The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1945-02-14
The Crimean Conference


the thorough decisions made by their power
attained through compromise, makes the
Yalta gathering the most fruitful OF the war
conferences.
Major differences between Roosevelt, Churc-
hill and Stain have apparently been erased
and, as they prepare to let 60 with the final
blows at Germany, they are working as
red team. Never has the time been more op-
perfume for complete agreement.
The spirit of the deliberations, as reflected in
the official reports, gives the world new hope
for unity of its major powers that should not
only achieve early victory over the Nazis
but lead to security in many years to come.
The Big Three filled the missing chapter in
the Dunbarton Cakes plan with a compromise
over voting procedure in the proposed world
security organization. To back up their action,
they called full United Nations conference for
San Francisco on April Is.
First on the agenda was Germany, present
and future The decision to subject the Nazis
to new and even more powerful blows is
hardly more than what is taking place today
but agreement on terms for occupation and con-
troll of the nation after it's collapse was high
ly important. This clarifies the situation and
silences those who have complained about lack
of peace terms, as well as those who have
feared we will be too mild in our attitude to-
warded a defeated foe.
The Big Three left no doubt as the Reich's
future Its militarism will be destroyed and
the backbone of this system, the General staff
will be broken up for all time with the
countrys capacity for waging war or produc-
ing war materials eliminated or controlled
War criminals will be punished and a commits
sion will be established to study reparations.
The abolition of the power OF the German to
make war is, on the basis of his past record
the greatest single step in keeping Europe
peaceful.
So great was the psychological blow that the
enemy's top propagandsts were unable to an
swer for hours. Them they came through with
nothing anyway near an intelligent retort, only
crying and shouting that they will smash the
satanic plan" It is, as they well realize, too
late for them to smash anything.
In their decisions on the liberated countries
of Europe the Big Three attained agreement
on the very problems to which the Axis look
ed for the disentregation of the Anglo-Sovlet-
American coalition. The Polish government in
exile has refused to- recognize the decision that
gives Russia the eastern one-third Of the pre-
war country and Poland substantial territory
from Germany in the west. However, it has
been obvious for sometime that Poland's far
away-from-home regime would be able to do
little if anything in reconstruction OF the coun-
try. The Lubin regime, now recognized by
Russia will b reorganized on a broadened
democratic basis. Elections are to be provld-
lantic chartr.
We don't feel it necessary to go into all the
decisions reached during the eight-day session
on the shores of the Black sea. Standing out
even more than the blueprint for the military
eclipse of Germany and the beginning Of col
lective peace is the fact that the worlds three
greatest leaders are in complete accord. They
have laid the foundation for the world Of to-
morrow. Whether they succeed will be deter
mined by the behavior of their supporters. In
this connection, it is quite heartening that
congressional reaction to the report on their
deliberations was more nearly unanimous than
it has been on any similar occasion in recent
years
There were a few dissents, but only a few
By and large comment, even of republicans,
was favorable.
What does the world think Of the course at
Yalta?
The London press was virtually unanimous
in praise of the charter, describing it as the
most hopeful document produced in the pres
ent century, and Landmark in human his
tory"
The French expressed full agreement with
the declarations but there are still some signs
of bitterness because of the failure to invite
DeGaulle
Italy was glum. She wasn't mentioned for
good reason. When you pick loser, you can't
hope to consort with the winners.
All agree, both friend publicly and foe
privately, that the conference was our great
est proof of Allied unity, strength and power
of decision. But all must remember that
deeds, not words, will be recorded by future
historians The world can but pray that the
Big Three will have the strength of heart,
mind and morality to follow the course they
have laid.