Evening star., 1945-03-04

Curzon Line, viz: A part of former
Galicia which did not belong to Russia
but had belonged to Austria for more
than 100 years prior to the First World
War, at the conclusion of which it was
granted to Poland by the Allies. In
this territory there are extensive oil
wells. Russia did not have the slightest
claim upon it either ethnologically, po-
litically on religious grounds, or other
wise.
Silent on Violations.
The second paragraph of the Atlantic
Charter provides that the parties there
to desire to see no territorial changes
that do not accord with the freely ex-
pressed wishes of the peoples con-
cerned." In signing the Declaration of
the United Nations pledging the parties
thereto not to make separate peace
with Germany, Russia expressly sub
scribed to the purposes and principles
of the Atlantic Charter. Both President
Roosevelt in his address to Congress
and Prime Minister Churchill in his
address to Parliament were silent upon
the violation of the above provision of
the Atlantic Charter in discussing the
partition of Poland.
I do not criticize President Roosevelt
or Prime Minister Churchill for making
the agreements that they did at the
Crimea Conference They no doubt
felt that violation of the Atlantic Char
ter was necessary to secure Stains full
cooperation in the prosecution of the
war and demilitarizing Germany after
ward. Stain might have said that the
Russian armies had done their share
and that America and Great Britain
should finish the job. To represent the
outcome of the Crimea Conference as
great diplomatic victory for the
United States, however, is to misrepre-
sent the facts. 1t was a great diplo-
matte victory for Stain and for no
one else
While better terms undoubtedly
could have been obtained from Russia
in 1912, when she was sorely in need
of material help from us, criticism of
our failure to do so will profit nothing
now.
Should Correct Wrong.
At the San Francisco Conference we
should endeavor to correct the wrong
done to Poland and the smaller coun-
tries Of Europe. Russia should there
be reminded of the promise of the At
lantic Charter that no territorial
changes should be made that do not
accord with the freely expressed wishes
of the people concerned. There every
effort should be made to provide for
an honest vote of the inhabitants of
that part of Poland held by Russia upon
the question of whether they desire to
become a part of Russia or remain with
Poland, and to secure an agreement
with Russia and Poland to abide by
the result.
With respect to submitting to the
people of Western Poland the question
of the form, character and personnel of
their government hope that the San
Francisco Conference will endeavor to
insure an honest election which can be
had if it is placed under the supervi-
sion of an international commission
upon which neither Russia nor Poland
shall be represented but which will be
composed of nationals of disinterested
countries whose only concern shall be
that the election be honestly conducted.
If the things I have mentioned should
be provided for at San Francisco, and
honestly carried out, the United Ma
tions organization which will be Gre
ated there can do much to prevent wars
in the future. I hope that the expe-
rience of two world wars, and their
awful cost, will convince those nations
which have SO frequently violated their
obligations that in the future their
promises must be kept if another world
war is to be avoided
Hope for Free Consultations.
At the very least we may hope that
the organization to be formed at San
Francisco will insure free consultation
between all the nations upon all ques-
tions involving world peace and decla-
rations with respect thereto which will
tend to solidify the opinions of all peace
loving peoples and act as deterrent to
any nation contemplating aggressive
war.
In my opinion one of the most impor-
tant questions to be decided at San
Francisco will be whether a nation
charged with aggression shall be per-
mitted to prevent any action against it
by the United Nations organization
without its consent. Of course it is
ridiculous to suppose that nation guilty
of aggression would consent to any act
of punishment against itself. 1t is
very doubtful if the smaller nations
represented at San Francisco will agree
to the plan insisted upon by Russia
which would only prevent wars among
small nations, leaving Russia, Great
Britain, the United States, France and
China free to make war without any
real hindrance by the United Nations
organization.
However, even if this demand Of Rus
sia must be acceded to in order to secure
her membership in the United Nations
organization, this should not prevent
our becoming part of it, provided that
we shall not be obliged to perpetuate
the injuctices found in the Crimea
agreement The United States member
of the Security Council can be relied
upon to prevent this.
Few Left to Wage War.
With Germany and Japan completely
demilitarized for many generations to
come, there will be no danger Of an
other world war so far aS we can nov