Evening star., 1945-03-04


I am confident that this will be done,
for the selfish ends of the United Ma
tions require this. Beyond this we
should cooperate with Russia and
Great Britain to the fullest extent pos
sible consistent with our American
people are entitled to know, from the
experience of the past, that too much
trust must not be placed in some of
the promises made at the Crimea Con-
ference.
With these comments We come to
brief survey of how the promises of
Great Britain and Russia have been
kept since World War I. In 1881 Japan
invaded Manchuria, wanton aggres-
sion, violating the promise of Japan in
the League of Nations Covenant to
respect and preserve the political inde-
pendence and territorial integrity of
China. This occurred under the Hoover
administration and the United States
vigorously protested against this ag-
gression. Through our State Depart
ment we sought the cooperation of
Great Britain TO find means, short of
war, to prevent it, While Great Britain
was under a solemn obligation under
Article x to preserve the territorial
integrity of China, also a member of
the League of Nations, she not only
failed to keep such promise but declined
to cooperate with the United States in
measures of any kind against Japan.
Ethiopian Case Cited.
In 1884 both Italy and Ethiopia were
members of the League of Nations.
Nevertheless, Italy, without cause, at
tackled Ethiopia and while the League
condemned the aggression and invoked
economic sanctions against Italy, no
serious efforts were made to put them
into effect. Neither Great Britain nor
France. separately, did anything to full
fill their promises to protect the terri
torial integrity of Ethiopia.
Furthermore there was never time,
prior to 1896, when Great Britain and
France could not easily have prevented
the rearmament of Germany. Not only
was there no attempt to do so for sew
eral years prior to 1886 but the indus
tries of France and Great Britain were
permitted to sell to Germany vast guam
titles of war material. 1t is true that
Winston Churchill protested the re-
armament of Germany, but at that
time his was voice crying in the will
derness and had no effect.
There is no doubt that Great Britain
and France welcomed the rearmament
of Germany under the mistaken belief
that Germany would make war upon
Russia alone and thus prevent the
spread of Communism in Europe. This
tragic mistake has cost millions of lives.
With respect to Russia record:
In 1884 Russia joined the League of
Nations and subscribed to its obligations.
Finland was also a member. In viola
ton of her promise to preserve the ter
ritorial integrity of Finland Russia made
war upon her. Because of this act of
aggression Russia was expelled from the
League of Nations.
Baltic States Violated.
Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania were
independent republics, created in 1918
and recognized as such by Russia who
also signed nonaggression pacts with
each of them. They were occupied by
Russia in 1910 and shortly afterward
pretended plebiScites, under Russian
auspices, were held in each of them
under which they were incorporated into
the Soviet Union. With respect to these
plebiscites it should be stated that in
Latvia only IL per cent of the popula-
ton is Russian; in Estonia, 20 per Cent,
and in Lithuania 3 per cent. In Latvia,
SIS per cent of the population is Prot
estant and "a per cent Roman Catholic.
In Estonia the population is 78 per cent
Lutheran and 10 per cent Greek Ortho-
dox. In Iithuania the percentage is
80 per cent Roman Catholic, 10 per cent
Protestant and per cent Greek Ortho-
dox
In the plebiscites referred to but one
ballot was presented to the voters and
there was no opportunity to vote other
wise
In. Latvia 81 per cent of the votes
were for the Communistic ticket; in Es-
tonia, SO per cent, and in Lithuania, SO
per cent.
Plebiscites No Test.
Thus it is seen that these countries,
overwhelmingly Roman Catholic and
Protestant, and Russian, voted al
most unanimously for Communism. 1t
is unthinkable that these plebiscites
evidenced in any substantial degree the
will of the people of these nations. The
United States has not, at least prior
to the Crimea Conference, recognized
the incorporation of these countries into
the Soviet Union, doubtless because the
so-called plebiscites should not be given
the slightest weight by any liberty
loving people.
have thus detailed the situation in
regard to these three small nations be-
cause it is very important in evaluating
the promises of the Crimea Conference
with respect to free elections in the
liberated" countries.
Coming now to consideration of the
Crimea Conference, 1t is to be noted
that the three republics have discussed
are not mentioned and that the par
tition Of Poland is made absolute with
the exception Of few miles of variation
from the curzon Line. which deprives