davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1945-05-29
Petoin's Trial

Any number OF factors. including
personal inclination. the war Situa-
ton and high American policy, may
lead Admiral Leahy to reject or
ignore Marshal Petain's request that
he journey to France and take the
witness stand in the treason trial
which the marshal is scheduled to
face next month. Whatever may
come of the move, however, it serves
to emphasize the fact that up until
November. 1912, the United States
recognized Vichy as legitimate
government and maintained diplo-
matte relations with it.
Making the most of this, Petain
and his counsel may argue that this
country would never have had for
NAL dealings with his regime If
either he or his policies had been
considered traitorous by the late
President Roosevelt or by the State
Department under Cordell Hull. The
argument may go on from there to
the effect that the legitimacy Of the
marshal's authority was further
demonstrated by the fact that we
sent so distinguished a man as Ad-
miral Leahy-who later assumed his
present role of chief of staff to the
American Commander in Chief-as
Ambassador to Vichy. Similarly,
emphasis may be given to the point
that Russia and the Vatican. as well
as the United States, recognized the
Petain government.
This line of defense carried little
or no weight when it was presented
over year ago in the case Of Pierre
Pucheu, the first of the Vichy min
listers to be tried for treason, but it
may prove more effective as far as
Petain is concerned. The 89-year-
old marshal, after all, is remembered
by millions Of Frenchmen as the
hero Of Verdun," and that fact,
combined with consideration for his
advanced age. may 60 far toward
softening the prosecution. A .man
who can lay claim to having won
great honors in the First World war.
Evening star., 1945-05-29
Bus Fare Decision

The Supreme Courts ruling in
what has been known as the Penta-
gon fare case finally disposes of a
difficult jurisdictional question aris-
ing out of the peculiar relationship
between the District and nearby
Virginia areas.
This case involved a challenge of
the Interstate Commerce CommiS-
sion's authority to regulate fares
charged by four bus lines trans
porting passengers between the
District and their places of war work
across the Potomac River. The War
and Navy Departments, contending
that prevailing rates Of fare were
too high, appealed to the ICC some
two years ago. That agency, after
a lengthy hearing, issued an order
reducing some fares and regulariz-
ing others. There was a serious
split within the commission, how
ever, and the transportation COM
panies, with other interested parties,
asked the courts to review the
jurisdictional issues involved.
The court first sent the case back
to the ICC on the ground that the
record did not present facts sufh-
cient to warrant a ruling on the
jurisdictional question. After the
commission had remedied this de-
ficiency the case again was sub
mitted to a three-judge District
Court, and that tribunal, with one
judge dissenting, then ruled that the
ICC lacked jurisdiction, and issued
permanent injunction against
enforcement of the fare order.
The effect of this decision was to
create a sort of no mans land in
which no person or agency was given
authority to regulate commerce.
But the Supreme Court, after re-
viewing the case, concluded that the
District Court erred in it's interpre-
tation of the law, the opinion of the
high court being that the ICC
acquired jurisdiction under a con-
gressional grant of authority to
carry out a national transportation
policy, and that, having jurisdiction,
it could also prescribe joint fares
between the Capital Transit Com
pany and the other bus lines serving
the area in question.
This decision is one which should
be welcomed, not only because it
operates Immediately to reduce
excessive fares, but also because it
apparently enables the ICC to deal
with other questions affecting trans
portation in the Metropolitan Area
which may be expected to arise in
the future.
Evening star., 1945-05-29

