Evening star., 1945-09-22
Letters to The Star
Discusses Sacrifice of Principle

To the Editor OF The Star:
In one of his recent articles Con-
stantine Brown has revealed that Rus
sia would have attacked Turkey II a
longer duration OF the Pacific war had
allowed her to do so as fighting and
therefore immune ally of America and
Britain. This opens up new vistas of
the present state of international law.
On August 8, the War Crimes Com
mittee, of which Russia was member,
published its report on its plan for the
trial OF war criminals. Article ga de-
scribed as Grimes against peace" the
planning, preparation, initiation or
waging Of war of aggression, or a war in
violation Of international treaties :"
In an editorial on August 30, you
pointed to the important fact that this
was IAN unprecedented effort to make
it a matter Of international law that
when a nations leaders resort to a
war of aggression. they must be held
accountable for that sim" 1t was, more
over, departure from a principle de-
fined by Hamilton in "The Federalist,"
No. Is, as follows: ut is essential to the
idea of law, that 1t be attended with
sanction . :. If there be no penalty an
nexed to disobedience, the resolutions
or commands which pretend to be laws
will, in fact amount to nothing more
than advice or recommendation"
Since this applies to the Briand-Kel-
logg pact, it, in reality, is intended to
w., L. Il
not exist when they committed their
misdeeds, but we are advised to accept
this violation of a highly respected
principle for the sake of creating an
even more precious precedent. Certain
ly tempting proposition! Yet, as Mr..
Browns article shows, we are in danger
of making a sacrifice without getting the
price. If Russia had attacked Turkey,
three weeks after that agreement, who
would have invoked the precious pre-
cedent? The precedent of being ex-
PEELED from the League Of Nations be-
cause of an unprovoked attack on Fin
land did not hinder Russia from ex-
plotting and committing her acts of
unprovoked aggression against Poland.
Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Rumania
and Japan. 1t did not even prevent
her from signing the previously mem
toned report of the War Crimes Com
mittee.
There is no greater danger to peace
than the spreading Of illusions of safe
ty. The execution of defeated enemy
leaders is but an elaboration of Gen.
Brennus' "Vae Victis," and far from
being new. The severe punishment of
scoundrels like Goering, Ribbentrop and
Papen is a moral necessity. But the
dream of raising international law to
unattained heights is shattered by cruel
facts. We had better keep our eyes
open. DR.. FRANZ KLEIN.
What Macarthur Really Said
To the Editor of The Star:
l, for one, am growing very impa-
tient with news commentators who
quote news sources inaccurately, In
order presumably to enforce their
own differing opinions.
Within the past IL hours I have
heard many supposedly topfiight radio
commentators say that Gen. Macarthur
had said that only 100000 regular
Army soldiers would be needed to carry
on the occupation of Japan" None of
them gave the qualifications that Gen.
Macarthur attached to this statement
qualifications that formed an integral
part Of 1t.
But the Congressional Record gives
his statement In full as did the press
when 1t was first printed.
Gen. Macarthur says specifically that
zoe, 900 men is an estimate Of the prob
able forces needed at the end of six
months unless unforeseen factors arise
to carry out the military duties of the
occupation, which is quite another mat
ter than saying fatty that he had made
such decision. as of today, with re-
spect to the entire occupation In all
it's aspects.
The general also notes that the
politico- governmental phases are an
other matter to be settled on a ma
tional and international plane.
We are told today that some 1000
civilians will be sent to Japan to con-
duct these phases. This seems to bear
out the generals prediction when he
forecast the probable situation some
six months hence.
Let's be fair to him, whether we like
him mr. not VERITAS