Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1945-05-04
Bosic Principles Being
Written Into Charter
Appeal to Conscience of Nations
Must Be Made, Says Observer
BY David Laurence


By David Laurence
SAN FRANCISCO. May 4-The task
Of writing into the charter some basic
principles has begun. These are de-
signed to strengthen the moral forces OF
mankind In their future efforts to pre-
vent another war
To some casual observers declarations
Of human rights and pledges to MAIN
tain peace may seem superfiuouu, but
the real purpose Is to make such prin-
ciples an integral part Of the charter
so that in the future it will be difncult
for any right thinking people to ap-
prove course Of aggression.
It h recognized that ct the outset
the appeal must be to the conscience Of
nations, and If that falls, physical
force enters. In order to enable such
an appeal to be made, considerable time
will be spent here in wording the vari-
Gus provisions 50 as to make more and
more dimcult any equivocation or any
loopholes on the part Of nations bent
on . selfisb course. j
The work Of this conference. therefore,
in the immediate future may becoms
involved in procedures and committee
meetings at which stress will be laid on
seemingly innocent phrases. But there
is as much determination and earnest
ness behind those phrases as there is
behind the writing Of provisions which
call for specific performance.
U. S. Delegates Take Lead.
The American delegation has taken
the lead in proposing amendments to
the Dumbarton Oaks draft. This is an
indication that American public opinion
In the last few weeks has been effective
In drawing attention to the omissions
In the Dumbarton Oaks plan and the
importance of adding substance to the
charter by giving 1t hexibility Of amend
ment and by holding forth the promise
that the United Nations will not con-
slider the world frozen" to status quo
even though aspirations for change
come from peoples now dependent or
even though circumstances in the world
may require revision of existing wartime
agreements.
1t is by no means certain how many
OF these American amendments will be
adopted. Certainly some Of the other
nations will offer amendments, too. But
1t Is believed all the nations, including
the Russians, will go along with any
amendments that are merely express
sions of hope or purpose and do not
involve any coercion or limitation of
sovereignty.
The British delegation has some i'm
portant amendments and will take an
active part In developing the formula
for trusteeships. Though the American
and British proposals differ on details,
the concepts are in the main the same.
American desire for the use of strategic
bases viii be recognized wherever the
United States makes the point that they
are directly related to this country's
security.
Difficulties on Colonies.
1t Is rather on the subject Of what
shall be done with colonies formerly
under the mandates Of the League of
Nations or in territories wrested from
the enemy that difficulties will arise
va eAAA0tc1y no uLoCuS4lOU OF SpeCluc
territorial changes either by means of
annexation or trusteeships is being per-
mitted ct this conference So the puob-
lem Is less complicated, but this does
not by any means lessen the work that
will have to be done before all points
OF view are reconciled
The United Nations Conference has,
however. gotten down to the drafting
stage and 1t should not take more than
another two weeks to complete the draft
OF the whole charter. If agreement
on draft comes out of the conferences,
even though there are minority recon-
mendations, 1t may be expected that
the plenary sessions will by majority
vote decide the issues.
In the end each government must
do its ratifying by its own constitutional
or totalitarian method anyway. So
what is written or voted on here be-
comes, after all, merely recommends
ton to each government and will be-
come effective only when the various
governments agree separately to ratify
or add their particular reservations,
| If any, to the charter.
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