Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1945-03-02
Roosevelt Apology
On Compromise Seen
Pledges Made at Yalta Contrary
To U. s. Ideals, Says Writer
By David Laurence

~ - AoNoASs Jays NVIltVl
By David Laurence
The American people long will have
cause to remember the date--March /,
1945--when President OF the United
States sat before both houses of Con-
gress and calmly told them that the
United States stands committed to par
ticipation in the territorial boundary
disputes OF Europe, transfers Of popula-
tons and the other serious consequences
of triple alliance between the United
States, Russia and Great Britain.
1t was a sad occasion-sad because
most of the listeners throughout the
country didn't have the faintest idea
of what the commitment means to thei,
sons and grandsons and sac also be-
cause the man who went forth as the
agent of the United States came back
to apologize for the compromise" he
MADE.
1t was SAD also because the com
promise" was made not with the Russian
people but with a man who heads
totalitarian government in country
where freedom of expression is absent
so that nobody can tell at what mo-
ment the peace of the world can be
disturbed if the head of the Russian
government is not given his way again.
The President talked to Congress as
if he were sitting around the table
with a few men. His informality led
him to depart from his prepared
speech.
What Of Teheran Promises?
What he said about military CO.
ordination with Russia was loudly ap-
plauded, but one couldn't help Won
dering why the same promises of mill
in December, 1943, had to be replaced
by new promises, why the old declara-
lions about joint action of the Allies
in handling the liberated or conquered
areas had to be replaced by new decla-
rations and why the President gave
the impression that something new had
been developed at Yalta, namely, ''repa-
rations in kind" instead of in money
which he said they couldn't pay.
Yet the Bookings Institution pub
Hshed a book in 1923 showing that
capital assets or the fruit of produc-
ton worth approximately Is to %
billion gold marks had been paid by
Germany on reparations up to that
time and that about billion and
quarter marks could be credited to de
livery in kind"
The President said quite earnestly
Allies to destroy the German people
but he did not point out how the
German people could make living or
keep peaceful if their resources were
to be taken, as well as large slices of
territory, nor just how the will to
peace could be inculcated in 10000, 600
virile people, soon to be conquered, who
are being told by the President that
maybe after a period of about so
years Germany can expect to be a
member of the family of nations.
Thus with one breath it is argued
that Germany is to have a chance to
live and is not to be destroyed, and in
another moment the death sentence
for Germanys economic life is pro-
nounced While the spirit of vengeance
may satisfy the emotions of the mo-
ment, history proves it never brings
peace.
Stain Being Appeased.
The words of the Presidents speech
are not in themselves at fault. They
are but the tragic and realistic record
of how the territory of Europe is being
carved up in the name of security" of
how Stain is being appeased and of
how this is considered a great achieve
ment for peace.
Obviously there is unanimous agree
ment' between the Big Three when
one Of the number makes pledge in
December, 1943, to grant Russia's terri
torial demands and the second one finds
it necessary to compromise" in order
to preserve Russia's cooperation. All
the phrases about free elections and a
new government of unity at Warsaw
have to be interpreted in the light of
future submission by both Poles and
Germans to the new settlements.
If America hereafter is to be party to
these power politics settlements or
international logrolling, it would be
much better if the United States ap-
pointed bipartisan delegation in the
future to speak for the United States
AS it is, there is no record of what the
President said at Yalta. No verbatim
record was made of what he said,
though the other members of the Big
Three may have kept some notes. Will
the members of the Big Three live
for another so years? Will America S
pledge to send her armies to guarantee
the boundaries made at Yalta have to
be honored without knowing what the
detailed commitments were or what the
United States got in the compromise?
Contrary to Ideals.
All this is contrary to the ideals which
had been so eloquently portrayed as
Americas goal in the war. But ideals
are being shouted down in the official
propaganda line, which tells the people
that only the "perfectionists" bother
with ideals and that principles such as
are contained in solemn pledge known
as the Atlantic Charter are just bunch
Of scrubbed notes. Americans are sup
posed to be practical" now and condone
the grabs for territory and the enforced
transfers of millions OF people, Poles as
well as Germans, from their homes.
All this is the New Order" for which
American blood has been spilled in
Europe. If it assured peace it would be