The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1945-02-14
BY PAUL MALLON

bg = a. = VI ALLAN
WASHINGTON. - Mr.. Roosevelt
has been edged up 10 his promised
meeting with Stain and Churchill
by series Of foreign affairs
speeches which seemed TO set a new
American background for the dis
cussions.
Pressure from underneath the SIT
uaion, generated by unsatisfactory
political developments in Europe.
lifted the Lid on the subject official.
ly-only TO a limited extent and APP
parently only for a time. Yet rising
courageously with new ideas have
come Senators Vandenberg. Wheel
er and Connally. and George Foster
Dulles, the Dewey advisor
These may have appeared
somewhat confusing to the pub
lie, but together they cOnstltut-
ed formal affOrding Mr.. RoOse-
welt knowledge of what Is want
ed In various quarters and there
fore how far he can 60.
For instance. the Vandenberg opus
was contusedly interpreted as con-
version of an isolationist to the in
ternationalist viewpoint. The gleeful
internationalists hailed the speech
from that standpoint. and so did the
somewhat disappointed nationalist
who seemed to fear its import.
Actually It was only Vandenberg
plan which did not join either side.
His program. which is even at this
late date being confusingly reported
in magazines. seemed to me to be
simply this.
SPHERES OF INFLUENCE
Russia and Britain are dividing
Europe into spheres OF influence,
while our ideal and our policy Ian
cuisines. We want freedom for all
peoples, apparently real democratic
freedom. not just deliverance OF
Europe from the bonds OF fascism
into the chains Of communism.
Vandenberg therefore proposed to
pledge free future use by the Presi-
dent Of our armed forces in the post
war world to prevent remilitariza-
ton by Germany and Japan only.
He did not pledge their free use or
any other kind Of use. TO perpetuate
forever the conquests Russia is max
ing in Poland, or the Balkans or a
British sphere OF influence in Greece.
Indeed, he ment.oreG ne possihil-
ity that there might be an unjust
peace, and he obviously did not want
our armies backing that kind Of a
proposition. That was the essence
behind the Vandenberg idea.
Now Wheeler, also, l think. was
lot clearly understood. He said he
favored the Connally plan for an in
term council OF nations, and this
was hailed as his conversion. But
Wheeler did not want free use Of our
troops in any future war for any pur-
pose.
His main point was that the next
war threat is not likely to arise from
Germany or Japan but from Russia.
France, China, Britain or us-the
big FIVE with the arms, whereas
Germany and Japan are 10 be com
pletely crushed.
WANT TO COOPERATE
It is clear therefore that both Van
denberg and Wheeler have said only
that they wish 10 cooperate in just
peace-a pledge which is somewhat
modified by the obvious policies Of
both Russia and Britain in Europe.
and Wheelers additional reserva-
tons.
Vandenberg did say he would not
expect full freedom for Europe at
once and seemed willing to accept
temporarily a certain limitedly I'M
European condition,
Similarly the speech Of the Dewey
adviser Mr. Dulles,
was reported as an attack upon
American aloofness in foreign policy
and was misunderstood as an as.
sault upon isolationists. What Mr..
Dulles said was that current condi-
tons in Europe are due to Russian
and British policies.
Russia. as he put it, has been as