Imperial Valley press., 1945-05-21
IS WAR ENDED
IN EUROPE?


Disquieting is the news from the Bal
kans. Trouble is brewing there and it
well might end in clash of arms.
Back of it is the eternal urge of terri
torial grab" and it seems the most disas-
trous years of war in the history of the
world have not left a lesson we'll enough
learned to keep victors from demanding
spoils at the expense of peace.
If it means more fighting, it may as
well come now Most certainly now is
the time for showdown. To temporize
is to invite collective trouble.
Marshal Tito may be correct in his con-
tentions that Trieste and slice of Aus
tria belong to the Yugos. In fact, the
Allies incline to his stand. But they de-
mand that he permit the entire situation
to be reviewed by the peace organizations
Tito has been a question mark from
the time he took command of the guerilla
forces to battle the Germans Only be-
cause he made the best showing did the
Allies accord him recognition during the
war. He had the unqualified support,
however, of Stain and in Tito's demands
now to annex territory he helped wreSt
from the Axis he largely is following
Stalin's tactics in holding any part of
territory he conquered.
No bloc should be tolerated where its
ambitions for territory and power threat
en- to hinder treaty making for warless
age, or which might peril world or
ganization to keep that peace
None the less alarming is the empasse,
to put it mildly, in the Polish argument.
No other view than this situation is
growing tense can be taken when Stain
bluntly and arbitrarily tells Great Britain
and the United States that he has no in
tantion of explaining the arrest of the
sixteen Poles who were to try to affect
unity between the two Poland regimes.
Stain bases his stand on what ne con-
tends was agreed upon at the Yalta con-
ference Either he is taking advantage
of wider Interpretation of that agree
men tor the full intent of the Yalta ne
gotiations never has been revealed Here
undoubtedly the lead rests with Churchill
if Stain is to be called to further ac-
count. This country and congress never
have had clear understanding OF what
transpired at the last meeting OF the Big
Three. Churchill knows. 1t is up to him
to take up the cudgel.
The longer these problems stand with
out full issue being taken and everything
brought to light, the more difficult the
eventual settlements. M t
Already both these situations in Eur
ope materially are having serious effect
on the all-out thrusts TO defeat Japan.
1t is leaving the whole Pacific war for us
to wage and win.
And that is unthinkable after our
whole policy was to defeat Germany
first.
We spent our men and our resources
to win the victory in Europe with the
understanding that when that came, all
the Allied forces would be united and
hurled against Japan.
1t is conceivable that Russia should be
fighting Japan at this moment. 1t is
not asking too much for Britain to be
recovering her own Pacific territories
and to have men and ships and planes at
Japan's throat along with our forces at
Okinawa and in China.
Have we been sold down the river?
Let's get this Yalta agreement out in
the open and not leave it mystery upon
which any nation can trade at our ex-
pense.
TIE damned outrage when foreigners