1914, Mr.. Farley resigned as State chair
man.
Whether he can stage a comeback,
possibly as Democratic nominee for
Governor next year, remains to be seen.
Mr.. Farley himself is keeping a close
mouth regarding any future political
plans he may have He is widely popu-
lar in his home State. 1t is unlikely
he would enter the lists, however, If
1t appears Gov. Dewey stands a good
chance for reelection. II Mr.. Farley
were convinced, on the other hand,
there was an opportunity to defeat the
Republican Governor, the chances are
he would be in the ring fighting
1t has been generally expected that
Senator Mead will make another bid
for the gubernatorial nomination next
year. If he does he may flnd himself
face to face with the man who turned
him back three years ago. Obviously,
If Mr.. Farley could be elected Governor
Of New York. he would be in a strategic
position. If the present trend continues
1t is certain beyond q doubt that Mr..
Truman will be nominated by the next
Democratic national convention for
full four-year term in the White House.
-
With a Missouri candidate for Presi-
dent, what would be more likely than
that the party would look to the East
for Truman running mate, or that it
would cast its eyes on a Governor of
New York? 1t is evident, therefore, that
much may depend upon whether Mr..
Farley first wins recognition of the
Truman administration, and second,
whether he can make a successful re-
turn to the political stage in his own
State.
A difficulty which might upset any
Farley plans for the Democratic nomi-
nation and subsequent election as Gov
ernor lies in the attitude of the Amer
lean Labor and Liberal parties in New
York State.
The American Labor party was un-
willing to 60 along with the Farley
nominee, James j. Bennett, jr., in the
last gubernatorial campaign and it put
a candidate of its own in the field, in
creasing greatly the Dewey plurality.
Undoubtedly Mr.. Farley would have to
make his peace with this political ele-
ment If he is to get anywhere.
Evening star., 1945-05-29
Kings of Our Time
By Maj. George Fielding Eliot

ually, the full power of the western
world poured in on him and smashed
him between it and the Russian Armies
Japan seized vast expanse Of terri
tory In the Far East, but could not
even knock out China altogether, and
the Japanese attempt to destroy the
power OF the American Navy, which has
now brought destruction to the thresh-
old of Nippon, was failure. The king
was wounded, but not killed, and has
made a magnificent recovery.
In all this. there is lesson for the
future: A lesson for those of us who are
going to be living in q world in which
there will be only two great military
powers, the Anglo-American confrater-
nifty and the Soviet Union. It is obvious
that as long as these two powers are
determined to have peace, and cooper
ate to that end, there will be peace. If
they fall out, there will be another war
in due time.
1t cannot, however, be war In which
either side can hope to take the other
secret planning and sudden attack, for
impossible for either the Anglo-Ameri-
Cc4l SCd d1A0 hA POWCAs "a oAAC oOv4OV
land power, to spring a surprise attack
against the other which can have any
hope of quick knockout.
The two types Of power balance each
other; working together they are in
vincible; working at cross purposes, they
can only produce long, wearing and
terrible war OF the continents. which
can profit no one and from which nei-
ther side can hope for ultimate victory.
Such q war can result only In . peace
of exhaustion which would leave civili-
zation in ruins for thousand years.
Therefore, there Is every reason to
believe that no such war will be fought.
Therefore, there Is every reason to an
ticipate that such differences as do exist
between the two groups will be ironed
: out in discussion, and win lead to that
confident collaboration between them
which must be the foundation Of future
world security. As the Ukrainian For
eign Minister, Mr.. Manuilsky, said at .
dinner In San Francisco on Sunday
evening:
"There is no place on earth where the
interests of the American people run
counter to those Of the Soviet peoples
there Is sound basis for co-opera.
tion."
tcepyrisht le4SJ
Evening star., 1945-05-29

and who once was held In very high
and affectionate esteem by the over
whelming majority Of the people Of
France. has many advantages.
It remains to be seen whether Ad-
miral Leahy will have anything to
say for or against him, but irrespec-
tive Of this, as matters stand today,
the old marshal seems determined
to put up vigorous fight in his own
behalf. Wholly apart from its inter-
national aspects, it is fight likely
to have spectacular effect on inter-
nal French politics, and there is good
reason to believe that the prosecu-
ton will therefore have to approach
it gingerly.
Evening star., 1945-05-29
Furnishing the Guilty

