Evening star., 1945-04-24
Allies Seen Concerned
On Russian Viewpoint
Little Discretionary Power Given
Molotov, Says Writer
By David Laurence

SAN FRANCISCO, Calf, Apr1 "a.
Whatever may be the American or Brit.
ish plan or design for the United Ma
tions charter, there can be no denying
that Russia Is the big interrogation
mark Of the conference.
For there Is every reason to believe
that the delegations Of the United
States and Great Britain think alike
on almost all the fundamental points,
but, neither delegation knows what Rus
sia's attitude will be.
The Russian viewpoint has been .
matter Of concern for some time. The
Moscow government sent word at first
that 1t believed the role Of the sponsor.
ing powers should be to adopt the Dunn
barton Oaks plan as written and dis
courage amendments. But to this the
United States delegation found itself
unable to accede, especially as the
Senate members said such pact could
not get through the Senate.
Oppose Escape Clause.
What the Russians had in mind was
the voting procedure in the security
council and the designation of three
votes for the U. s. s. r. in the assem-
bly,. 1t Is not considered that any
other points except one have been
raised by the Soviet. That point re-
lates to the process for future amend
ments. The late President Roosevelt
agreed at Yalta, for instance, that the
membership Of the security council
should be fixed on permanent basis
and the Russians feel that the word
permanent" means what 1t says. They
are not disposed to let an escape clause
or revisionary provision come into the
charter.
Foreign Minister Molotov, like all
other Russian emissaries, probably
comes with very little discretionary
power and very likely will have to
refer to Marshal Stain constantly for
authority and instructions where con-
cessions are involved.
1t is to be hoped that the Russian
delegation will discover that American
public opinion favors some means Of
improving by amendment any charter
that is adopted. One Of the big ad-
vantages of holding the conference in
the United States Is that there is a
free play Of opinion and free press.
Thus, the contrast between the Paris
Peace Conference and the gathering
here is manifest. In 1919 correspond
ents had very irregular communication
facilities and the newspapers in France
were largely controlled by special in
terests, so that public opinion in France
was easily controlled and misled. Like.
wise, the British newspapers reaching
Paris often had special points of view
and the result was feeling of frustra-
ton among the American delegates,
especially the late President Wilson, who
was dependent primarily on the force
Of public opinion to get his ideas
adopted.
United States Seeks No Spoils.
Today, as in 1919, America seeks no
economic or territorial expansion and
no reparations or anything else from
neutrals or allies or enemies. Our posi-
tion is one Of deep-seated eagerness for
the setting up Of an international
league to preserve peace and Of friend
Eness for all nations. Hence the hold
ing of the conference in this country
enables the disinterestedness of the
United States to be given the whole
hearted support it deserves.
This time, too, there is no dispute as
to whether the peace treaty should be
completed first and then q league cove
nant written. Fortunately, President
Roosevelt did succeed in getting the
United Nations Conference scheduled
long before the peace settlement is
to be made, so that the structure of a
league can be established before the
customary irritations and conflicts arise
as Allies begin to divide the territorial
spoils Of war.
There is every reason to feel enthu-
siastic about the potentialities of the
present conference. A free press is
here, which means literally hundreds
OF American news reporters, and there
isn't much chance for intrigue and
backstairs manipulation to be carried on
without being subjected to scrunity or
exposure. Some persons may have
doubted the wisdom Of having such a
big attendance Of observers, but any one
who recalls the Paris Conference and
its secret goings-on, protected as it was
by controlled press abroad, cannot
but feel that the cause of international
collaboration has been materially ad-
vanced by holding the United Nations
Conference in San Francisco.
Reproduction Rights Reserved)