Evening star., 1945-04-27
Demand for Speed
Of Conference Rises

.3U EF4esFs
Of Conference Rises
Six Weeks Of Talks May Result
in Anticlimax, Says Observer
By David LsCysHcs
SAN FRANCISCO. Calif.--A sudden
demand for speed In getting the
United Nations Conference to write
IT. charter and adjourn has arisen. The
fear h that six-week conference will
not hold the foreign ministers and other
distinguished delegates here and that
they viii be turning over the responsi.
bility to lesser ofhcials.
The American delegation is well aware
Of this danger and Is doing everything
1t can to expedite the work 70 that the
sessions win not drag out SIX weeks or
more. Foreign Commissar Molotov, for
instance, could hardly afford to stay
here the full SIX weeks In these critical
times.
A program Of about three weeks II
being suggested instead. It win mean
night sessions. but the charter could
be written in that time There are
really very few controversial questions.
The Yalta Conference settled the vot-
ing procedure and, while there are
some knotty problems, they need not
absorb the conferences time. For, II
an agreement can be reached at all on
fundamental questions, the same re-
suit can be obtained In three weeks as
In six. -
Eden Needed In Britain.
The British are In favor Of speed, too.
Anthony Eden, Foreign Secretary, is
needed in Britain 1t this time and
prolonged absence is not considered pos
sible for him. Hence. whatever this
conference can do to solve the major
questions on three-week schedule will
be In the interest Of Its own prestige.
It would be unfortunate II all the dele.
cations felt that they had to prolong
the meetings 30 a. to express opinions
for the record. Very few plenary ses-
sions are planned anyhow, and the real
work Is to be done in the committees,
where ample opportunity for debate
exists.
Everything depends on the chairmen
Of the various committees. II they
buckle down to work and realize that
definite date for adjournment must be
kept in mind, there will be progress
toward an early ending. Some dele
gates express anxiety lest . secondary
group Of delegates be here at the end
Of . long conference and that this
whole affair may wind up In an anti
climax.
One step just taken which will help
toward an early closing Of the con-
ference Is the amendment proposed by
unanimous action Of the American
delegation. This amendment would
write into the charter . provision for
future revision of the charter when
three-fourths Of the assembly mem
bers and seven Of the security council
seek such revision.
Flexible Machinery.
This Ii an important piece of ma
chinery which can, by its hexibility,
take care OF future criticisms that may
arise ~ to the voting procedure Of
the new league or the part that smaller
nations may play. It can, therefore.
dispose at this time Of many trouble.
some amendments on which no agree
ment would appear to b Immediately
possible but which in the calmer at
mosphere Of the postwar period might
get . better reception. Likewise, it pre-
vents the charter from operating as
= straitjacket. Instead the document
can be changed to meet CONTINGENCIES
- they arise very essential part Of
any constitution.
The American delegation here has .
position Of leadership acknowledged on
every side. 1t Is . tribute to American
fairness and disinterestedness. Every
other delegation realizes that the
United States has primary and un-
restricted interest in building . true
peace structure and that America has
no ulterior purpose that could be con-
strued - harboring even remotely any
aggressive designs. II the same could
be said Of all the other nations. the
conference In San Francisco could wind
up its work in . week. There Is Alto
gether too much Weighing Of the char.
ter's provisions In the light Of terri
torial interests or economic ambitions.
There has not appeared. however,
from any quarter any sign Of dilatory
tactics or OF an uncompromising atti-
tude. The background Of . horrible
war not yet ended dominates here, rs
1t rightly should.
(Reproduction Rishts HsssrvsA.)