Evening star., 1945-10-28
Where America Stands

The advance announcement from
the White House that President
Truman's address in New York
City's Central Park was to be his
most important foreign policy state
ment since he assumed the presi-
dency may have aroused undue ex-
pectationS on the part of some of
his audience. If so, they were dis
appointed, for it was not a sensa-
tional speech. But it was a clear,
calm and firm exposition of the
principles on which this country's
foreign policy rests.
Mr.. Truman reiterated that we
seek no territory beyond that re-
quired for the bases essential to our
own security. And he stated again
that the United States, even after
rehabilitation, proposes to remain
strong military power-strong
enough to enable the armed services
to discharge their fundamental mis-
sion of providing for the defense Of
the United States until such time
as we can safely look for security to
a functioning international organi-
zation.
The President conceded that we
are passing through a "diflcult
phase" Of international relations,
and the f1rmness of his restatement
of the proposition that the United
States will refuse to recognize any
government imposed upon any ma
ton by the force Of any foreign
power" suggests that he views the
future with something less than
equanimity. There is little in the
speech, however, which sheds light
directly on the sources of the Presi-
dents concern. He said that diff
ferences among the victorious pow
ers "are not hopeless or irrecon-
cilable." There are mo conflicts OF
interest so deeply rooted that
they cannot be resolved" But their
solution will require steadfast ad-
herence ito the high principles we
have enunciated" and "a willingness
to find common ground" in apply
ing these principles. Obviously, the
President was alluding to the differ
ences which have arisen among the
Big Five, and probably he had par
ticular reference to the deterioration
of the relationship between Russia
and the western powers. Little, II
anything, is added, however, to the
sum of our knowledge as to the
precise nature OF these problems.
Presumably, the President feels that
his ultimate objective-Allied har-
mony-would not be served by get
ting down to specific cases at this
time.
The speech did give definite assur-
arlce that international discussions
looking toward the free exchange
of fundamental scientific informa-
ton in the field OF atomic energy
as distinguished from the processes
of manufacturing atomic bombs
will be begun "in the near future"
This certainly is desirable, although
its importance should not be exag-
gerated.
Mr.. Truman recognizes that the
emergence of the atomic bomb
makes the development and appli-
cation of our foreign policy more
urgent than we could have dreamed
six months ago." The international
discussions, however, will deal only
with the exchange Of fundamental
scientific information" not with the
industrial "know-how" essential to
the production OF the bombs, and
which, presumably, we alone possess
at this time. Lacking any arrange
ment for effective international
supervision and policing OF atomic
activities, this probably is the correct
position for US to take. But we
should not deceive ourselves. In the
present state OF affairs We should
consider whether Russia, for exam
pie, will be more interested in sub
scribing to the principles OF our
foreign policy or in learning how
to make atomic bombs of her own.