Evening star., 1946-01-06
Byrnes Uses Realism
In Affairs of World
Commentator Says Secretary Has
His Feet on the Ground
By Raym ond Moley

By Raymond Moley
Secretary of State Byrnes is and has
always been realist in politics. Way
back in South Carolina politics; later, in
the House of Representatives and the
Senate and, after that, in the direct
service of two Presidents, he has tried
| to do his best with the imperfect human
| life. To know Mr.. Byrnes well is to be
| certain that he occasionally can see the
| shimmering skyline of Utopia But he
| never is unaware of the bad roads and
| detours which lie Immediately ahead.
Sometimes have felt, in the course of
| good many years acquaintance with
the man, that he pays too much for
expediency. That however, Is a matter
OF personal Judgments In his career a
very considerable accomplishment has
rewarded his efforts. He has done well
for his country.
This acceptance by Mr.. Byrnes Of the
seamy, as well as the seemly in life must
be recognized as we note his explana-
tions of the Moscow meetings He Is
trying to tell us that there are two
forces in world politics. One Is the
idealism of the Atlantic Charter and
the. Fourteen Points-the idealism of
those who believe that we Immediately,
or almost Immediately, can build world
OF democratic nations organized In o
perfect federation.
This Is world where the lion not
only sleeps with the fox, but gives the
fox permission to read, snore or smoke
in bed A world where the foxs vote is
as big as the lions. world of equality
fraternity and liberty.
The other force is the reality in
which big nations WELD power, In
which big nations seek security by see
ing that their little neighbors have gov
ernments friendly to them--a world Of
great spheres of influence.
x<+*
1t is hard to get Americans to use the
term Sphere of influence" in anything
but sinister sense. But Americans
love the Monroe Doctrine, which was q
description of our own sphere of in
fiuence. Americans will tell you that
our spheres of influence are good ones,
| and that the British and Russian ones
are bad
The plain fact is that nations big
enough to extend their influence be-
yond their borders are bound to have
more concern about their own economic
and political regions than about others.
Thus, we recognize predominant con-
Germ in the Americas and in that part
of the Western Pacific which lies north
OF the Equator. Britain has concerns
of vital nature along her lifeline,
from Gibraltar to New Zealand Rus
sia is concerned about most of Eastern
Europe, especially the Slavic states.
This RECONCILIATION is recognized in
the Moscow agreements. Secretary
Byrnes frankly faces that. But he sees
also that, as the UNO grows as a means
OF universal security, these tight regions
of major interest will be opened to
democratic, humanitarian and genuine
ly international influences. He knows
that such an evolution will take time,
but that it is the only road to peace.
There is plenty of difference of opin-
ion about how much of the old world
must be retained as the new one takes
shape and substance. Mr.. Byrnes will
be criticized for yielding too much of
what will be called the dead hand of
the past. But the hand of the past Is
not dead. 1t is a living force. The
problem is to bring reason into contact
with old fears and slowly to push back
the frontiers of power politics, as we
create new safeguards for all nations,
large and small.
The common sense of it Is that Soviet
Russia is resuming many of the charac-
teristics of pre-revolution foreign policy,
but with distinct concessions to the
realities of the present. Her concern in
Poland, Romania, Bulgaria and Yugo-
slavia is in line with the pan-Slavism
of the CZars. But even in the Balkans,
she is recognizing limitations to her
power and influence. Austria and Hun
gary are left open to western influences
since these countries are distinctly non
Slavic. The dividing line in Yugoslavia
will leave Serbia predominantly non
Communist. Greece is clearly left with
in the British sphere. And the problem
of Iran is left much as it was over the
many years of jockeying between Britain
and Czarist Russia.
4 ~
Clearly, East Asia, from the Philip
pines north to Siberia, Is left to the
influences of China and the United
States. Russia is willing to Withdraw
from Korea, no doubt because the Ko-
reans will not be easy to satisfy. And
despite Gen. MacArthur's doubts, the
effective power in pacifying Japan will
be American
Criticism in Britain of the Moscow
agreements is very slight, probably be-
cause of the pointed omission of any
reference to British spheres Of infiu-
ence and also because the British are
reconciled to giving up their former
influence in the Balkans north of Greece.
Secretary Byrnes' explanation sug-
gests that common sense now has opened
the way to broad agreements. He be-
lieves in keeping his feet on the ground
of reality, but his eyes on better world
| ahead