Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1945-05-03
Party Politics Seen
Abandoned at PurIey
National Unity Achieved by All
DELEGATIONS, Writer Asserts
Bv David Laurence

BY David Laurence
SAN FRANCISCO, May 3-Tfere is
one aspect of the United Nations Con-
ference which has attracted little no
tice, but may be hopeful sign of the
times-namely, that in delegation after
delegation party politics has been aband-
oned and national unity achieved
Thus, in the delegation from the
United Kingdom the representatives of
the British Labor party and the Con-
sentative party are working harmoni-
ously together. Even in the Chinese
delegation Communist party member
officially designated by the Communists
of North China is sitting down daily
with his brethren from the Chungking
government.
The American people can feel proud
that not only is their own delegation
made up of Republicans and Democrats,
but that they are, in fact, working to-
gether as Americans, and not as party
members
Thus the assembled representatives
of'the press were impressed the other
day by the spontaneous comment of
praise from Senator Arthur Vanden-
berg, Republican. as to the skill and
courage with which Secretary of State
Stettinius had been handling the deli
cate and difficult problems of the last
few days al this conference.
Interchange of Views
There can be no doubt about tt
Senator Connally and Representative
Sol Bloom, Democrats. do not consti-
cute one factor and Senator Vanden-
berg former Gov. Stassen of Minnesota
and Representative Eaton, Republicans,
constitute another. All sessions are at
tended by the entire group of delegates
There is frank interchange of views
and a sincere effort to arrive at con-
illusions which will be worthy of the
respect and approval of both parties.
But the cooperation is more than
mere recognition that party politics
must be put aside. There is actually
an administrative teamwork and a gen
uine helpfulness by one another which
makes the American delegation stana
out as an effective unit Whatever diff
ferences of opinion there may be arc
threshed out behind closed doors and
inside the delegation. But. it must be
added, the votes thus far taken by
our delegation have been unanimous
on almost everything. This is the kind
of cooperative spirit that the Ameri-
can people would like to see manifested
on many questions of vital interest to
the public. and it is to be hoped that
the harmony attained here can be con-
tlnued when the reports or agreements
adopted here are taken back to the
Senate for approval
1t is fortunate that President Tru-
man has given the American delegation
free hand, and particularly is it COM
mendable that the Secretary of State
has not endeavored in the slightest To
/ dictate to the delegation what it should
say or do The decisions are the result
of conference and crystallized views
after hearing all the angles.
Matter of Argentina.
Take, for instance, the matter OF
recommending that Argentina be ad-
mitted. Some of our delegates felt that
there were certain as It's of Argentina
behavior in the past which were dis
tasteful but when the subject came up
for action it was on the point whether
an international commitment partici-
pated in by the United States and 19
other republics at Mexico City should be
honored or ignored. The United States
delegation. therefore, was unanimous in
deciding to 60 along with the other
American republics in the hope that
admission to this conference would aid
and stimulate the democratic forces in
side Argentina and deprive the pro-Axis
groups OF any agreements they might
have if Argentina were involuntarilv
driven into position of complete iso-
lation from her neighbors
Another evidence of teamwork is TO
be noted in the cooperation between
the various executive departments OF
our Government and the delegation
| here. Probably no more complicated
pl OUleHl W III d. ISe 1OT US imam Lfle LOT
mula for trusteeships over territory
containing dependent peoples or stra-
teglc bases. The question has been
tackled effectively and differences OF
opinion again have been ironed out
within the delegation. Comdr StaS-
sen is making splendid contribution
on this particular subject and is prov
ing valuable member of the delega :
ton, though this is his first interna-
tional conference
There are many difficult questions
to be solved at this conference, but
it is sources of satisfaction and of
increasing confidence to observe that
the American delegation is handling it
self so we'll in the midst of the eXpe-
rienced diplomats from Europe.
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