Evening star., 1946-03-27
Roosevelt Gamble
Now Seen Paying Off
Concessions at Yalta Allowed
UNO Birth, Says Writer
By David Laurence

BY David Laurence
For the easing of tension in the
international situation today, the world
has the late Franklin D. Roosevelt to
thank. Only now can be seen in true
perspective the urgency Of the step he
took at Yalta to get Russia to agree
to the establishment of the United
Nations Organization without waiting
for the end of hostilities against either
Germany or Japan.
Mr.. Roosevelt paid a high price for
this concession, as the records doubt
less will some day show in detail, but
what seemed meaningless agreement
In February, 1945, suddenly looms up
as the most constructive step taken
throughout the war period toward the
founding Of an international organi-
zation to prevent another conflict.
President Woodrow Wilson made the
same kind Of a gamble at Paris in 1919,
but lost In the end. He thought that
whatever the arrangements might have
to be about the peace treaty In order
to satisfy the victorious governments,
the League of Nations eventually would
act as reviewing body and would use
It's force to prevent another war. His
gamble was futile, because the United
States stayed out Of the League and
European nations made new balances
Of power and began new aggressions.
believing that America would never
again help Britain and France In a
world war no matter what happened
in Europe
Knew Chances in Gamble.
Mr.. Roosevelt knew the fate which
befeu Mr. Wilson's gamble But,
pressed as he was by Stain for con-
cessions of material nature in other
directions, the American President in
sisted that there must be set up at
once a functioning world organization.
There were influences at work in Europe
which would have postponed the San
Francisco Conference for reasons OF
world politics. Fortunately, President
Truman within 48 hours after taking
his oath Of Office last April announced
that the meeting at San Francisco must
be held as planned.
To the men who labored so patiently
at San Francisco to make a United
Nations Charter, the results being wit
messed today must bring considerable
satisfaction. But to none will the Amer
ican people feel greater debt of
gratitude than to Senator Arthur Van
denberg, Republican, of Michigan, who
saw to 1t that despite the veto-power
clauses, the Charter contained a pro-
viso-innocent looking on It's face
whereby any situation involving q
threat to peace could be brought before
the United Nations Organization for
discussion
Today Russia would have preferred
that there be no consideration OF the
Iran controversy at the Security
Council meeting. The reason doubt
less Is that her clumsy diplomacy back
fired and didn't work out a. the
Moscow diplomats had figured. They
thought, Of course, that pledges and
agreements with reference to troop
Withdrawals would be ignored on the
usual pretext that local conditions were
disturbing. But they didn't foresee
that the careless handling OF the Iran
episode would be regarded with so much
seriousness by the members OF the
United Nations.
Signal TO Small Nations.
1t Is, therefore, most fortunate that
a machinery exists for the publicizins
of such controversies. In times like
these-especially when nations, includ.
ing Russia, must retain the faith and
good will of all mankind-it Is of tran
scendent Importance that the United
States and Great Britain have brushed
aside specious pleas for postponement
and have argued for the fullest pub
icity. 1t is signal to all small nations
that they will not be forsaken if they
but have the courage to stand by their
convictions and carry their case to
the UNO.
The whole affair is epoch-making In
another sense. 1t will be noted that
the newly appointed American AM
bassador to Russia, 1t. Gen Walter
Beden Smith, is quoted in an interview
| to the effect that the American people
now expect Russia to operate through
the United Nations. This could mean
an end to side deals and private dip
lomacy. 1t could mean that all the
cards must be on the table, face up
and not played in the secrecy of Yalta
or such meetings as were held at Pots
dam by the Big Three" 1t could mean
that an international constitution In
working at last, with America a full
f1edged partner ready to defend the
Charter" with all the force at her
command.
Truly the progress toward prevention
of war may be greater than is realized
today.