Detroit evening times., 1945-05-09
BEHIND
The NEWS
By Paul
A. II. MaIIon
GAN FRANCISCO, May s.

SA4N hAANSAoNs|, way
~ The four nations draft OF
changes to Dumbarton Oaks and
Yalta constantly reiterates sew
eral new world freeing ideals
cultural" ace" language"
religion" and doubt it only il
you have not read it) sex"
of the eye, you might think
the Big -Four are following the
happy habits of national demo-
cratic platforms and promising
all things 10 all men. The "cul-
tural" angle was worked in by
Nelson Rockefeller who has been
dispensing culture to Latin
America so skillfully the past
few years that his ideas grew
here into a world program. The
race" part of it is a plain and
somewhat Notwithstanding ap-
peal for solution of the Jewish
problem on a world basis. What
is meant by freedom of Tan
guages" 1 do not pretend TO
know. as most languages are
capable OF being used freely.
and often have been used too
freely by nations. Like race.
religion" is, of course an old
and basic American concept of
an essential freedom.
THE eradication of distinctions
L between the sexes. It's
universally accepted ideal. It's
inclusion probaly refers 10 far
corners of the world like India,
as / believe the feminist move
ment even in China has made
great progress and may need
many other helpful encourage
ments than those which can be
provided by a world organiza-
tlon IL mean economic encour-
agement and such things.)
Down deep in this document.
however, are provisions which
open up vast possibilities for ac-
ton upon these matters. Under
the assembly Of nations has
been placed an economic and
social council which no one had
believed would amount to much.
A similarly named committee at
this conference, for instance. has
decided to go into such matters
only in general terms and avoid
specific recommendations about
tariffs, trade. finance, etc.
But the Big Four proposal
entrusted TO its permanent eco
nomic and social council the
new task of making rec
concentrations for promoting
respect for human rights
and fundamental freedoms.
1t could presumably even
60 into the Jewish situa-
tion in Russia, or the condition
by which the Greek Orthodox
Church has become the only
state approved-or allowed--re-
ligion and where I believe only
one official in the entire Rus
sian government is a Jew. II
could go into race freedoms. re-
ligious freedoms, language free
doms-and sex.
INDEED it is charged 10 es-
l. tabllsh commissions for those
purposes - one committee on
economic activity, one on social
activity, another on culture, a
fourth on the promotion of hui
man rights and committees on
"any other field within the
competence (this is another new
and good word coming for the
first time into international u.s.
age) of the commission.
This means large, permanent
organization to delve farther
afield than the old league ever
cared or dared TO go. 1t adds
considerably TO the structure of
the new setup at the bottom.
and in fact. gives il a character
beyond Dumbarton Oaks and
Yalta.
Appropriations for these in
vestigations are 10 be provided
by the assembly. but the big
nations apparently thoug
these endeavors might get out
of hand and reserved for them
selves the right 10 veto appro-
priations, and. in effect, to limit
them.
OTHER rights are mentioned
" in the document-but not
freedom Of press, which l think
ought at least 10 be as free as
sex. and might well have
world commission looking after
it. There is the right of self
determination of peoples" from
the Atlantic Charter. This will
not. however, result in any COM
mission going into Russia or
other nations. / assume, as no
commission has been appointed
for it. In fact, Russia held one
election. in my recollection.
which came out about 9S or 80
per cent for the one party al
lowed on the ballot. and that
one may last a long time. Thus
there appears 10 be some con-
fiict in the expressions on the
one hand for freedom for alls'
and "self-determination," on the
other.
These. 7 think, are the funda-
changes from Dumbarton
and Yalta. although there are
others. They express many OF
the yearnings OF many people.
largely hopes without measures.
But / think there is very good
chance much will be done-in a
Way at leaSt-abOut