Detroit evening times., 1945-04-12

If1E odh riaiieiSSo SoiiieehNS
L of United Nations will open
its deliberations under certain
embarrassments which must be
faced
While these are various most
of them arise from Marshal
Stains policy of territorial ag-
grandisements far beyond the
western frontier of Soviet Rus
sia, as this was negotiated after
the first World War, and rati-
fed by treaties mace by the
government of Moscow with
various smaller states.
Russian encroaehment upon
Finland, absorption of Estonia.
Latvia, and LitMania, violation
of the treaty settlement with
Poland, and political actions
taken in Romania, Bulgaria. and
now in Hungary nullify the
fundamental premise of the At
lantic Charter. that all nations
shall be assured of their ma
=tienai-territory and OF their
complete independence.
THE govern ment organ,
l. Pravda, has just printed q
statement which may be taken
as official, that Russia does not
intend TO revolutioniZe the social
order of Austria or subject that
country to domination.
This statement is welcome
and reassuring, but apparently
does not apply to some other
countries. including the Balkans.
The smaller states Of the
world which In large part will
be represented at San Fran.
cisco, may view Stains pur-
poses with suspicion, and may
make protests against Russian
politics in central and eastern
Europe, which may ultimately
be extended 10 the Far East and
elsewhere. There may not be a
an Gus acquiescence IN
Stains demands.
The embarrassment of the
United States in its sponsorship
OF this conference are several.
First, there are the agree
ments or commitments made
by President Roosevelt in his
conferences with Prime Minister
Churchill and Marshal Stain.
Second, is the prejudice TO our
own political faith and to our
reputation with other peoples,
If we cooperate in unjust ag-
gressions, and agree to UNDER
write them by treaty and ulti-
mately by our own force OF
arms.
pUT the greatest embarrass-
- ment OF all is that our adj
ministration has committed its
own reputation TO the success
OF the San Francisco conference
and the resulting charter Of in
ternational organization that
may come from it.
The President has put us in
the position where his standing
at home and abroad, depends
upon creating at San Francisco
a definite structure OF world
organization.
The President may try 10
secure this action even at great
cost.
Doubtless we can stand losses
TO ourselves or 10 our own eco
nomic interests, but can we
afford concessions that would
invalidate our reputation as a
liberty-loving people. that is a
champion of freedom and justicel
for all peoples.
OUR disadvantage is that
" President Roosevelt and his
staff have put the immediate
achievement OF a world order
above just terms for ending the
war.
Mr.. Roosevelt has fallen into
the same mistake, but on q
much greater scale, than was
made by President Wilson at
Paris.
President Wilson had the
highest ideals for a just peace,
and for the rights of free ma
tions, but his primary interest
was in securing a League OF
Nations.
This devotion came 10 over
shadow all other considerations:
he accepted compromises in or
der that the League OF Nations
might be formed.
THERE is no doubt any longer
L that the American people
want membership in an inter-
national order that may prevent
future wars.
But il does injure our posi-
tion to be the partisans, at all
costs. of such an order, for
while an international league is
important to us, it is vastly less
important to us than to Great
Britain. Soviet Russia, and TO
other states as well.
We desire international bonds
or guarantees of security, but
the needs of Great Britain and
Russia are infinitely greater
than our own.
They should be the first TO
make concessions for a security
that they must have.
Our part should not be mere
acquiescence with them in costs
that will be regrettable.
Wn hauo q dnoree Of indie