Evening star., 1945-06-27
Charter Success Seen
Due to Moral Force
But u. S. Must Back Up Interests
With Arms, Observer Declares

But u. S. Must Back Up Interests
With Arms, Observer Declares
BY David Laurence
The best way to appraise the sue
cess OF the San Francisco Conference
Is to ascertain how much opposition
If anywhere will be to the ratification
Of the new charter by the Senate.
Fewer than dozen votes-and per-
haps not that many will be cast
against the charter. It would not even
be surprising If the document were
ratified by virtually unanimous vote.
The principal reason for this epoch
making situation Is that, profiting by
the experience Of 1919 and 1920, the
interests Of the United States have
been so carefully safeguarded that only
captious argument can be made
against ratification.
The truth Is that the new charter
does not contain the binding commits
ments Of the League of Nations Cove
nant and depends more on the moral
force OF the signatory nations. But
even the League Covenant, with its
strong provisions, was not enforced be-
cause there was no will to enforce.
Hence 1t may be said that the United
Nations organization with the United
States as an active participant is a
much stronger institution and carries
more assurance OF world peace than
did the League Covenant which failed
to win the American Senate's ratif-
cation.
No Opposition Shown.
No international organization from
which any powerful nation or COM
blnatlon OF powerful nations remains
aloof can succeed. The big virtue about
the San Francisco Conference is that
30 nations signed it and so nations
will ratify. From no quarter has there
appeared any opposition.
The miracle of the charter is that
pitfalls were avoided and the sovereign
equality of all nations was preserved.
No world state or world parliament
was created. Each nation retains q
veto power, that is, it may even after
ratification withdraw if 1t chooses The
continuance OF the new league depends
on the good will of members toward
one another and on the justice of the
decisions reached in the future.
Prevention of war cannot be accom-
pllshed by just writing provisions Of
charter More depends on how ma
tions behave toward one another and
on whether the strong countries exer-
else self-restraint in their dealings with
obviously weaker nations.
There can be no exaggerating the
power and prestige of the United
States In any international organiza-
tlon. Committed as Is the United States
to use her resources and influence as
mediator, and even as economic part
ner in the enterprises Of rehabilita
ton and reconstruction, the future of
the new international league is bright.
American influence in European affairs.
Tor instance, can be far-reaching be-
cause the United States is recognized
as a nation which is disinterested and
wants nothing except an assurance of
her own safety from attack by az
gressor states.
The most significant factor In the
atmosphere of affirmation which has
prevailed both in Congress here and
among the delegates in San Francisco
is the powerful sentiment that has
arisen from the parents OF boys who
have been killed or wounded and from
the peoples of the entire world who
irl
be prevented.
Factor of Moral Force.
confederation of states, therefore,
rather than world state has been
brought into being. Each sovereign ma
ton has equal voice but when it comes
to enforcement, the responsibility lies
with the major powers which can sup
ply the military strength to deal with
smaller states that become recalcitrant.
AS for possible aggression or misbe-
havior by major states against one an
other. this has been left to moral force
and the conscience Of peoples. The as
sembly of the new league provides for
unlimited discussion of any situation
that may threaten the peace of the
world. This means full publicity, and
few disputes lead to war when peoples
nave chance to apply through their
| governments the process of reason
The biggest single factor operating
against a third world war, Of course
is the knowledge of the sacrifices OF
World Wars and II. The recurrence
OF second world war has educated
peoples everywhere to the simple fact
that wars can arise when powerful ma
tions are Indifferent to their own
safety.
The new charter will help to pre-
serve peace and prevent war, but along
with 1t there must be sizable Army
Navy and Air Force to protect the in
terests of the United States. America
cannot afford to place her reliance on
any other nation or group Of nations
when it comes to maintenance of the
necessary instruments of defense-in-
struments sufficient to keep war Or
threats of war far away from our
shores
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