The recent arrest of Grand Ad-
miral Doenitz's so-called government
at Flensburg marked the absolutesdis-
solution of Hitler's "thousand-year"
Reich. The entire surrender regime
has been placed under lock and key,
including hundreds of the topmost
officers of the conspiratorial general
staff. The last vestige of German
political and military authority thus
has been swept away, leaving the
whole country completely subject to
Allied control and Allied justice.
Although the Flensburg govern
ment" seemed in many ways too dis
turbing thing to tolerate, the delay
in liquidating it probably can be ex-
planned satisfactorily on the ground
that our high command needed some
such temporary device to help make
the surrender of the Wehrmacht as
smooth an operation as possible. As
long as it was allowed to exist, how
ever. it was potential source of
misunderstanding among the Allies.
More than that. it encouraged the
groundless suspicion that top officers
like Doenitz. Jodl and Keitel might
somehow escape being called to ac-
count to determine the degree of
their culpability.
It has yet to be determined by the
proper Allied authorities whether
such men are in the same criminal
class as Goering. Certainly members
of the German high command and
the German general staff - which
has been an organization of war
plotters ever since the days of Bis
marck - cannot be absolved from
all responsibility for what has hap
pened. AS far as lawless aggression
is concerned. for example. Hitler
could never have cut loose against
Germany's neighbors unless the
. general staff had thought pretty
much as he did. The future peace
demands that that staff be perma-
nently done away with. in such a
manner as to insure against its re-
vival. but Just how its present men,
bers are to be punished-whether by
death. long-term Imprisonment or
other means-is question that does
not lend itself to easy answers.
ARussian radio commentator, sug-
gestins speed-up in the punishment
OF war criminals, has been quoted
as asking: why exchange compn-
ments with hardened Nazi mur-
derers? Better send them straight
to the gallows." That sentiment
doubtless finds some support in this
country, and certainly there is no
season for any exchange of compli-
Evening star., 1945-05-29
This Changing World
By Constantine Broom

him to cultivate as close relations with
Marshal Petain as possible. Admiral
Leahy went to Vichy late in 1910.
Among the documents which Marshal
Petain Is said to be preparing to intro
duce ut the trial Is one concerning an
agreement with the British government
several months after the fall Of France
and at time when London was suffer-
ing heavy blows from the German Luft-
waite.
According to testimony he is prepared
to give at his own trial, former French
Foreign Minister F1andin has stated that
late In October, 1910, Prime Minister
Churchill received in London an envoy
OF Marshal Petain bearing assurances
and proposals and requests from the
French government"
Stressing that this occurred before
Marshal Petain defined, at Montoire, q
policy which was limited purely and
simply to the terms of the armistice
with the Germans, Flandin said the
agreement with the British provided
that the British government would re-
establish the integrity OF France If
France did nothing toward helping the
victory Of the totalitarians, and much
more, II she contributed to q British
victory. The former foreign minister
went on to say Britain would no longer
hold herself responsible for the future
Of France and her empire If the French
government should surrender air and
naval bases to the enemy"
Two other important points are said
to have been covered in the document:
/. "The British government will exclude
from the blockade the transport of CO.
lonial produce from Dakar and Casa
blance and the North African ports to
the ports Of Provence" 2. "The British
government promises no longer to take
by force or influence by propaganda
those French colonies remaining faith
full to the government Of Vichy."
AS far as Flandin's presentation of
his own case is concerned, the matter
comes down to the point as to when
the Vichy regime became a traitor gov
ernment. He himself says the date was
November 8. 1912, because from that
date there was no longer an armistice
and therefore no legal government
could exist"
Many volumes have been compiled by
both the prosecution and the defense
for Marshal Petain's trial and from
them will come to light many incidents
which will grow in stature as time
rolls on
Evening star., 1945-05-29
Public Housing Tenonts

John 1hlder asks The Star to
specify its objection to the four
exceptions to his rule for evicting
5000 tenants Of public housing. He
recites the exceptions in his letter in
an adjoining column.
It is not these particular excep-
tions, but the far broader ones out
lined in his letter to the House
District Committee, which The Star
questions. They follow, with italics
supplied.
Cd But before we do this (notify
higher income public housing ten
ants to seek private houSing) we
wish to know that private housing
can proutde for all the $4,000 fami-
lies"
ca These progressing families
might remain as NCHA tenants until
proper privately owned dwellings
were available at rents not to erceed
one-tourth of tenant income"
90 Objection Of public housing
tenants against moving to private
dwellings will not be considered valid
IF the dwellings are adequate and
if the rent does not erceed one
fourth of income"
In view of these broad exceptions
which make public housing authori-
ties the arbiters as to the legitimacy
of private rents, the adequacy of pri-
vate dwellings and whether or not
they are proper" the exceptions
enumerated by Mr.. 1hlder in his let
ter do not seem controlling
For under the broad exceptions,
public housing evidently will con-
tinue indefinitely to shelter families
whose income is far in excess of the
level at which public housing should
aim. That will hurt public housing.
According to the Census estimate
(1940) there are 21,640 District
family groups in the wage-salary
category earning $4,000 or more,
compared with the 71,720 families
under $4,000. The Department of
Commerce estimates the average
income of District residents in 1943
as $1,304. In retaining $4,000 families
in public housing, Mr.. 1hlder is
retaining the cream.
Evening star., 1945-05-29
Prophecy Pons Out
N the Topeka Capital,

