Evening star., 1944-12-24

The fabric which has been holding
together. the United Nations COM
mon theology to fight against totalita-
rian aggressions and allow all nations,
big and small, to live in peace after this
war is over, Is rapidly wearing out.
Unless drastic steps are taken to mend
1t in the near future the entire pur-
pose Of the war in which we have sac
rificed many lives and much wealth
may be lost.
The group known as the United Ma
tions and composed Of all opponents Of
the dark forces Of Fascism and Naziism
regardless Of what form they may
take-was organized within three weeks
after Pearl Harbor when 80 nations
(some later adhered to the principles
Of the Atlantic Charter) signed the
Declaration of the United Nations in
Washington January /, 1912.
They formally pledged themselves, of
their own free will, not to seek any
territorial aggrandizement; not to seek
territorial changes which are not in ac-
cord with the freely expressed wishes Of
the people concerned; to respect the
rights of all peoples to choose the form
of government under which they will
live, and to restore full sovereignty and
f-government to the nations which
have been forcibly deprived of them.
Accepted by Americans.
Whether other nations considered the
charter wishful thinking is dit1cult to
say But there is no doubt that the
bulk Of the American people have ac-
cepted 1t literally, and in spite of the
drawback that it was not going to be
applied to the Asiatic areas, it was ac-
cepted as the essence Of our war aims
in the Second World War.
The minor members of the United
Nations, those countries which had been
invaded and sacked by the German
hordes, fought to regain their inde-
pendence. At first Great Britain fought
for principle-the maintenance of the
balance of power in Europe-and with
that objective in mind she risked defeat
by rushing to Poland's aid when that
country was invaded. Even such British
appeasers as Prime Minister Chamber
lain realized that unless Britain took
the gravest chance in her history and
challenged the German aims she un-
questionably would lose everything she
had been building up 80 carefully for
the last four centuries.
But as the war went on, Britain,
ideologies suffered q change. After the
blows Of the first two years of war
when her communications with the In.
dian Ocean became jeopardized and sh.
began to recognize that her empire wa
threatened, she began to think in term
of securing her lines of communication
and obtaining zones of influence in Eu
rope from which these lines could b
more properly guarded In the future.
Russia entered the war in 1899 as al
associate of Germany because sh
wanted certain parts of Poland which
could afford her protection in the fu
ture against Germany's expansions
policy. Eastern Poland, which she GOV.
eted, offered her no riches-Russia ha!
so much wealth in her own territory thai
she needed nothing from outside. But
1t had paramount strategic impor.
tance.
Premier Stain was aware that after
the defeat of the British and the
French the Germans would attempt to
grab the rich Ukrainian territory. He
secretly signed an agreement with the
Germans in July, 1899, but was dealing
at the same time with the French and
British governments. Had they given
him free hand regarding Eastern
Poland it is probable that he would not
have joined Hitler at that time But
neither the British nor the French, who
were the supporters of the democratic
ideas and faithful to the alliance with
Poland, could do that, and for nearly
two years the USSR and the Reich
were partners.
United States Aid Turned Tide.
When Hitler attacked Russia in June
1941, the Russians fought for their free
dom. 1t was a common interest-to pre-
vent Hitler from putting his grandiose
plan into ef1ect-that got the U. S. S. R
and Britain together. Neither, however
could have stood against the powerful
German armies had it not been for the
supplies which already were being re.
| ceived from the United States
The people in this country were look.
ing with utmost respect to the valiant
! fight of the British and the Russian.
RR @A%