Evening star., 1946-10-20

FOttOUlug Us tHS LeIL o. Te"
marks By Senator Vandenberg,
Republican, of Michigan in a
radio interpieW last night tDith
George Cushing OF Station WJR,
Detroit.
Cushing-Welcome home, Sem
ator, when may We hope to see you
back in Michigan?
Neutrality-suspicious., Mr.. Cush-
ing-and thanks to WJR for this
privilege. I shall be back in Michi-
gan when the general assembly of
the United Nations finishes in New
York. I shall stick to this peace
lob" to the end.
Cushing-Let's get right at these
precious peace hopes of which you
speak. You are jast back from the
Paris Conference. aoWhat7 contribu-
ton did it maker
Vandenberg-Despite all Difficult
ties, it is one more step toward
clarifying the worlds number one
problem. The q allies have now
made their recommendations re-
specting treaties with Italy, Ro-
mania, Bulgaria, Hungary and Fin
land. These recommendations go to
the Council of Foreign Ministers OF
the four big powers for the final
decision. Here there will be new
difficulties. But solutions are on
their way.
Split Votes Cloud Issues.
Cushing-Did the conference
agree on recommendations?
Vandenberg-Yes. But by split
votes on major issues, which again
underline the worlds supreme peace
conundrum-how to find common
ground between Eastern Commu-
nism and Western democracy. 1
agree with Mr.. Molotov's statement
to the conference that we must take
care lest such labels confuse the
issue" But the facts of life, how
ever disagreeable, are the facts OF
life. Mr.. Molotov's final declaration
that he will strongly contest all
conference decisions which went
against him is not encouraging.
Neither is the withdrawal of Yugo-
slavia from the final conference.
OF course, none of us is wholly sat-
isfied with the treaty recommends
tions. But here, at least is the
worlds verdict on the controversies
in these treaties-and that is prog
resS.
!. Cushing-Could you give us the
high-spots in these treaties, Sen
ator?
Vandenberg-In the brief time at
our disposal, Mr.. Gushing, I hardly
know where to begin or end such a
story. But here are few exhibits.
! We agreed upon the principles OF
a sound statute for Trieste - the
cockpit of Europa statute which
.sustains our American view that
there can be no peace unless Trieste
is free and independent and demo-
cratic in fact as we'll as name.
Danube Vital to Nations.
T Again. We agreed upon the prin-
ciples for free Danube River, vital
to peace and progress in eight ma
tions-principles which support our
contention that this major artery
of trade in Central Europe shall not
operate under selfish ,discrimina-
,tions which breed inevitable fric-
tions.
Again. We agreed upon repara-
tions and restitutions-a program
which at least partially reflects our
anxiety that these ex-enemy states
shall pay as much as possible to-
ward rehabilitation of the war dam
age they have done, but that their
burdens snail not become unlivable
and therefore uncollectable.
We revised our own demands for
100 per cent compensation for
American property destroyed in ex-
enemy states; and Joined the Soviets
Ia supporting partial compensation
because there can only be partial,
and not full, reparations or resti-
tuition.
We agreed upon numerous new
boundaries.
One happy omen was that Italy
and Austria mutually agreed upon
compromises in the South Tyrol.
SO Roll Calls in One Committee.
Then there were countless details
respecting all phases of human re-
lations-all parts of one, big jigsaw
puzzle. You must remember that
a peace treaty is not a simple con-
tract covering few pages. 1t is
literally a book Let me give you
one typical example. The final
meeting of our Balkan Economic
Committee, of which I was men,
ber, consumed 281s uninterrupted
hours and involved 88 roll calls. And
it is worth remembering, Mr.. Cush-
ing, that we had friendly unity Is
per cent of the time. do not mini
mize the desperate Importance OF
the other Is per cent. A chain is
no stronger than its weakest link
But neither am I willing to mini
mize the fact that our minds did
meet rs per cent of the time.
Cushing-You can imagine, Sena-
tor. that these complications leave
us in considerable confusion here at
home.
Vandenberg-Of course there is
confusion. This would be inevitable
even though there were no mission
aries of confusion here at home.
The job is battling even to those of
us who confront it at first hand.
Furthermore, our American Com
munists and their fellow travellers
thrive on confusion.
But we must not forget that ham,
mering out a multiple peace has
always been confusing" and has al
ways taken time and patience. More
than a century ago, the Congress of
Vienna sat upon similar, but
simpler, job for more than one full
year.
No Illusions About Difficulties.
After all, it took five years to tear
the world apart. 1t is not surprising
If it takes that long to put it to-
gether again. The Paris Conference
is part of this process. I have no
illusions about the perilous difficult
ties we confront. But I want to make
equally plain that I am not surren-
dering to pessimism. Many Of the
Paris speeches were in good temper,
despite deep disagreements.
o,,aka aoe of NEr o1,,