from the IopekA Capital.
This is that optimistic time of year
when youngsters graduate from high
schools and colleges and when-its an
old American custom-prophecies are
written for yearbooks.
Back in 1915 the West Point Howit-
zer went to press with forecasts of the
future included among its pages. A
classman named Omar Nelson Bradley
was written up In this manner: "His
most promising characteristic Is getting
there, and some Of us some day will be
Dragging to our grandchildren that he
was q classmate."
Well. Gen. Bradley got there, al
right. He has developed into perhaps
the most able field commander the
United States has in the entire Euro
pean theater Of operations. And 80,
don't make light Of classbook prophecies.
You never can tell.
Evening star., 1945-05-29

After carefully examining the pro-
cedure which the French courts will fol-
low In the trial Of Marshal Petain,
Admiral Leahy is reported to have de-
cided not to 60 to France to testify In
behalf Of the man whose activities he
was able to observe while he was AM
bassador to the Vichy regime
Admiral Leahy, who was appointed
by President Roosevelt to the post after
the French government was moved from
Paris, Is said by friends to feel that,
whatever testimony may be presented,
Petain's case already Is settled in the
minds Of the French judges who are
expected to begin hearing the case next
month.
The aged marshals strong letter to
the admiral, which was revealed to
the public by the Petain attorneys in
Paris over the week end, will have no
bearing on Admiral Leahy's decision not
to 60 to France, his friends say. Even
stronger than the testimony he could
offer are certain documents which Mar
shall Petain plans to offer to the court.
Whether Marshal Petain was-as he
has contended-a virtual prisoner of the
Germans before he was permitted to
return to France just before the Allied
victory Is only one of the interesting
points which doubtless will be argued
at the trial. In this connection it Is
interesting to note that, whether he re-
manned in Germany voluntarily or in
voluntarily, the Germans would not per-
NIT him to 60 back to France while
they still held control over the country.
They knew, of course, of the divided
opinion in France concerning the "hero
Of Verdum" and they did not want to
risk adding to the trouble they already
were having with the people.
Then, as they realized the full import
OF the defeat by the Allies, they per-
mitted Petain to return to his homeland,
possibly in the hope that the trial
eventually might do them some good:
certainly, at that late date, 1t could do
them no harm.
Word from Paris is that Marshal Pc
tain's counsel, in asking Admiral Leahy
to testify for the marshal, intended to
show that prior to the total occupation
of France by the Germans at the time
of the Allied invasion OF North Africa in
November, 1912, the United States did
not regard the vichy regime as treason
able. 1t is hardly secret that President
Roosevelt told Admiral Leahy, when he
dispatched him to Vichy, that he wanted
Evening star., 1945-05-29
Something Wrong
From the New York Times.

from the New York Times.
In making q personal call ut the Ger.
man Legation In Dublin ito express
condolences for Adolf Hitler,s DEATH
1t IS possible that President Eamon de
Valera was merely following what he
believed to be the protocol required Of
. neutral state. Considering the char
acter and the record Of the man for
whose death he was expressing grief,
there Is obviously something wrong with
the protocol. the neutrality or Mr.. de
Valera.
Evening star., 1945-05-29
The Veto Snorl

