Evening star., 1945-04-25
Conference Reflects
Allied Army Moves
u. S. Attitude Toward Russia
Is Stiffening, Writer Believes

u. S. Attitude Toward Russia
Is Stiffening, Writer Believes
By David Laurence
SAN FRANCISCO, April 25.-How-
ever clear-cut the effort may be to
separate the events in Europe from
the United Nations Conference, the
fact remains that the two are almost
inseparably intertwined.
Allied intercourse In a military sense
reflects itself here in a political way.
Though this conference isn't supposed to
deal, for instance, with the Polish bound
ary question, it finds itself dealing
with the matter of recognition of new
Polish government of unity and the
subject of admission of Polish repre-
sentatives.
What happened in Washington in
the conferences between President Tru-
man, Secretary Stettinids, British For
eign Secretary Anthony Eden and For
eign Commissar Molotov was kept secret,
but enough has become known here to
indicate that no settlement was reached.
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tude is stiffening and that there is to
be insistence on the fulfllment Of the
Yalta agreement which, it now appears,
Moscow is interpreting to suit itself.
This kind of thing can be profoundly
disturbing, but the Russian authorities
are. unfortunately unfamiliar with
American public opinion and do not
know that the execution Of agreements
can be cardinal point in international
relations.
Anxious Hours.
There are indications that the late
President Roosevelt spent anxious hours
on the Polish problem in the last few
days of his life and had to deal also
with absurd Russian suspicious that the
break-through on the Rhine and our
sensational advance subsequently al
most to the gates of Berlin were due
to some previous arrangement with the
Germans OF which the Russians seemed
to think they were not told.
Actually our Government knew moth
ing of the reasons why the Nazis de-
cided to curtail resistance 50 that the
Americans could go through, If indeed
they did execute any such maneuver
deliberately. So far as the American
forces were concerned, they pressed on
to Berlin vigorously, but at no time
regarded it as the all-important mill
tary objective, aiming instead-as agreed
on by our military commanders with
the Russians ahead Of time-at opera
tions in the south to cut of Nazi con-
centration there.
Nevertheless, the exchange Of notes
between Moscow and Washington did
reveal how much work has yet to be
done to bring the Russian and Ameri-
can governments closer together so that
these basic instincts toward distrust
can be eliminated
One difficulty may be that the Rus
slams may have convinced themselves
that the United States will agree to
almost anything or concede everything
in order to assure Russian participa-
tion in the war against Japan. Actual
ly some strategists think that while a
year ago Russian help was prerequisite
not necessarily true today.
Meanwhile, more than ever, It is ap-
parent that unless the basic misunder.
standings which seem to crop up As
between Russia and the Western Allies
are removed, the United Nations Con-
ference will not be able to 60 beyond
Dumbarton Oaks and make any impor-
tant re o;,~
assurance of security.
Tactful British Course.
The British delegation is, as usual,
steering tactful course and in q gen
eral sense sees eye to eye with the Amer
leans on the Importance of building a
strong international organization.
Clement Atlee, Deputy Prime Minis
ter, made good impression on Ameri-
can newsmen as he explained frankly
Britain's desire to build the new League
Speaking as a leader of the British La
Dor party rather than as a delegate. he
talked feelingly about the need for eco
nomic rehabilitation in postwar Europe
as necessary condition for peace. He
said that economic nationalism had
been in large part responsible for the
depression which in 1929 began to bring
on conditions that he thought led to
unemployment, Naziism, anti-Semitism
and, ultimately military aggression. He
said economic factors could hardly be
separated from broad questions of pre-
venting war and he hoped for the freer
interchange of goods and services-an
economy based on abundance rather
than on artificially developed scarcities.
Here. too. economic matters may not
be within the jurisdiction Of the con-
ference. but they overlap significantly,
as do military events. The Un1ed Ma
tions Conference becomes q real test
of the capacity of nations to find ways
of trusting each other and working to-
gether in peace as well as in war.
Reproduction Rights Reserved.)
Ernie Pyle
From the Topeka Capital.
A great little guy with big heart,
Ernie Pyle is dead.
The most famed Of all war CORE