Evening star., 1945-05-19
Conference Reaches
Most Trying Stage

NsOSt 'mS StuSS
Departure of Leaders Slowing Up
Procedure, Says Observer
By Dapid Laurence
SAN FRANCISCO, May 19.-The
United Nations Conference has reached
its most trying stage. With the depar-
ture Of important delegates because of
pressing situations at home, the acting
chairmen in charge find it necessary
to refer back to their home capitals the
texts of proposals. This causes a slow
ing up Of procedures
Last Saturday for instance an agree
ment was reached by four major powers
France, Britain, China and the United
States-on the wording of a regional
formula. 1t provided that if any group
of nations were the victims of an armed
attack and the security council failed
to take action, the right of self-defense,
which has always been individual, could
become collective and action could be
validly taken by the regional group.
Strictly speaking, this is not novel
principle Of international intercourse
and should not have absorbed much
time. But the Russian Ambassador said
he had no instructions and had to ask
Moscow for the same. Accordingly, the
four other major powers have waited
for that answer. Meanwhile, under the
procedure adopted here, the United
States could not lay the proposal before
the Latin American nations. It was,
however, made public so everybody
could know the contents.
Matter Drifts.
Every day since last Saturday 1t has
been hoped that some word would come
from Moscow. Finally, on Wednesday
it was insisted that unless word was
received by o'clock on Thursday, the
delegations would go ahead with sub
mission of the proposal to the commit
tee in charge. Again no word came,
but one of the American officials said
there could be another days wait, and
so the matter has drifted.
This sort of thing is bound to 60 on
because of the difficulties in getting ap-
proval by radio. Maybe the Foreign
Commissar's arrival in Moscow was
awaited before Marshal Stain would
give his reply to the Russian Ambassa-
dor. Mr.. Molotov was reported to have
reached Moscow early this week.
Maybe, on the other hand, the Rus
slams do not intend to commit them
selves on anything till all the provisions
of the document have gone through the
committee stage, so they can approve
or disapprove the document as a whole.
The logical thing to do, of course, is
to go ahead with all proposals through
charter is submitted for final approval
there will be indications from all coun-
tries as to whether they intend to ratify.
Last-minute changes might be made to
secure complete agreement.
The difficulty here is really one of
procedure. 1t was agreed, for example,
that nothing would be submitted to
committees by the major powers that
had not been cleared through the
sponsoring powers. Senator Vanden-
berg, who has been handling the matter
with the Latin American delegations,
has been perturbed by the delays, and
at one time is said to have threatened
to resign from one of the committees
If these delays were allowed to go on.
Right of Withdrawal.
Procedural troubles and difficulties
due to communication are not the only
nr0h}anoS thot ho hofr
now and the time the final charter is
proclaimed. An important question
arises as to the right of withdrawal.
This privilege was written into the
League of Nations covenant, each mem
ber being permitted after two years
notice and completion of obligations
presumably financial, to withdraw.
The new charter is not to be a per-
manent contract in the sense that
constitution binds interior states or
provinces. 1t is treaty, apd treaties
as rule either have a termination
date or they provide a method OF ter
mination upon giving notice.
The United States Senate would never
approve charter which did not have a
clause assuring the right of withdrawal.
| For the organization being welded to-
| gether here is not superstate or a
world state, but compact between
sovereign nations. Any nation which
considers that the provisions of the
compact are being abused should be
able to withdraw, but if its reasons are
unJustified in the eyes of the world it
would bear the responsibility for such
a step and would risk the condemnation
of all other states
Although not intended as a means
OF escape from obligations assumed, the
withdrawal clause is in itself q sort of
veto against arbitrary or intolerable
action and is especially desirable where
the major powers have such a powerful
veto themselves in the security council.
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