davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1945-03-02
On the Record
By Dorothy Thompson

Mr.. Churchill's speech, seemingly
transparent and positive, introduces
almost at the end a somber and uncer-
tain note.
II suppose that during these last
months the human race 80 has under
gone more physical agony and misery
than at any other period through which
this planet has passed. In the Stone
Age numbers were fewer and primitive
creatures little removed from animal
origin, knew no better. We suffer more.
We feel more. / must admit in this
war I never felt so grave sense of
responsibility as l did at Yalta. In 1910
and Al when we in this island were all
alone and invasion was SO near the
actual steps we ought to take and our
attitude toward them seemed plain and
simple . -. Now we enter into world
Of imponderables, and at every stage
questioning rises. 1t is mistake to
look too far ahead Only one link in the
chain of destiny can be handled at will"
This passage follows a spirited de-
Tense of Yalta. Yet, the British Prime
Minister is an historically minded man.
One accustomed to look backward
through centuries is also accustomed to
project the future. Such one does not
usually speak of forging only one link"
in chain of destiny" Mr.. Churchill
is man of will. 1t was a British poet
who wrote:
TT is he that saith not Kismet,' 1t is
he that knows not fate.
1T is Richard, t is Raymond, it is
Godfrey in the gate"
That could once be said of Winston
Churchill Also he is truly not of the
Stone Age He suffers" He feels"
A sense of grave responsibility" is upon
him. Nothing any longer is simple. He
is full of questioning. He dares
not look too far ahead.
I submit that this passage is highly
significant, coming toward the close of
a speech in which he treasures the
House of Commons that everything has
been settled satisfactorily.
y
It is a long speech, fully detailed.
Yet it contains no important revela-
tons. and leaves very important ques-
tons yelled.
He stressed that the Big Three have
the duty to serve the world and not to
rule it." He said, "a world organization
cannot be based on a dictatorship of
the great powers" He expressed trust"
that the voting procedure agreed upon
in Yalta meets these two essential
points having regard to the
evident difficulties which will meet any
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1945-03-02
New-WorId Security Pact

The most noteworthy political
aspect of the Inter-American Con-
ference at Mexico City is the series
of negotiations for the framing of
definitive agreement safeguarding
the republics of the Western Henri
sphere from aggression of any kind.
This is the logical elimination of
process begun more than century
ago with the PRONUNCIATION of the
Monroe Doctrine That doctrine,
promulgated by the United States,
pledged this country to resist any
aggression against new-world ma
tons by powers outside this hemi-
sphere. 1t was, however, a unilateral
declaration, not only unsupported
by the Latin American beneficiaries
but sometimes criticized by them as
an arrogation of guardianship by
what Latin American opinion then
fearfully termed 1.-The Colossus of
the North" Our early diplomacy
did not attempt to control political
activity as between the nations of
this hemisphere, even though these
might take the form of aggressive
diplomatic pressure or even open
warfare.
1t is far cry from those days to
the Mexico City conference, where
we have the unique spectacle of
Latin American countries urging the
United States to pledge itself to
take military action against any
world government attempting
aggressive action against another
nation in this hemisphere which
would threaten the latter's political
independence and territorial integ-
rity. And it is equally interesting
to observe our representatives at the
conference holding back from so
unqualified commitment as the
one proposed by separate resolutions
of Brazil, Colombia and Uruguay.
The reasons for our reluctance
are tWofold. In the first place
there is the constitutional inability
of our executive branch of govern
ment to give binding pledge unless
subsequently ratified in treaty form
by the Senate of the United States.
The second reason is desire not to
take action at Mexico City which
might pre-empt the range OF nego-
tiation slated for the United Nations
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1945-03-02
Pacific Military Situation
By Maj. George Fielding Eliot

The Japanese, an island people, have
spread themselves over vast areas of the
adjacent continent, very much as the
English did in the period Of the Hun
bred Years War. For the purposes of
present discussion, the Japanese con-
quests in Burma and Malaga may virtu-
ally be disregarded. They are being
driven from Burma and their holding in
Malaga is becoming extremely insecure.
Their sea-borne lines of communication
with these areas have been cut, and
while the japanese have tried desper-
ately to open up an alternate route by
rail and road right across South China
to connect with the rail system of
Southeast Asia, it does not seem likely
that the capacity of this long. insecure
line can be of much value in supplying
a strong fighting force. It might be
used to withdraw the japanese garrisons
or for hauling out certain amount of
raw materials, but it is subject to con-
slant interruption both by air and by
guerrilla action.
1t remains to examine the Japanese
position in China and Immediately ad-
jacent areas. For strategic purposes
this may be divided into three parts
north. center and south.
The strongest hold of the Japanese on
the Asiatic continent is in the north.
Manchuria, Korea, the Kwangtung ter
ritory and China north of the Yellow
River form together a fairly compact
territory with good railway system,
and 1t is for the most part thoroughly
under Japanese control. The Japanese
are not in this area menaced by any
strong enemy unless the Soviet Union
becomes their enemy at some future
time. They have considerable in
dustrial development, including steel
mills and synthetic oil production. They
have coal, iron and timber. Their lines
of communication with Japan proper
across the Sea of Japan and through
the Yellow Sea are secure against out
side interruption, at least for the present.
Even if they should be driven out Of
North China an attack on Manchuria
from the Chinese side would be an
operation of tremendous difficulty be-
cause of the intervening mountains.
\ n
The central part Of the Japanese hold
ings in China Is the part of China
between the Yellow and Yangtze Rivers
Here the rail net is less extensive and
the guerrilla activities-largely though
not altogether Communist stronger
than in the north. The Japanese hold
the railways, the principal cities, the
seaports and the Yangtze Valley. Their
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1945-03-02

