Evening star., 1946-05-01
Byrnes' Treaty Move
Called Master Stroke
Molotov Caught by Surprise in
Pact Offer, Says Writer
Bv David Laurence

Why should the United. States sud-
denly spring on the world a proposal
for treaty of Is years duration that
binds Russia, America, Britain and
France to guarantee against possible
aggression by Germany? One might
have supposed that the United Nations
would see to it that there would be no
aggression by Germany or any other
nation: Does this mean then that
there is any lack of faith in the United
Nations organization?
These questions were being asked here
today as consequence of the rather
sensational move in Paris by Secretary
Byrnes. Indeed, the treaty was COM
plete surprise to official Washington.
Even the joint Chiefs of Staff and the
military folks generally didn't have any
word about it in advance. They natural
ly favor the plan and probably would
have approved it, but the important fact
is that the whole thing has been kept
secret, though work has progressed
on it in the State Department for sew
eral months.
Nor is the idea itself the product Of
the administrations thinking alone.
Senator Vandenberg proposed the same
thing in speech a year or so ago,
which is an indication that the measure
will have strong support from both ma
jor parties If it comes before the
Senate.
Basic Reason for Move.
The basic reason for the proposition
has to do with the way matters have
shaped up in the world since VI day.
Russia has been operating on one
sided basis throughout Eastern Europe.
In the Russian zone of occupation in
Germany, the Russians are plainly vio-
lating the Potsdam Agreement. They
are communizing Eastern Germany.
The whole Russian policy in demand
ing friendly states on their borders and
the oft-repeated cry Of security" are
based on the hypothesis that Germany
is planning new aggression.
To checkmate that theory and to re-
veal to all the world that there is no
need for Russian fears or for her ex-
pansion under the guise of security"
the Byrnes-Vandenberg treaty now is
offered. 1t is apparent that Molotov was
caught by surprise. He doesn't know
quite what to make of it.
But here is treaty made to order
for Russia. Once she accepts it. there
can be no justification for arguing on
every occasion that what Is being done
by the Russian armies of occupation Is
designed to exterminate Fascism
The significance of the American ma
neuver cannot be overestimated The
United States would pledge itself to
participation in military measures as
against possible German aggression.
Such treaty, If ratified, would natural
ly increase the need for military prepa-
ration to fulfill such obligation, but, on
the other hand the commitment is not
any larger than would be the case any
way under the United Nations Charter,
which the President and the Secretary
of State recently stated that this coun-
try was determined to defend.
Rely on Both Instruments.
As to whether the move indicates any
less faith in the United Nations Organi-
zation and its capacity to keep the
peace. the answer is that the United
States hopes to rely on both instru-
ments-the new treaty and the U. N.
Charter. If by any device of proceed
ural delay or the willful obstruction Of
any major power there is an impede
ment in the U. N. to the prompt opera
ton of the Charter in handling German
aggression, the new treaty would never
theless come into instant effect by the
action of only four powers.
Britain and France would presumably
be concerned at once and would want to
| see aggression nipped In the bud. The
| United States would have as its major
interest the prevention of any world
wide confagration. AS for Russia, it
might or might not agree that what
the Germans were doing was aggres-
sion. This would depend on whether
the Russians had control through their
communistic party of what was being
done in the name of the German gov
ernment. But certainly if the German
government were hostile to Russia, the
British, French and American support
for the Russian demand for protection
against aggression would simplify the
task of maintaining peace in Central
Europe.
The treaty proposal is master stroke
Strangely enough, it parallels the pro-
posal made by President Wilson in 1919
whereby Britain, France and the United
States were to guarantee France against
German aggression. The treaty failed
of action because the League of Ma
tions Covenant was rejected. Maybe
this time, since the Charter has been
adopted by the United States Senate.
the guarantee will be likewise approved.
| Reproduction Rights ReservedD