Evening star., 1945-05-01
Short-Lived Rejoicing
Seen After We Duy
Europe Faces Military Control
For Several Years, Says Writer
Bv David Laurence

FOR SeVeral ears, Says writer
BY David Laurence
SAN FRANCISCO, May 1.-Irrespec-
tive of when the ending Of organized
resistance is formally proclaimed in
Central Europe, there will be short
lived rejoicing. For the period that lies
ahead will not be peace" in the tradi-
tional sense. 1t will be a period Of con-
tinued military control.
There is to be no peace conference
because no organized government re-
mains on the enemy side with which
to sign a treaty.
There is to be no single document
to embrace all the various settlements,
but there will be a series of special
agreements covering particular subjects.
Whatever conferences are held will be
between Russia, Great Britain, the
United States and any other nations
affected by specific problems such as
are involved in the liberated territories
of Holland, Belgium, Norway. Denmark
and France.
Tension to Continue.
If Americans are expecting a removal
Of the tension that has characterized
their activities in the war effort they
will be disappointed. For while the
tension will be diminished, there will
come in its place a series Of economic
crises Of such far-reaching proportions
as to cause worldwide concern.
Thus there is prospect OF millions
of men, women and children starving
inside Germany in the next few months
Christian peoples will be calling on the
Allies to be humfne and not to imi-
tate the Nazis by letting human beings
starve. And yet 1t will be difficult to
get food distributed or normal life re-
stored in Germany.
Persons high in the Allied govern
ments represented here have their
minds only partly on the United Ma
tions Conference and do NOT conceal
their worry over what is coming inlme-
diately in Europe. Apparently the
American and British zones Of occupa-
ton will have the fuel apd the ma
chinery and most of the population,
but hardly any of the food. II Russia
insists on removing fuel and machinery
for reparations, 1t is likely that Britain
and the United States may find 1t de-
sirable to condition such removal on
the importation OF food from the Rus
sian zone Of occupation. This is but
one of the many inter-Allied headaches
that are to ensue.
1t may be several years before legal
state Of peace will be declared to exist
This has immense Importance to the
American businessman, who will find
that technical power to maintain war
| time controls may be vested in the
Washington administration indefinitely.
There are many international reasons
why the British, American and Russian
governments will find it desirable not
sense.
For one thing, the Russians want to
use slave labor They cannot do so
legally If peace is declared, but if a
state of war is prolonged, then, under
the international conventions govern
ing the use of prisoners of war for labor
purposes, the Russians can put millions
of German ex-soldiers to work in Rus
sian cities on reconstruction. Such an
extension of the prisoner-of-w con-
ventions seems to have the approval of
the British and American governments.
Question of Authority.
Then there is the question Of the
American Governments authority to
participate in the solution of the many
delicate problems arising in connection
with continued military occupation and
control If legal state of peace were
declared, our military forces could not
act without specific delegation of power
from Congress, this being an authority
derived from war-making powers. 1t
would seem paradoxical to declare a
state of peace one day and then ask
| Congress to issue further military au-
thority the next day.
| Furthermore, the demilitarization of
Germany may require several years and
the right to participate, so far as Amer
lean constitutional provisions are con-
CC1uCQ, u1uSC w COIIlC 1IOLu I1IS
war powers statutes enacted by Congress.
| 1t will be recalled that our commitment
under the Act of Chapultepec to guar
! antee the territorial integrity Of the
Latin American Republics is specifically
derived from the war powers granted by
Congress to the Executive.
The whole problem is complicated by
the fact that the global war, Of course,
will not be over till Japan surrenders.
Hence proclamation that We Day has
arrived or that organized resistance in
| Germany has ended can have only a
temporary significance, because it will
be followed by military control and ad-
ministration for many years to come
American troops will not be out OF
Europe for long, long time and the
American people might as we'll prepare
for at least two to three years, If not
more, of huge military budgets.
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