The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1945-09-29

By ANNE o,HARE MCCORMICK

LONDON.-The question of the Far East in
troduced into the Foreign Minister'S Council
by the Soviet delegation was not on the agen-
da and has not been referred to in the COM
rnuniuue. It came up in the course of the dis
cussion of miscellaneous matters, like sup
plies for Austria and the repatriation OF ma
tionals of the U.S.R., which the conference
took up following the failure to agree either
on the terms or the manner OF handling the
Balkan treaties.
The object was to turn to noncontroversial
issues in order that as much agreement
possible can be reported in the official sum-
mary that will be given out at the conclusion
of the meeting. It is no longer denied that
decision to refer an unsettled question to the
Deputies represents about the largest meas
ure of agreement the Council has been able
to reach.
This conference proves that there are no
non-controversial questions IN the peace set
Elements. Every item the schedule has
been the subject of debate. often hot and
heavy-handed Certainly the Far Eastern
question raised by Mr.. Molotoff was not cal
culated to pour oil on the troubled waters.
It was detailed criticism of the treatment
of Japan by the occupying authorities as too
lenient. Mr.. Byrnes, good-tempered and ex-
planatory as usual, supplied the answer that
is supposed to turn away wrath. Bevins first
Judgment of the Allied commander. Later one
member suggested that the criticism was not
very tactful on the part of a power that had
been on diplomatic 1rms with Japan until
near the end of the war.
But Russia is not pursuing policy of tact.
The question most often asked at this con-
ference is whether the Soviet delegation is
deliberately trying to make the going as hard
as possible, and, if so, with what end in
vic tn If UhO believe that Anglo.
American-Russian cooperation is the sole hope
of peace and are convinced that Moscow &C
cepts this thesis, Russia's claims in the West
and her refusal to recognize the claims of
others in the East are only diplomatic poker
playing. Though she has shown here, as one
delegate put it today, "a disposition to poke
a finger in everybody's pie and let no one
insert finger in what she considers her own
pie,'' it is assumed that in a real showdown
she will support an international policy.
In this connection It should be remembered
that this is the first conference on concrete
issues of vital national interest that has been
held in the open. Obviously this was not the
intention of the Foreign Ministers. If they had
their way nothing would be known about the
discussions in the meetings except what ap
pears in the communicates and-in the case
Of Mr.. Molotof-the information on the Soviet
position he volunteered in a press conference.
But in London as in San francisco, though
that was an entirely different kind of conven-
ton in which national aims were in the back
ground and most delegates were eager to pub
icize their International aims, it is impossible
to keep the public out.
Assuming, therefore, that Russia wants an
international security system and that the dis
agreements now made public have arisen in
private and have not affected the Allied part
nership, the question overshadowing this con-
ference remains unanswered. Why do the Rus
slams put themselves in the position of en-
phasizing and multiplying points of disagree
ment?
The dispute over the recognition of the Bal
kan Governments is actually dispute over
whether Europe is to be divided in two and
whether the agreements made at Yalta and
Potsdam are to be kept or not. The Soviet
delegation is as determined as the Western
powers to disarm Italy. 1t complains about
our policy in Japan. But for the former Axis
satellites in eastern Europe it favors SUBJ
stantial armies.
The emergence of Russia as great Euro
pean power entitled to voice in the settle
ment of all Europe'S problems is fact the
other Governments fully accept. What they
are rather desperately looking for at this mo-
ment is basis of international settlement.
This is the aim behind the plan for the in
standardization of the inland waterways.
The Americans are pushing this hard, partly
ly to set up pattern of economic indignation
as against division.
Here again they come up against the same
obstacle. The Russians favor leaving the con-
troll Of the rivers as it is-in separate zones.
Meantime, for lack of inter-Allied coopera-
ton, the traffic is blocked and the old avenues
Of supply are broken in the worst economic
crisis in the history of the Continent
Meantime, too Russia is losing under the
Labor Government the immense fund of Brit
ish goodwill she accumulated while the Con-
servatives were in power Among the election
posters still to be seen in London is one
which reads 'Vote for Labor and friendship.
with the Soviet Union This is not what is
happening. Bevin and his colleagues can and
do talk much more forthrightly to the Soviet
spokesman than Churchill and Eden did And
the public is becoming critical of Russia. The
war is over for one reason, but another is that
in Britain and Europe generally the important
opposition to the Communists particularly to
Communist imperialism, comes not from Con-
servatives but from Socialists. If Soviet IN
transigence in London is only for bargaining
purposes why sacrifice real popularity Tor
temporary al I'd doubtful advantage?-New
York Times.
Editorial Comment