The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-12-11
3-Power Farley
BY ARTHUR KROCK

ed Kingdorn-Which the State Department ad-
ministered to the British Government on the
basis of the Italian political situation accen-
tuates the need for an early conference of the
President Prime Minister Churchill and Mar
shall Stain. Unity among the great allies on
policy during the war is everywhere conceded
to be diSpensable weapon against the enc
my. And even those who do not agree that a
long period of effective peace will depend
on the projection of this unity into the post
war era accept the statement that Anglo
American comfy is of paramount Importance
in this period.
The President whose views the State De-
partment faithfully reflected in the rebuke
to the British yesterday has often made i,
clear that joint or parallel action and policy
by the United States and Great Britain are as
necessary in peace as in war. Therefore, it
can be accepted that he carefully weighed
the disuniting effect of the statement before
issuing it and concluded it was more impor-
tant to take the risk, and provide grist for
the propaganda mills of Berlin and Tokyo,
than to make a private protest to London.
But the incident is not only disturbing in
itself 1t is another shovelful of sand in the
Allied machinery. Coming after the split be-
tween Great Britain and the United States at
the Chicago aviation conference, the Senate
opposition to the Anglo-American petroleum
treaty and criticism of the second phase of
lend-lease (sill underground but emerging),
the dispute over Foreign Minister Eden's
Italian policy is the capsheaf of a series of
disunifyng exchanges between the two great
western allies. Enlarged and becoming grav-
er, it would make Soviet Russia dominant in
the Grand Alliance, and lend fresh hope of
negotiated peace to the German and Japa-
nese Governments.
This is thoroughly realized by officials in
Washington and London, and the best solu-
ton they can seas well as the best means
OF repairing the breach-is another three
power conference to be held as soon as pos
slble. Marshal Stalin's unwillingness to meet
at any considerable distance from the Krem-
lin has been one of the obstacles to an early
meeting, but there are others. The hope is
that these be leveled without very much
further delay
The State Department. rebuke to the For.
eign Office included restatement of tradi-
tional and moral position of the United States,
and as such it probably struck a popular note
in the country. But the British have good
case in reply, which the Prime Minister or
Mr. Eden could make in Commons unless
they conclude that would be inadvsable. The
British have no explanation except the neces-
sity for haste" of their failure to advise or
consult with the United States, party to the
commission responsible for Italy, before mott
flying Premier Bonomi of their objections to
Count Sforza Prime Minister and Foreign
Minister. But the remainder of their justifi-
cation has merit
Unlike the people and Government of the
United Staces the British think the Italians
played reprehensible role in the war and
should be required to work their passage
back to full and free association with the
United Nations at pretty hard labor too Ac-
! cording to reports from London, the British
also believe they have proof that sforza. in
London before he was allowed to return to
violation Of his pledges to Washington and
Italy, has steadily engaged in intrigue-first
against the Badoglio, then against the Bono
mi, Government The British consider him I'm
trustworthy and menace to the healthy DO
lltlcal restoration of Italy Thus, on the basis
OF facts as they see Them the British felt
obliged to make known their feeling about
Sforza in advance of his appointment instead
Oh a1terWa1d when, in their opinion, events
would nave produced the question why they
let him come to power without protest
This is in conflict with the Washington
view which, judging by the text of the State
department demarche, appears to be that
1t is the business of no outsider what poll
tlcians liberated, independent or Allied coun-
tries choose to put in office unless immediate
military considerations are involved The Brit
lsh could point out in Commons or elsewhere
that Washington in act has sometimes itself
oeVa'ed from this principle: in Rumania, for
example, where no immediate military con-
oA>>NA o'AoAio dlS IlVOlVeu. ana Lney could also
note That no State Department blast was is
sued while Marshal Stain was breaking down
exile Governments of Poland
AS 1or Greece, where Washington has by
inference criticized British policy also, they
coulo pom out that they are standing by the
Athens Government against the Fam be-
cause they do not know which is the majority
representative of the people and that this is
an exact parallel to the long-pursued stand
OH policy of the United States toward General
de Gaulle. But probably the British for the
present will again return soft answer to
powerful Washington
That is perhaps advisable for several rea-
| sons, among them the fact that evasions Of
the details of the projec ed lend-lease con-
tracts for 1945 are providing finder for anti
British sparks always drifting around the
Capitol. And some of the sparks are coming
from established friends of Britain and of
Anglo-American comfy who have advised the
President he should make these details pub
lie or run the risk of stimulating new iso-
| lationism. York Times
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