one who gives prolonged thought to
this subject" But the voting procedure
itself is not revealed nor defended.
No part of the speech is more ex-
plicit than that dealing with the Polish
question and no decisions of Yalta more
vigorously supported. The Prime Minis
ter convincingly supports the Curzon
Line. He convincingly defends Soviet
territorial claims. He makes no defense
of the Polish government in London. He
sharply suppresses hints of bad faith
regarding the future independence of
the Polish nation and government. He
goes into detail concerning measures
projected for insuring free elections. In
this connection he expresses the resolve"
of his majesty's government, that las
many as possible of the troops" Cthe
Polish armies fighting with the Allies in
Italy and France) shall be enabled to
return in due course to Poland, of their
own free will and under every safe
guard, to play their part in the future
life of their country
But then comes an odd passage. I'm
any event, his majestys government
will never forget the debt they owe to
the Polish troops earnestly hope
it will be possible for them to have
citizenship and freedom of the British
Empire, If they so desire"
The Polish troops are commanded by
Gen. Anders. Gen. Anders is not salts
fed with the solution of the Polish
question. Reports from Italy state that
numbers of Polish soldiers committed
suicide on hearing the Yalta report.
And certainly the inference of Mr..
Churchills offer is that they will not be
able to go back to Poland, to participate
in those elections
Mr.. Churchills speech throws no fur
ther light on intentions toward Ger
many He dismisses possible apprehen-
sion that the bestowal of German lands
on Poland will SOW seeds for future
wars, because we intend to take steps
far more drastic and effective than
those which followed the last war
so as to render all offensive action by
Germany impossible for generations. u
But what steps? Here again Mr. Church.
Ill is cryptic. "On the longer term
measures there are many points of
great Importance on which detailed
plans have yet to be worked out be-
tween the Allies =. To hurry and
press matters of this kind might well
be to risk causing disunity between
the Allies"
Mr.. Churchills speech is, indeed, only
one link in the chain of destiny.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1945-03-02
This Changing World
By Constantine BroiDn

Some Is years ago the world was in
disturbed condition
The American public was less involved
in the settlement of the problems
abroad then than 1t is today. But the
man in the street was provided daily
with first-hand information about what
was going on from his newspapers
which had their own reporters In every
corner of the world. All the govern
ments of the countries they covered
permitted these men to move about
freely.
They we're welcomed everywhere and
the mere presentation of an American
passport assured them free access to
the most important sources of infor-
nation and a speedy relay of their
dispatches. Whenever some government
tried to throw monkey wrench in
their work the American diplomatic
representative by a mere telephone
call was able to straighten out the
situation
Although we were officially aloof, our
people received full reports about what
was going on in the world.
~
Today the situation is greatly changed,
ditAiou6Al <AAAiCiiCdAl PubAS 4ldo HULL
more at stake in the world than it had
Is years ago.
In his address from the Capitol yes
terday President Roosevelt stated: RE
sponsibility for political conditions
thousands of miles overseas can no
longer be avoided by this great Nation.
- 1t would be our tragic loss were
we to shirk that responsibility.
Yet American correspondents In the
areas which are not directly controlled
by the American forces are more handi-
capped than ever before in the history
of American reporting. The American
passport no longer means access either
to sources of information or even adj
mittance to all the countries which are
members of the United Nations.
The war is over in Bulgaria and Ro-
mania, two enemy countries to which
we granted an armistice. Yet American
newspaper reporters cannot enter either
country. The new Yugoslav government
of the Moscow-sponsored Marshal Tito
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1945-03-02

