Evening star., 1946-02-27


direct actionists who would like
god OF peace as militant and as re
lentleSs as the gods of war. But
remind YOU that the United Nation
Charter does not contemplate tn
techniQues of the nieat-axe 1t /
not built to hasten sanctions an,
the use of force. 1t is built to pre-
vent, If possible. the use of sane
tions and Of force. 1t is built to stol
war; not to make it. 1t requires tn
exhaustion of AL possibilities of di
rect negotiation, and of inquiry, ant
Of mediation, and of conciliation
and of arbitration, and of judicia
settlement before we turn to grim
mer disciplines.
Ultimate Accounting.
And this is desperately important
venture to assert that the renewa
of direct negotiations in the instan
cases. after these full hearings, il
calculated to be quite a differen
thing than it was before. Nov
these negotiations will proceed il
the presence of the necessity for Al
ultimate accounting not only to tn,
Security Council but also to thu
critical opinions of mankind. Nov
the record, be it good or i'll, defie.
distortion in the future conduct O.
these events. In most instances,
dare to believe there will be ade.
quate results. BY way of example
I point only to the fact that the
Soviet Union Immediately opened
negotiations with Iran after
months Of previous refusal to con.
fer: and that, in the midst Of the
Indonesian discussion, the Neither.
lands announced new plans for ar
autonomous Indonesian Common
wealth. This, too. goes on the credit
ledger
say again that this is the whole
some pattern of a great hope-ever
as it also has its danger spots. I dc
not intend to deny the latter. as
will presently appear. But neithe,
do l intend to ignore the former
lest We be treacherously misled
against our own best destiny. The
price of failure is too great.
BY way of concrete illustration
let me submit a blow-by- blow ac-
count of the final contest before the
Security Council. Within it are
found all of Our hopes and fears
all of the credits and the liabilities
all of the encouragements and all
OF the warnings for the future.
Lebanon and Syria were asking
the simultaneous withdrawal of
French and British troops. Just lin
ger for moment, Senators, upon
this unprecedented scene. Two of
the newest and the smallest and
the humblest of governments were
complaining against two of the five
Great PoWers-against two of the
permanent members of the Security
Council. The difference in relative
power and authority could scarcely
approach greater extremes. Yet lit
tie Lebanon and little Syria were
invited to temporary seats at the
Council table. pursuant to the man
date OF the Charter. There they sat,
with the mightiest of earth, to have
their untrammeled day in this court
OF world opinion. 1t was the triumph
Of an ideal.
Spoke Without Curb.
They spoke without limitation and
without curb. French and British
troops had been necessary in Leba-
non and Syria once upon a time
the British, who had
entered upon invitation and who
We're staying by request until such
time as both the British and the
French could retire together. Leb-
anon and Syria testified that the
need for these foreign troops was
done. but that negotiations for their
withdrawal had been unsuccessful.
Frankly, without rancor. they laid
their facts upon the table and peti-
toned for relief. At long last here,
indeed. was an approach to the par
lament OF man. Another large en-
try on the credit ledger!
When Lebanon and Syria had fin-
ished, sturdy Ernest Bevin, FOREIGN
Minister OF the United Kingdom.
promptly announced that he would
be willing and glad to withdraw
the British troops at once. M.
Bidault, the able Foreign Minister
for France, Immediately followed
with a statement in kind. He said
that there were technical arrange
ments to be concluded: but that
ne would gladly press their speedi-
est possible negotiation. The con-
troVersy gave promise of amicable
composition at one sitting of the
Council. Our own distinguished Am
baSsador Stettinius, speaking for the
United States, offered a resolution
which took note of the record: as
serted the Councils general belief
that there. should be no unwanted
troops on foreign soil in time of
peace; expressed the Councils conf
dence that the case could be safely
remanded to the parties in interest
Tor final negotiation, and asked that
the Council be kept advised of these
developments. 1t appeared to be a
prompt and happy and effective
composition of the incident. The
dove OF peace flew in the window.
But quickly it flew out again.
At this point the brilliant Soviet
commssar. Vishinsky, intervened.
He wanted no such easy peace. He
was not satisfied, he said, thus to
let the matter rest. Long and bit
terry ne indicted the action partie-
ularly OF France in Lebanon and
Syria. Instead of being closed, the
incident then blazed into two more
days of intense and futile debate.
He offered amendments to the Amer
lean resolution which both France
and Britain-and most members of
the Council-interpreted as stinging
and unwarranted rebukes. This was
not oil on troubled waters. It was
salt in reopened wounds. The chair
man of the Security Council finally
called for a vote. Vishinsky said he,
too, was ready, provided the vote
was taken under the provisions of
the Charter prohibiting the partici-
patton Of members of the Council
who were parties to a dispute which
threatens international peace and
security Both Revin and p;d,ult