Evening star., 1945-10-09
Dulles Talk on PorIey
Seen Helping CLeor Air
Firm Stand Now Will Benefit
Cause of Idealism, Says Writer


Firm Stand Now Will Benefit
Cause of Idealism, Says Writer
By David Laurence
John Foster Dulles--the man who
went to London as special adviser to
Secretary Byrnes--has told some Of the
background Of the Big Five conference.
Presumably he did 1t with the knowledge
and approval Of the Secretary OF State,
who had spoken Of him the day before
as one Of the ablest men in the country
on foreign affairs.
Mr.. Dulles is Republican and was
often referred to last year as the man
who might be Secretary OF State II Gov.
Dewey were elected President. Besides
his activity in the Republican Party, Mr..
Dulles has been one Of the prime movers
among the Protestant churchmen Of the
country In forwarding the cause of
peace.
So what Mr.. Dulles says is listened to
with great deal Of respect, for he is
| no politician and no novice in foreign
| affairs, having served at the Paris Peace
Conference Of 1919 as a special adviser,
| too.
Il realize says Mr.. Dulles in care
fully prepared statement. 'that 1t came AZ
a shock to the American people that the
| Council Of Foreign Ministers ended their
nrst session without producing a public
statement Of unity and accomplishment.
| That is because for over four years every
| meeting Of the representatives OF the
great powers was followed by pro-
nouncement which gave the impression
achieved. That was war diet Of sooth-
ing syrup. The reality was that there
| was unity insofar as it related to joint
| effort against common enemies. But
behind that there have always been diff
| ferenees which are now coming to light.
"It is not healthy, and I am glad that
| it is no longer necessary to try to cover
up the fact that we have differences.
Only If our people realize the magnitude
of the task we face will we put forward
the effort and achieve the unity needed
| for success"
Surprise to Millions.
| What Mr.. Dulles has revealed will, in
deed, come as a surprise to millions Of
persons who read propaganda coated
statements issued to them in wartime
| and who at times resented even the sug-
! gestion that behind the camouf1ags
might be some other story not told be-
! cause candor was deemed inexpedient.
he Tah
! held in ls43, the soothing pronounce
ment made was full of unity" and did
| not reveal differences. The same thing
happened at Yalta early in 1s45. Gov
| ernments seemed to fear to take the
peoples into their confidence. The crit
les who exposed the insincerities and
inconsistencies in the Yalta agreements
and the fact that what had been is-
nored before was being hailed as new
achievement and would be disregarded
again were accused Of giving comfort
to the enemy.
The public Is being offered now q
chance to judge whether 1t would not
have been much better to give all Of
the truth to the people at the time, for
now the dissillusionmcnt comes when
the armies and navies and air forces
of the United States are being eiemo-
bilized. Whatever leverage the United
States had to get sensible peace plan
has been lost by the ending Of the war.
Russia needed American and British
help and the United States needed rus.
sian help. There were occasions when
I frmness on the part Of the United
States representatives, instead of wishy-
washy concessions on principle, would
have benefited the American program
of idealism
Help Clear the Air.
But the cause has by no means been
impaired entirely by the fact that the
wartime leverage is gone. Candid state
ments will help clear the air. Mr..
Dulles, for instance, says significantly:
In every important negotiation, pub
lie or private, there comes moment
when the negotiators test each other
out. 1t was inevitable that time should
come when the Soviet Union would
want to test us out. It is a good thing
that that has happened and that 1t is
now behind U.s."
A world Of meaning lies behind that
simple statement from an experienced
negotiator. 1t means merely that there
comes a time when compromise and
concessions to expediency must be
scrapped and q Arm stand must be
taken on the basis Of principle. It was
inevitable that Russia should question
Americas profession Of interest In q
collective system or a universal society
It was inevitable that Russia should
seek to know whether we really cared
about free elections and the Four Free
doms in Europe or whether we were
merely applying that code where Russia
was concerned and were bit blind
about some other situations in which a
! major power might seek to exercise
singlehanded control. Secretary Byrnes
is to be commended for standing his
ground and Mr.. Dulles statement is
historic supplement to Mr.. Byrnes
explanation of the reasons for the stale
mate In the Big Five.
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