Evening star., 1945-01-19
Mr.. ChurchiII's Latest

In his sweeping review of the war
and his vigorous defense of British
policy, Prime Minister Churchill yes
terday covered so much ground and
touched upon so many important
and contentious subjects that an
adequate summary is virtually i'm
possible. Fundamentally, however,
nearly everything he said was tied
to his declaration that Britain, far
from seeking to carve out new
spheres of influence or domination,
has one ultimate objective regarding
liberated countries and repentant
Axis satellites-namely. the devel-
opment of government of the peo-
pie, by the people, for the people, set
up on basis of free and universal
suffrage. elections with secrecy of
the ballot and no intimidation"
Thus. in revealing that an agree
ment exists between Britain and
Russia to act jointly in dealing with
Balkan problems, Mr.. Churchill
declares that the arrangement
about which President Roosevelt is
kept constantly informed"-is not
aimed at establishing a new era of
power politics. but at avoiding inter-
Allied frictions and misunderstand-
ings in these critical days and at
guarding against chaos in places
like Greece and Yugoslavia. Law and
order, he says. must be maintained
in the liberated lands until free elec-
tions can be held, but the road to
such elections is long and covered
with obstacles, and since there are
no easy short cuts we must realize
that progress is bound to be painful
on occasion and that we shall have
to be patient, keeping in mind that
II we "tear ourselves asunder over
all the feuds and passions of the
Balkan countries we shall find
ourselves incapable of making great
settlements after the war"
Arguing along this line and stress
ing the fact that Britain has special
responsibilities in the Mediterrane-
an, Mr.. Churchill makes a strong
case for recent British policy in that
part of the world. More by implica-
ton than direct statement, he sug-
gests that when the Nazis withdraw
or are driven from Italy in the near
future, the hungry weight of the
liberated areas will be thrown upon
the fragile" Italian government in
Rome and that there may be conse-
quent disorders requiring firm action
involving more than little so-called
British interference" In respect to
Yugoslavia, he leaves no room for
doubt that he stands behind Marshal
Tito as the potential savior and
unif1er" of the country and that
King Peter at variance with his
own government - cannot obstruct
the march of events. AS for Greece,
Mr.. Churchill's words are especially
forceful: Britain will remain there
until the EAM-ELAS forces, who are
''even dirtier than the Germans" and
who are not Moscow Communists
but "Trotskyite Communists" are no
longer able to endanger the holding
of free and impartial elections.
Mr., Churchill does not speak spe-
officially of other lands already lib
Grated or about to be liberated-such
as Poland. for instance-but his dis
avowal of any dark schemes of
European intrigue or colonial expan-
sion" and his emphasis on the prin-
ciple of free elections lend strength
to his declaration that the London
Moscow Balkan agreement is not a
balance-of-power instrument but a
kind of stopgap or interim measure
to be superseded by great settle
ments after the war" AS to this,
we shall have to wait and see. Eu-
ropes future will be shaped by the
good faith-by the real intentions
of the great powers. And these will
be disclosed by actions rather than
words.