Evening star., 1946-10-27
End of Fear and Ambition
]. Held Vital to Saving Peace
Present Gatherings in New York Can Forestal
: Future War by Genuine Effort to Work
/ Together in Good Will and Candor
By Constantine BrosOn

For several weeks the attention of the
world will be focused on the United
Nations proceedings in New York. Not
only are the u N. Assembly and Council
gathering faced with heavy agenda
but the Foreign Ministers of the Big
Four also are getting together to decide
the fate of the peace treaties approved
by a majority of the 81 nations as
sembled in Paris.
To many political observers the work
Of the Foreign Ministers is far more i'm
portant, under the present circum-
stances, than the meetings of the Coun-
Gil and Assembly.
The Paris drafts are the touchstone
for the future peace treaties with the
remaining Axis powers-Germany and
Japan. The nations assembled at the
Luxembourg Palace in Paris have
assisted in drafting the treaties and
have expressed their approval by ma
jorfty votes But it is up to the Big Four
to decide finally whether these treaties
will be enforced or remain a dead
letter.
Up to MOlotOv.
Insofar as the Foreign Secretaries of
the United States, Britain and France
are concerned they represent the best
that could be obtained from a world
which is still turbulent and divided.
Soviet Foreign Minister Molotov, how
ever, gave indication, at the last session
of the Peace Conference, that the Trieste
agreement approved by 14-to-6 vote
tthe hayes came all from the nations of
the Slavic bloc) was not acceptable and
the u. S. S. R. might veto it.
Should he carry out this threat, not
only the peace treaties but the entire
structure of the U. N. might collapse.
The encouraging words Mr.. Molotov
pronounced on his arrival in America
last Monday were read from prepared
statement and unless implemented by
deed have little meaning.
Secretary of State Byrnes and his
collaborators are seriously concerned
that the Russian representatives, who
In the past have stuck by their menaces
more readily than by their promises
will adopt the same adamant position
in New York as they did in Paris.
Such a situation seems to have been
foreshadowed by the late President
Roosevelt. When his attention was
drawn by some of his more independent
counsellors that too much yielding to
Stalin's demands might have an adverse
effect on the peace of the world, he
replied that appeasement was necessary
in order not to break the Big Three'S
united front while the fighting was going
on. but if the Russians did not change
their tune after the shooting was over
and insisted on exacting more than had
already been granted them, the western
nations would take matters in their own
hands and, if necessary, make separate
peace.
Easier Said Than Done.
This, of course, is easier said than
done. It is true that after the First
World War we signed separate peace
treaties with our former enemies. But
conditions were different. We retired in
ar Achilles tent, made our private peace
with the enemy and let the European
associates do what they wanted with
Germany. Turkey and the other central
powers. Separate peace in those days
was not accompanied with the threat
of an immediate armed clash.
Should the western powers now decide
to make separate peace with Italy, the
prospect of an armed clash with the
Slavic bloc is great. The disputed area
containing Trieste is occupied by weak
American-British contingent. Across
the line there is much stronger trigger
happy Yugoslav Army whose leaders
have given us every indication that they
are yearning for a scrap. Behind the
Yugoslavs there are some 120 to $50
Russian divisions in full battle parapher-
MALTA. The slogan of the Slavic bloc is
one for all and all for one. There is not
the slightest doubt in the minds of our
political and military men that if Mar
shall Tito gave the order to advance and
occupy Trieste he would find full sup
port from his Moscow sponsors.
The American-British troops have
been placed in the Trieste area to uphold
international decisions. II attacked they
are bound to resist, and the fat will be
in the fire.
Italian Treaty Test.
The consensus of most responsible
American leaders is that with Mr., Molo-
tov, who is pulling the strings in Bel
grade, rests the question of war and
peace in the near future. He knows
that the western powers will abide by
the decisions taken by majority vote
in Paris. Hence, his decision to accept
or veto the Italian peace treaty will