Evening star., 1945-02-15
Condid Explanation
Advised on PurIey
Writer Says Validity Of Steps
Must Await Senate Approval
By David LSsOrsncs

By David Lswrsncs
The American people are entitled to
some candid answers to SPECIFIC oues-
tions when President Roosevelt returns
here from the Big Three conference.
Among them are these:
!. What were the hard bargainss
driven by the President, rs the phrase
Il publicly used by one Of his spokesmen?
In exchange for m American willing
ness to participate in policing the affairs
Of Europe, what did the United States
get7
?. Did the President sign commit
ment In behalf Of the United States
defining the future boundaries Of Po-
land and, II 10, do the other govern
nents understand that this does not
come within the Presidents war powers
but must be submitted in the form of a
treaty to the United States Senate,
where 1t Is subject to approval or re-
lection by . two-thirds vote?
>. Does the United States acquiesce In
the annexation of Latyia, Lithuania
and Estonia, which were grabbed by
Stain when he was Hitler's partner in
1899 and 1910, and Is not this annexa-
tion, plus the change in Poland's bound
ary, violation of the Atlantic Char
ter, which pledges Russia not to seek
any territorial aggrandizement"?
Will U. s. Share in Reparations.
4. Did the President agree on any
formula for the ALLEGATION of repara-
tions arising from war damage done
by Germany and is the United States
to have any share of the reparations,
and, If 50. Is the American represent
ative to be provided for by treaty or by
statute rs was proposed after the
World War?
5. Was Stains price for possible aid
against Japan and for agreeing to the
Roosevelt formula of voting procedure
in the United Nations Security Council,
the giving OF American consent to the
partition of Poland and the annexation
Of the Baltic states?
8. Will the Russian and other Allied
armies withdraw and exercise no mill
tary control while free elections" are
held In liberated states?
7. Has any limit been placed on the
extent to which the new commission
on reparations, which Is to sit In Mos
COW, can extract materials or payment
I'm kind" from the German people?
Also has forced labor been included
as one Of the payments ''in kind" that
will be required? Will any maximum
he
Germany be told of this maximum 20
she can adjust her internal economy to
meet the payments?
These are pertinent questions TO
which the American people have a
right to get answers either directly or
through Congress. For while the pro-
visions Of our Constitution may be an
noying to some Of the totalitarian minds
OF today both in this country and
abroad, it Is nevertheless q requirement
that conditions fixing the terms of
peace must be submitted in treaty form
to the Senate.
Senate Approval Needed.
The decisions" OF the Big Three,
therefore, are not decisions 80 far as
the United States Is concerned until
the Senate approves, especially II such
decisions" relate to the conduct OF
AFFAIRS or policies or pledges Of the
United States affecting matters arising
after . state Of war shall have ended.
Mr.. Roosevelt does not require con-
sressional approval for any agreements
relating to the conduct Of military oper-
ations during the war, but peace condi-
tions and the underwriting Of the peace
OF Europe do require action by the
Senate.
The biggest unanswered question is
what promise or secret commitment was
made that has led to such rejoicing In
Russia and such widespread approval
In the British press, where it is vaguely
limited that the President agreed to
American participation In the enforce
ment of certain policies with respect to
the peace of Europe.
what were these pledges and what is
the extent OF Americas responsibility
In military way for postwar duties
In keeping Germany disarmed and en-
forcing the program outlined at the
Crimea conference?
Certainly the ofncial communique is.
sued this week doesn't tell u1 much
OF the story or give us q hint rs to tn,
sequeh that lie ahead for the unitee
states.
tReproduction Rishts Reserved,
EnglGnd's Four Chonces