Evening star., 1948-10-06

Only Delaying Crisis
Msdiotion Held Essential
That People Moy Know All
Peace Steps Being Taken
By David La,Orence
For many months people all over
the world have been wondering
whether the controversy between the
United States. Great Britain and
France on the one hand and Russia
on the other would wind up in the
United Nations.
Technically, 1t has been averred
that Article lot prevents issues
growing out of the war with Ger
many to be considered by the United
Nations. That is Russia's argument
today. But any one constituting q
law or q provision Of the constitu-
ton of any country would have to
concede that o threat to the preser-
walton Of the state or, in this case,
a threat to the peace Of the world
must supersede any narrow or legal
istic interpretations.
The trainers of the United Ma
tions Charter agreed not to become
involved in the enforcement of war
time agreements, because this was
the rock on which the League Of
Nations covenant foundered after
World War I. But 1t was never
contemplated that an act Of aggres-
sion would be tolerated In the name
Of wartime agreements.
Cloak for Aggression.
The real difficulty today is that
Russia is invoking Article lot as
a cloak for acts of aggression. Rus
sia has no right to interfere with
the communications Of the Allied
armies In Berlin. This is not an
issue growing out Of the war, be-
cause the phrase means issues as
between Germany and her oppo-
nents In the war. It cannot be con-
strued to cover all acts Of aggres-
sion that may be committed by any
Of the powers formerly allied with
one another.
The Western powers have a case
against Russia on the ground that
her blockade Of territory held by
the Western powers is an act Of
aggression. The United Nations
Charter authorizes certain proce-
dures when acts Of aggression are
committed that threaten the peace
Of the world.
The interjection of Russian fighter
planes - military instruments to
harass civilian transport planes
carrying food and supplies to Amer
lean troops in Berlin is~an act Of
aggression. Should the American
transport planes choose to defend
themselves against such an act Of
aggression, hostilities could become
acts Of war.
In the face Of this situation, a
full debate by the Security Council
of the United Nations is In order.
Whether or not Russia attends the
meetings and presents her case Is,
strictly speaking, irrelevant, for the
Soviet spokesmen have already ex-
pressed their argument in full.
It remains, therefore, for the Sc
curity Council to take action. This
can mean the appointment OF a
commission to inquire into the dis
pute and try to mediate. AS a
basis for mediation, the services Of
some countries not directly involved
would be logical. Sweden might
we'll serve as an intermediary. or
possibly one of the Latin American
countries.
In all probability. commission
consisting of nations not parties
to the dispute will be appointed If
mediation Is decided on.
The terms of mediation would
have to be approved by both sides.
Thus, II 1t were proposed that Rus
sia lift the blockade at the same
time that the Western powers
agreed to reopen the overall Ger
man question, there is little doubt
that Moscow would accept the pro-
posal.
The record Of the recent negotia-
tions shows that the two sides could
at any time have come to an agree
ment whereby the blockade would
have been lifted in exchange for a
pledge from the Western powers
that the overall German question
would be reviewed in its entirety.
Feeling OF Futility.
But If the U. N. is successful in
some form of mediation, there re-
mains the feeling of futility and
hopelessness with reference to fu-
ture negotiations. Unless Russia in
dicates a desire to cooperate, there
will be a feeling that mediation will
merely postpone the crisis to some
future deadlock.
It is essential nevertheless that
both mediation and negotiations be
pursued so that, If stalemate oc-
ours, the peoples Of the Western
countries will feel that everything
that could be done has been done.
Unfortunately, the record thus far
as disclosed in the white paper"
issued by the State Department.
leaves much to be desired. Skill
full negotiators on both sides might
have reached an agreement. Under
such circumstances, mediation
ought to succeed.
President Truman is finally tax
ing cogniZance of what Is happen
ing. He is interrupting his cam
paign activities over the week end
to confer with Secretary of State
Marshall. But it will be noted that
Governor Dewey asked John Foster
Dulles, his representative at Paris,
several days ago to come back for
conference. There Is nothing very
important in either move-just
means of impressing. the public with
the awareness on the part of each
candidate of the crisis that has de-
veloped at Paris.
fR&nroduetion pisbts pesarvea1