Detroit evening times., 1945-05-02
BEHIND
The NEWS
BY Paul
Manon

y
the one here, but was more than
a little different. The Yank and
Red starist who brought the two
armies together in Germany
drank champagne from beer
mugs and slapped each other on
the back. There was none Of
that here.
The meeting of the minds on
the first series of conference
compromises was not even
celebrated by an announcement
of official comment although
the press had been kept waiting
two hours, practically breath
less, to get it. Mr.. Stettinius had
called the newsmen together to
give out the explanations and
then had to tell them with COM
fessed embarrassment that he
could not give it out.
THE fact was the juncture
Il here did not seem to offer
the best possible publicity value.
We had at least a three to one
vote over the Russians on the
first Molotov proposition. Brit
ain and China were with Us on
following the diplomatic prece.
dent and common social amen
ity by letting the host be the
chairman of the conference.
Thus we gave more generously
than may have been evident in
the bare announcements, by ac-
cepting the British 'comprom-
ise" OF rotating chairmanships
under q restriction which re-
tains administrative control Of
the conference to Stettinius.
A T THE first juncture out
"A here, we gave also on the
Stain proposition of three seats
for Russia in the assembly. On
this Mr.. Truman said in effect
Mr.. Roosevelt had promised it
to Stain at Livadia out of con-
sideration to the war effort Of
the Ukraine and White Russia
and the devastation they have
suffered. Well, we have 48
states which contributed to the
war effort-including Russia's
although they have not suf-
fered devastation, and it seems
to me a somewhat disjointed
conclusion anyway that votes in
the assembly should be awarded
on the basis of devastation.
That part of the excuse sounded
shallow, and our generosity in
the matter was apparent in the
Stettinius announcement before
he left Washington that we
would give up what Mr.. Roose-
welt was claiming as his part in
the deal-three seats for us.
The balance side of the ledger
for us in the matter is not ap-
parent, and the British are
keeping their six.
Mr.. Truman was on sound
ground with his final conclusion
that as Mr.. Roosevelt had given
his word Of approval, he would
adhere to that word.
IF LEADERS do not keep their
i word-word given for their
nations not for themselves per-
Sonally and therefore not TO die
within - agreements here or
anywhere will not be worth
making.
But at the initial San Fran
cisco juncture there were no an
nouncements about others keep
ing words given even before the
start of this war about freedom,
about Poland and the real basic
structure upon which this con-
ference program was erected.
There is the word given in
the Atlantic Charter by MsSrs.
Roosevelt and Churchill which
all here have since signed and
which was specifically passed on
to Russia through the Anglo
Russian treaty of May 26, 1912.
This word was that no one-ab-
solutely no one-would seek any
aggrandiZement territorial or
OF therwise" (hegemonieS p;
would not even allow territorial
changes except with the freely
expressed wishes of the people
concerned" (London Poles p,
and thus fully recognize the
rights of all people to choose
the form of government under
which they will live" but we
are-even promising specifically
sovereign rights and self gov
ernment restored to those who
have been forcibly deprived Of
them CYugoslavia. Czecho-Slo-
vakia, Latvia, etc?)
THE Ans o. Russia treaty
Il started out with the pledge
that its very purpose was Ito
give expression at the peace
settlement and during recon-
Struction . on the basis Of the
principles 4. made on Aug. ii,
1941 (the above cited Roosevelt
Churchill charterO. Further
more, that treaty describes the
promised principles as those Ito
which the government of the
Union Of Socialist Soviet Repub-
lies, had already adhered Mos
COW declaration). This was the
basis of our lend-lease help 10
Britain and Russia and military
and other assistance" and every
thing we have done since then,
and the documents say so. In
deed the Anglo-Russian treaty
pledges "non-interference in the
internal affairs of other states"
in til ose exact, uneraseable