Evening star., 1945-01-07

ROWOA N0AlAAOt NNAy well 0CAC110 "a
justify itself If it is used during this
troubled interim period in the liber-
ated lands to block the eventual
exercise of the peoples right freely
to choose the government and in
stitutions under which, as free men,
they are to live" Accordingly, as
matter of policy, 1--WE and our Allies
have duty, which we cannot
ignore, to use our influence to the
end that no temporary or provi-
sional authorities" - in Poland,
Greece or elSewhere-will be allowed
to prevent popular elections later
on when it will be possible to hold
them.
But in reaffirming these and other
principles the President wisely en-
phasizes that this an imperfect world
and that although the Atlantic Char
ter is good, useful and essential
statement of detectives, those objec-
tives do not provide rules of easy
application to each and every" prob
lem now pressing for solution or still
in the making. He is frankly con-
cerned about situations like those
obtaining in Greece and Poland, but
there is no simple answer to them
from the American standpoint His
views seem to reduce themselves to
the basic thesis that while the OBJ
jectives Of the Atlantic Charter must
be sought after with the utmost
earnestness, the making of sound
peace also requires that the Ameri-
can people, and other peoples as
well, cultivate an understanding,
tolerant and patient frame of mind.
For we and our Allies are not al
ways going to see and think alike.
land international cooperation and
progress are not helped by any
nation assuming that it has
monopoly of wisdom and virtue"
Perfectionism can be as dangerous,
as it is unrealistic. IT we are to
guard against extremes of disillu-
sionment, then we must take the
mistakes, the disappointments and
the imperfections in stride. realizing
that they are almost inevitable.
1t is wholesome frame of mind
that President Roosevelt appeals for.
II we can have it, then we can pro-
ceed at once, as he urges, to enlarge
upon what has been achieved
already at Dumbarton Oaks and
establish without delay, during this
year, the permanent machinery for
the maintenance of world peace.
~ y
The keynote OF the Presidents
discussion of domestic affairs, un-
related to the prosecution of the war
or to foreign policy, is that IAN
enduring peace cannot be achieved
without strong America-strong
in the social and economic sense
as well as in the military sense"
His conception of a socially and
economically strong America is based
on acceptance of that second bill
OF rights" outlined to Congress last
year, OF which the right to useful :
and remunerative job in the indus
tries or shops or farms or mines Of
the Nation" is fundamental. In
painting an outline of the post
war prosperity to supply 10000 900
postwar jobs, the President wields
his brush in broad strokes.
We shall rely las much as possible"
on private enterprise, based on "ini-
tiative and vigorous competition"
freed OF monopolies and cartels, with
the Government standing by to
share the risks involved in private
financing of new facilities, plants
and equipment.
Along with the development of
natural resources, which the Presi-
dent exemplifies in the work of the
Tennessee Valley Authority, will
come the construction of civil air
ports and great highways, urban
redevelopment and provision of de-
cent housing-needed undertakings
which, on top Of a resumption of
normal manufacture, should supply
millions of productive jobs" under
private enterprise, yielding and
maintaining national income high
enough to provide for an orderly
retirement of the public debt along
with tax reduction"
1t is not necessary to accept in
detail this alluring prospect of post
war America in order to catch and
feel something of its inspiration.
Most OF us have some faint idea of
the problems to follow the collapse
of our war-supported national econ
omy. Yet the amazing feats of pro-
duction accomplished already in this
war have given us the faint outlines
Of new and promising horizons that
peace will make more attainable.
The progress that can be made
toward these horizons by American
initiative and resourcefulness, with
out dependence on Government
spending, controls and restrictions OF
individual freedom. will measure our
real progress. The only spirit with
which to face this future is the
spirit of confidence in the Ameri-
can people.
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