Detroit evening times., 1945-10-06
PAUL
MALLON
Behind
The News

glib Interpretation OF the
London conference outcome is
in current circulation which
holds the matter is probably all
just the usual dickering of
statesmen, a jockeying for posi-
ton.
The full failure TO agree on
anything of consequence. even
including the minutes of the
conference itself, has been de-
scribed as just another "diplo-
matte crisis" which will soon be
over.
This is wholly unjustified &C.
cording to my information. A
detailed study of the disagree
ment will suggest its deeper ma
ture.
The statement of State Secre-
tary Byrnes at the breakup ex-
pressed expectations as hopeful
as a doubtful man could stretch
his pen 10 write for the usual
diplomatic purpose.
Authorities interested in
going further and more frankly
into an understanding Of what
happened have been led to these
following inevitable conclusions:
Russia did not want an
l. agreement. Her tactics dis
closed this fully, as did her ac-
cepted responsibility for the
failure.
II was not a question Of terms
or details on this or that ques-
ton, the Balkans, Italian peace
treaty, Italian colonies or any
of the other matters fully dis
cusSed. She prevented agree
ment on anything.
C-Her position challenged the
- whole United Nations peace
setup. The single reason for
the final break, mentioned by
Byrnes. was Russian refusal 10
let France in on anything except
the Italian treaty and China in
on anything Europe.
The whole idea OF the peace
setup is a five nations theory.
The principle of San Francisco,
Dumharton Oaks and the earlier
sevelt agreements was,
frankly. a five-nation setup TO
direct, and keep the peace OF
the future world.
The practical result of the
Russian position would ignore
all this, and defeat it, by es-
tablishing a three nations ar
rangement in Europe, where
Russia is in possession OF much
new territory and is exhibiting
strenuous isolationist political
ambitions.
O-What is Russia's purpose =?
- This conclusion must be put
in form of a question. 1t was
not limited by Byrnes. if he
knew. No direct information is
yet available.
Plainly China is our friend
and De Gaulle in France has
been more friendly with us
since an earlier visit to Moscow
failed to bring promised results
and the testing French elections
showed victories for Socialists
over Communists.
But does this fully explain
Russia's attitude? After all
the friendliest possible new gov.
ernment in Britain could not
get along with her and was far
more irate than Byrnes at the
end, despite being recently
elected over Churchill on the
promise of greater friendliness
with Russia than he provided
There must be deeper reasons.
One generally shared here is
that Russia is returning to
strong iSolationism.
f-Although Russia either does
r not realize it or care. the
result caused her to lose much
ground in the world. She has
a ienate d both France and
China by her position, but be-
yond this has opposed the am
bitions of the small nations of
the world.
Equally important, she has
no doubt unified American pub
lie opinion against her. Our
people have been rather solidly
behind the United Nations
theory. and must now conclude
she rejects it.
She was never the initator
and wholehearted synpathizer
at San Francisco, Dumbarton
Oaks. Breton Woods or else
where. Her delegates turned
around and went home from the
Chicago air conference. Messrs.
Roosevelt and Churchill earlier
always had to drag agreements
from them.
1.-The only way the peace
- can be concluded is for
Russia to change her attitude
or for us 49, unthinkably - 10
abandon Britain, France, China
and the rest Of the world, our
pledged war purposes, and our
victory.
A change of attitude by Rus
sia does not require such un-
reasonable or suicidal action.
She has only 10 manifest a
genuine desire -for-agreement
by having Stain reverse Molo-
tov, or by renewing negotiations