Evening star., 1945-01-28


perhaps Gen de Gaulle, are secret, but
the main items of the agenda are neces-
sarily public property, made so by the
logic of events.
Virtually every item is controversial
That is the reason for the conference
Minor differences of opinion between
the great powers, this country, Great
Britain and Soviet Russia, are settled
to use favorite Washington phrase, by
the "lower levels" of officials. The
major differences of principles and Of
opinion can be worked out only by the
heads of state, who are accountable only
to their peoples.
1t has been more than year since
Roosevelt and Churchill conferred with
Stain at Teheran, at which the approx
June was set. Almost year before that
meeting Roosevelt and Churchill at
Casablanca jointly announced the "un-
conditional surrender" policy to Ger
many and Japan. In between these
meetings, at Quebec in August, 1943
Roosevelt and Churchill and their mill
itary and naval staffs worked out the
general strategy for the Pacific War. At
Quebec last September, Churchill in
sisted that the British fleet should par
ticipate in force in the Pacific battles
just now in the offlng.
Many Problems Press.
The Big Two and the Big Three meet
ing3 of the past were concerned with
prospective events to IL months dis
tant. This time the problems will be
immediate as well as long ranged, and
can be arranged in the following order of
approximate Importance and timeliness:
l. Conduct of the war in Europe
2. Actual surrender terms for Ger
many, after the German leaders have
accepted the unconditional" stipula-
ton.
3. Treatment of Hitler and the other
war criminals.
4. Arrangements for the occupation
of Germany, immediate and for the
transitional period.
5, Final details of the Dumbarton
Oaks international security organiza-
ton proposal-the 10 per cent that was
beyond the powers of the American,
British, Russian and Chinese represent
atives who met in Washington.
6. Temporary control of the con-
quered and liberated countries, with
special attention to Greece and Poland
and less attention to Italy, Yugo-
slavia, Bulgaria, Hungary and Romania.
7. Rehabilitation of Great Britain,
Soviet Russia, France and the liberated
countries.
8. Stimulation of international trade,
including credits and monetary agree
ments
May Seek Aid Against Japan.
Roosevelt and Churchill, if they have
not already had some assurances from
Stain, will perhaps seek his aid in the
war against Japan. In Washington Of
fetal circles 1t is assumed Russia will
join us after Germany's defeat, because
Russia, too, has a large stake in the
Big Three or to a Roosevelt Churchill
meeting the question of Frances colo
nial empire in Eastern Asia and the
Southwest Pacific will cry for solution.
American naval and military officials
are already asking whether the Ameri-
can public dare be asked to pay in men,
money and materials for the "mopping
UP" of the French and Dutch possess
sions now held by the Japs, particularly
since there have been no positive, pub
lie assurances that Holland and partic-
ularly France will not revert to their
status quo ante bellum colonial policies
American officials in the inner admin
istration council give the impression
that Roosevelt is going to the forthcom-
ing meeting with greater confidence,
prestige and bargaining power than he
had for previous conferences. His two
great objectives will be to end the Euro
pean and japanese wars as quickly as
possible and to establish the interna-
he could point to American production
and lease-lend aid to our Allies and
promise a second front; now he can
show additional American accomplish
ments In Western Europe, the Mediter-
ranean and the Pacific.
He also knows that Great Britain and
Soviet Russia need the active help of
this country in the postwar world. Great
Britain for centuries master of the sea,
acknowledges that We have the great
est Navy and the greatest merchant
marine in the world and knows that
competition with us in these fields is
beyond British finances. Russia needs
enormous postwar credits and American
machinery If Stain is to put through
his program for speedy rehabilitation of
his country.
Vandenberg Plan important.
Senator Vandenberg's proposal for a
five-power security treaty against Ger
many and Japan has also greatly
strengthened the Presidents hand-or,
more accurately, has weakened the posi-
ton of Churchill and Stain should
either or both insist on continuing their
individual or joint dealings with the
smaller European countries. There is
question in some quarters, however
whether Stain, who has reason to fear
a recurrence Of German aggression and
who may fear future Japanese expan-
sion, may prefer the Vandenberg treaty
plan to the Dumbarton Oaks security
organization, especially If there is dis
agreement at the forthcoming meeting
over the right of Russian delegates on
the council to vote when the Soviet
state is itself involved or over the num-
her of representatives Russia shall have