Cne security council OBVIOUSLY mas
become the thorniest problem before
the San Francisco Conference. It
contains implications of basic prin-
ciple which render its solution a
moral test of the future world
charter in the minds and hearts of
mankind.
1t should be understood that there
is no real dissent over the direct
veto power to be enjoyed by men,
bers of the security council on pro-
posals for positive action in cases
allegedly threatening peace and
security. That power, though theo-
retically illogical, has been generally
conceded as practically necessary in
the present state of international
relations. The dispute arises over
the So-called secondary" veto,
whereby any member of the council,
which, of course, always includes
the big Five" could forbid not only
action, but even consideration or in
vestigation of a complaint which
might or might not directly affect
council member.
This secondary veto" was agreed
upon at Yalta and is being insisted
upon by Soviet Russia, reportedly
under threat of refusal to ratify the
charter. But it is vehemently op-
posed by many of the smaller powers
and is supported by the American
and British delegations only half
heartedly as a regretful necessity
to carry out the Yalta agreement
and keep Russia in the world or
ganization.
The practical and moral implica-
tions of so extensive veto power
are alike easily discoverable by cit
ing certain cases which might well
arise in the near future. Suppose,
for example, that, after the estab-
lishment of the world organization,
Marshal Tito, in pursuance of his
plan to establish a Balkan fedora
ton, should engineer a seizure of
the Greek port of Salonika to round
out his proposed autonomous Mace
donia. Directly, this would concern
only Balkan countries, albeit its ex-
plosive possibilities to international
peace and security would be only
too obvious. Yet Soviet Russia could
veto both action and investigation
of the matter. The only thing the
general assembly could do about it
would be speeches from the floor,
with no practical consequences. That
would reveal the world organization
as far more impotent than the
League of Nations, which could and
did send a Lytton Commission to in
vestigate Japan's seizure OF Man.
churia and make condemnatory
report branding Japan as wanton
aggressor. Japan, to be sure, defied
the league and resigned from men,
bership, retaining its Manchurian
booty because the peace-loving ma
tions of the world would not get
together and remedy the wrong by
force. But Japan thenceforth suf-
fered from a CALLING stigma and its
"Manchukuo" creation was diplo-
matically ostracised. If the new
world organization can be paralyzed
in its proper functions at any mo-
ment by the dissent of a single
great power, its authority and pres
tige may soon be fatally undermined.
Evening star., 1945-05-29
One Solemn Pledge of Foith

Not all your flags and songs, America.
Not all your prayers OF thanktulness
and praise
Can pay your debt to these, your fallen
sons,
Who offered you their bright, sn.
finished days.
Dying. they gaue their homeland back
its f0trerS,
ls fog unstdined. Its uncorupted
air,
Its speet, iunsilior n.eadow paths and
Al that they loued - and can no
longer share.
Their blood cries out to you, America,
Asking dlone one solemn pledge Of
faith:
The building OF the long dreamed
house OF peace
Where hate shall enter not, nor tDdr,
nor death.
NEZ BARCLAY KIRBY.
Evening star., 1945-05-29

When you strike at king, you must
kill him.
So runs the ancient adage, and like
most old-time sayings, there is sound
wisdom behind it. He who strikes at a
king has certain initial advantages: He
knows when and where the attempt is
to be made, he provides the necessary
weapon and he makes his plans in
advance.
The king Is potentially stronger than
the would-be killer, for if he we're not
there would be no reason to try to kill
him by such methods; he could be
otherwise dealt with. The killer seeks
to overcome the kings advantage in
potential strength by creating a situa-
ton IN which temporary advantages
planning, surprise, weapons enable
him to kill the king. But If he fails
to kill him, he stands exposed as the
kings enemy, and the king will surely
deal with him.
Along precisely similar lines has run
the calculations OF would-be world con-
querors. In actual total power, the re-
sources of Napoleon, of Wilhelm II, of
Adolf Hitler and of the japanese mill
tary clique were considerably less than
VAASsoO VI VAAC 41SVAOAo WnOAll t1lCy HlOe
posed to conquer. They planned to over
come this difficulty, and to seize supreme
power, by careful preparation, by sur
prise, by superior readiness in the mat
ter of translating potential strength into
lighting strength at decisive times and
place.
But they failed to kill the kings whom
they sought to destroy. They struck
their blows, but they were not fatal
blows.
Napoleon conquered the nations ad-
jacent to France In Continental Eu-
rope, but he failed to destroy the great
land power of Russia or the sea power
of Great Britain. In the end, these
powers overwhelmed him.
Wilhelm II managed to knock out
the Russian Of his cousin Nicky, but he
could not conquer France, backed by
the power Of Britain and eventually Of
the United States. He, too, went down
before the accumulating weight Of
superior force.
Hitler Knocked out France, but could
not knock out Britain and Russia, nor
even touch the United States. His
failure to invade the British Isles when
he had the opportunity left his enemies
the great base through which. event.