-realists.
IN THE other hand, 1t Is
~ equally true that much of
our peace proposal talk is fol-
lowing obsolete thought guided
by past history instead Of COM
ing history. We think mainly
of putting the screws upon Ger
many and Japan so they never
can rise again, but they can
easily be put down TO minor
military powers, and kept there
as long as the world is alert.
The major military forces ex-
listing after this war will be
divided between the United
States and Russia, and the mu-
tual relations between these two
alone is apt TO have more to do
with the future peace of the
world than whatever we do 10
Germany and Japan, or even
what formula is adopted for an
international organization.
But this is not the only in
visible electricity in the air at
Dumbarton Oaks. South Da-
kota's Senator Bushfield was
right in his contention in the
Senate that the American Sc
curity plan would give the
President the power to declare
war.
BY unanimous vote of the big
four nations on the proposed
executive council unite d
States, Britain, Russia and
China military action could be
taken. Whether three may act
if one objects is not yet clear)
THUS the President who nat
Il urally would dominate the
American councillor, could send
troops anywhere in the world
without consent of Congress
The true administration posi-
ton on this is hardly along the
line Senator Connally offered
to BuShfield. 1t truly feels
speed is essential 10 throttle
military aggression. that the
President should not be required
to wait for Congress.
In fact, many presidents have
acted similarly for generations
past. sending marines to China,
Nicaragua and elsewhere
on war sions. without a
declaration of war or approval