will not permit American reporters to
enter his territory freely. After lengthy
negotiations some hand-picked men
eventually may be permitted to 60 to
Belgrade. But unlike the situation after
the World War, American reporters
will have to submit not only to strict
military censorship but also will have
to play to the tune of these newly
created dictators, or else.
Because the Yalta conferees decided
to take the Atlantic Charter as a basis,
at least as far as the people in the demo-
cratic countries are concerned, Presi-
dent Roosevelt, in discussing the agree
ment reached on Poland, stated: 1.-THE
new Polish Provisional Government OF
National Unity will be pledged to hold
ing free elections as soon as possible
on the basis of universal suffrage and
secret ballot"
Poland is now occupied by the Red
Army which in the past also has occu-
pied countries such as the Baltic States
where free elections" were held At
these elections, 1t is said, the Red Army
Of occupation was permitted to vote to-
gether with the nationals of those for
merly independent republics There were
no neutral" eyewitnesses to report
those elections The result was that the
American Government, through the
voice of the then acting Secretary of
State Sumner Welles, regarded them
as a fake and still recognizes these
Baltic States as independent countries
although they now form a part of the
u. S. S. r.
4 \
The world security organization
which will be accepted at San Fran
cisco is bound to be only make be-
lieve" unless it is based on real friend
ship and acquaintanceship among the
various members of the United Ma
lions. And since it is impossible for the
average person to visit all his future
associates and establish a bond of
friendship it is the newspaper reporter
who is trusted by his readers in this
country to perform that job. At present
this is not possible.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1945-03-02
Speaking for the Record

John L. Lewis roared like a lion
In notifying the Secretary of Labor
that dispute exists with the btu
minous operators even though he
had not then sat down with the
operators to determine the terms of
the dispute and the chances of
resolving it.
But as Mr.. Lewis did his best to
make clear, between the ominous
rumbllng of his rhetoric, he was
speaking for the record and in &C
cordance with the requirements, as
he sees them, of the Smith, onnally
antistrike law. A very shrewd and
a very able labor leader. Mr.. Lewis
knows as well as anybody else the
nature of the catastrophe which
would be brought on the country by
another miners strike, and having
been pretty successful in playing his
cards up to this time he is not apt
to everyday what he has in his hand.
His letter to the Secretary of
Labor said that the mine workers
had mo yardStick to gauge
the future except by the past" The
yardstick of the past would indicate
that the miners have more to win
now by making secure what they
have gained than by another work
stoppage in an essential industry in
which four general strikes, costing
100000 man-days of idleness and
a loss of $4,000 900 tons of coal, have
occurred since the war began. The
peace that follows this war contains
many problems for the mine work.
ers. In spite of Mr.. Lewis ungen-
erous remarks concerning Govern
ment interference" it was the
Government-and not the mere
processes of collective bargaining
which enabled the United Mine
Workers, under his leadership, to
obtain its present strength and to
increase by more than so per cent
the take home pay" of it's members
since 1941.
After the last war the earnings of
the miners declined, along with the
strength of the United Mine Work
ers. 1t was Government action
which improved both. What the
Government has given, the Govern
ment can take away, and ruthless
use of the power which labor laws
have placed in Mr.. Lewis hands can
destroy that power as effectively as
1t was given.
The new demands which Mr.. Lewis
has placed before the operators
some seventeen in all-include a
royalty on coal produced which
follows the theory so successfully
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1945-03-02
Letters to The Star
Argues for Settlement of Problem
OF Jews in Palestine

To the Editor Of The STAR
The plight of the Jewish people diff
fers from that of any other prosecuted
people. All the European nations suf-
fered terribly in this war. Millions OF
people were killed, millions were up
rooted from their own countries and
transported into Germany as slave
workers. However, all this is not COM
parable to the sufferings of the Jewish
people While Hitlers design was to
weaken and dominate the world, his de-
sign against the Jews was to exterminate
them completely.
It seems that even in regard to the
punishment of NaZi leaders for crimes
committed against the European peo-
Piles, the crimes committed against the
Jewish people are considered to be in
an exceptional category. Herbert G.
Pell, our representative on the War
Crimes Commission in London, was re-
called because he dared to suggest that
the NaZis should be punished for crimes
committed against Jews.
1t is evident that the future of the
Jewish people is enveloped in obscurity.
While the world is concerned with the
political and economic status of all the
nations, it is apathetic toward Jewish
problems.
Many Illuminating editorials have
been written concerning the Poles,
Czechs, Greeks, italians, Belgians and
others: but very little has been written
about the desperate political and eco
nomic situation of the Jewish people.
The Big Three met at Yalta Signifi-
cant questions of great Importance con-
corning the small nations were dis
cussed and decisions arrived at. The
decisions concerning the small nations
were made public but nothing was
mentioned about the fate of the jew
ish people, and if any decisions were
made they are wrapped in darkness.
There is the Palestine question, in
which the Jewish people are greatly
interested. 1t is the only place where
the Jewish people of Europe can go
and want to go. But in spite of the
fact that the United Nations are fight
ing for freedom and against discrimina-
ton, one of the Big Three closed the
doors of Palestine against the Jews, SOLE
ly because they are Jews. I wonder if
this question was discussed at the Big
Three meeting at Yalta.
The Jewish problem is one of the
most pressing problems before the
United Nations and should be placed
high on the agenda of postwar prob
lens. No permanent and lasting peace
can be achieved without permanent
settlement of the Jewish problem.
DR. H. PROTECTOR.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1945-03-02
Questions for MIR. Maverick


