Evening star., 1945-04-19
New Conditions Seen
In Foreign Relations:

" 'OsSsSU NSsONsVssS
Administration Personal Equation
Il Still Unknown, Says Writer
By David Laurence
Although our friendships and broad
policies as they relate 10 the Allied
powers remain unchanged. there is no
denying the existence Of Q new set Of
circumstances In our relations with for
eign governments due to the accession
of new President.
Thus. while Foreign Minister Molo-
tov was not scheduled to come TO the
United States. Marshal Stains decision
to send him to preside over the Russian
delegation at San Francisco cannot be
interpreted a merely q desire TO fulfil
the American request that Mr.. Molotov
be deputised to visit America At this
time. Rather the sudden decision or re-
versal at Moscow may be attributed to
the need on the part OF Russia for
establishing at once intimate relations
with the Truman administrstion.
While the foreign governments know
that our war and peace objectivss re-
main the same. they do not know the
personal equation Of the new President
or how he intends to conduct foreign
affairs. Foreign Secretary Anthony
Eden had been selected to 90 to San
\ Francisco to head the British delega-
ton, but he came earlier than planned
IN order to attend the funeral Of the
late President Roosevelt and to get
acquainted with the latest develop.
ments at Washington.
What is it that foreign governments
may be concerned about? They know
that the Congress is interested deeply
in international collaboration and that
. treaty based on the Dumbarton Oaks
plan is assured Of passage. But the
thing they do not know Is Americas
attitude toward territorial quest ons and
toward the granting Of funds or loans
war zones.
Shift In Policy Making.
To remarkable extent the formula
ton of policy has suddenly been shifted
from the White House to the Depart
ment OF State and the Foreign Rela-
tions Committees of Congress. Mr.. Tru-
man will be guided by the advice Of
those who draft policies and recon-
mendations. He Is not likely to assume
in effect the portfolio Of Secretary of
State, which is virtually what Mr.
Roosevelt did when he appointed the
present Secretary.
Mr. Roosevelt kept In his own hands
the making Of important decisions. Ali
the foreign governments knew 1t. They
had only to contact Mr.. Roosevelt
either directly or through Harry Hop
kins and they knew what the execu-
tive branch Of the Government planned
to do or would do. Mr.. Stettinius be-
came the organizer and manager Of
the Department Of State and In that
capacity has done very well.
Perhaps the decisions viii be much
the same as they would have been. For
Mr.. Roosevelt aensed with amazing ac-
curacy and with an uncanny vision Just
what the direction Of American foreign
policy should be. The process Of for
mulating policy. however, viii be q mat
ter OF many persons now and the Pres
ident Ii likely to make up his mind as
between conflicting recommendations If
there are controversies. rather than to
spend his time developing policies of
his own initiative.
Important in the series of points
needing clsrincation is the vital matter
Of the security Of the United States
In relation to overseas bases. The deci-
sion ut Yalta was to give Russia one
third Of Poland Is a security barrier.
The United States Is, by analogy, justi-
fed in asking that strategic bases be
granted or leased to us In the Pacific
just as they have been in the Atlantic.
where other friendly powers are con-
cerned, and In getting outright control
over any islands wrested from Japan
or previously under her mandate.
Trustseship Formula.
The formula Of trusteeship for colo
NAL possessions does not apply to the
American desire for strategic bases. De-
cause no economic resources or colonial
developments are involved. All the ter.
ritory taken from Japan thus far to
which America seeks the unhampered
right to develop rs airbases would not
make . total area 80 miles long and
30 miles Wide II it were consolidated
in one piece.
1t was agreed ut Yalta that no spe-
cific boundaries or areas would be dis
cussed at San Francisco, since this 10
. part OF the peace settlements with
Germany and Japan rather than q part
Of the new league Of nations agree
ments. But It was decided that the
formula for handling old mandates
would be discussed In an implicit sense.
So the United States is desirous that
clear distinction be drawn between
mandated areas or trusteesaips that In
volve Jurisdiction over large areas OF
what are called backward peoples or
undeveloped lands and what are termed
strategic bases. It Il the latter that
our military and naval folks feel should
be assured us, and this is probably one
Of the first thorny problems that the
new President will have to settle. Other
nations viii be willing to concede this,
but they may wish also to acquire what
amounts to annexation rights over
larger areas.
1t is to avoid establishing embarrass-
ing precedents that conversations on
these cfases have been going on at the
Department Of State with the Ameri-
can delegation to San Francisco.
tRsproduetion kights Asservsl.)
r. NAlsl