To the Editor OF The STAR
The article in The Sunday Star of
February Is, written by Maury Nav
erick, is an important contribution to
the effort to secure higher salaries for
Congressman.
1t now is in order for some one to
present the case for the citizen.
I hesitate to attempt such a task
but perhaps my feeble effort will in
spire some one who can present the
citizens case with much more effective
ness.
Mr.. Mavericks article has suggested
to my mind several questions as noted
below:
l. Has Mr.. Maverick, or any one who
shares his views, considered what is
likely to be the effect of this campaign
on the demand by labor unions for
higher wages? 1t surely will mean fresh
fuel for the fires of labor unrest.
2 Has he forgotten that Congressman
were not drafted but rushed pell-mell
into the Office knowing what the salary
was?
3. Does he appreciate the danger to
the prestige of Congress by asking that
this problems be added to the burdens
of our citizens in this present time Of
unusual problems, burdens and anx-
ieties? REV. w. F. CARPENTER.
Haymarket, Va.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1945-03-02

Sea-borne lines of communication across
the East China Sea to Shanghai and
other ports clustering around the mouth
OF the Yangtze are fairly secure.
1t is otherwise with South China-ail
the vast portion of China south of the
Yangtze River. The japanese have no
longer any direct access to the ports OF
South China below Formosa, because
they have lost command of the South
China Sea. They can keep the Hankow-
Canton railway open only by constant
vigilance and constant fighting. Hence
their strong garrison in the vital Can
ton-Hong Kong area is more or less cut
off. This is the area which American
forces seeking to establish strong foot
hold III South China must eventually
take over. Other landings may be at
tempted along the coast-at Annoy,
Foochow, Swatow-but the communica-
tions with the interior are so bad that
such landings would be of strategic i'm
portance only because they might give
us an opportunity to establish air bases.
From Canton, however, the historic
trade route with the Central Yangtze
Valley runs northward to Hankow, while
the valley of the Si-kiang River af-
fords route to the west. Only from
Canton can we hope to establish direct
contact with the forces of Chang Kali
shek. Moreover, any landing farther
north would be commanded by Japanese
air power based on Formosa unless that
powerfully fortified island were first
reduced.
But it is perfectly clear that if the
tremendous Anglo American air power
is to be established in bases from which
campaign for the systematic destruc-
ton of the Japanese war machine is to
be conducted, these bases can only be
on the continent of Asia. AS long as
they are not in Russian territory, they
must be in Chinese territory (for we
cannot get at Korea for the presently. II
they are to be in Chinese territory, they
must originally be in South China, for
the South China Sea is the only body
OF water washing the China coast to
which our naval forces and shipping
have at present unimpeded access. It is
not for nothing that Gen. Macarthur is
giving such attention to the seizure Of
islands controlling San Bernardino Strait
and Verde Island passage. the main
shipping route through the Philippine
Archipelago into the South China Sea,
nor Is It for nothing that he has made
haste to establish himself on the island
Of Palawan.
tccpyrisht. le4s.l
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1945-03-02

applied, in spite of Government
interference" by Mr.. Petrillo of the
musicians union. In effect, 1t repre-
sents tax on the public levied by
union and on the basis of current
production would yield about $780,
100000 a year to the United Mine
Workers. It does not appear likely
that Mr.. Lewis will be able to avoid
some necessary Government inter-
ference"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1945-03-02
Wants Germans Threatened

To the Editor OF The Star:
The Civics and Equity League sug-
gests this way by which the Big Three
can put an end to the war in Europe
in few days: With leaflets and broad
casts tell the German people that the
defeat of their armed forces is inevi-
table and that henceforth the Allies
will consider those of influence who
prolong the conflict war criminals and
that for each and every day until an
armistice contemplating their uncon-
ditional surrender, so of this group Of
criminals, counting from the top down.
will be executed, together with 10 of
their most wealthy individuals.
j. B. CHAMBERLAIN.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1945-03-02
Well, They Ought to Have One
To the Editor of The Star:

To the Editor of The Star:
Because So years ago a Japanese
squadron annihilated the fleets of
China commanded by the admiral, Philo
Norton McGiffen, an American, it was
altogether heartening to learn from a
letter by R. G. to the editor of The Star
published February II that, again, the
Chinese have navy.
Let us by all means keep up lease
lend on its account. Or is it just
another case of the Swiss or the Liber-
ian navy? RIENzI B. LEMUS.