Evening star., 1948-03-24
International Laws
Revised in Relation
To Human Rights
Intervention Justified
In 'internuI' Affuirs
Under Peace Treuty
By David Lawrence

IHCeTnatlOfldl leRd1LSIIlS WHICH
have influenced diplomacy for cen-
turies are being revised nowadays
as the age-old dic inction between
an internal and an international af-
fair has vanished.
l. Russia has intervened I'M
Czechoslovakia and forced into
office cabinet friendly to her po-
litical and economic philosophy.
2. America, Great Britain and
France are openly using every opin-
;on-making influence at their COM
mand to persuade the italian people
not to let a Communist cabinet come
into office in Italy.
8. Members Of the British Parlia-
ment, debating continental issues,
have been told by a member Of the
foreign Office of the Attlee govern
ment that the recently signed five
nation agreement of mutual assist
ance could be invoked by any of the
five governments to get aid to sup
press civil war.
4. Herbert Morrison, one Of the
leaders of the British government,
says that resistance movement in
side Czechoslovakia should be en-
couraged, and Prime Minister Attlee
says this view is shared by a ma
Jority OF the British people.
Funds for Military Aid.
8. The United States Government
is supplying funds to the Greek gov
eminent to help fight in a military
campaign the insurrection of the
Greek guerrillas, who in turn are
being given military assistance by
Russia and her satellites.
6. Military aid is about to be fur
nished to China by the United
States in conformity with the policy
OF aiding an established government
In all the cases enumerated above,
the principle of Intervention by an
outside power in the internal affairs
OF a sovereign nation has been ap-
piled, but there are distinct differ
ences in the motive and the formula
used.
The Russians are employing CO.
ercion and they seek to establish
a totalitarian rule over q weaker
neighbor.
The democracies are using ideas
in trying to persuade the voters of
Italy to safeguard their individual
liberties. If the Italian Communists
win, Russia will rule Italy. If the
Communists are defeated, Italians
will retain their sovereignty and
their democratic liberties.
In the case of Greece, an estab-
lished government has called for
help from the outside. This is the
recognized right of sovereign gov
ernment, and again the purpose is
to preserve the independence of
nation as against totalitarian inva-
sion by Russia and puppet govern
ments adjacent to Greece.
Implication Of Treaty.
The implication that the five
power treaty means that each
established government may call on
the other for military assistance
would conform to the principle that
4 government has the right to ask
other governments to protect 1t
against outside military aid given
in support of a rebe1iious faction.
Each member of the five-nation
treaty would decide for itself whether
70 60 to the assistance Of another
government against whom an in
direction was begun. 1t could hap
ven that if the established govern
-|1ent fell into the hands of the Com
>,unists. the insurrection or resist
nee movement itself would be en-
outraged and assisted.
What it amounts to Is a realistic
'ecognition at last that what hap
ens inside the boundaries of a
0vereign countrv can conceivably
ling threat to nations outside and
arhaps to world peace.
The basic iSea in this was splen-
idly championed in proposal
~onsored by the government Of
Truguay two years ago. The United
states Government at that time
diced its approval
It Is regrettable that the nations
the world did not nut the same
>"inciple into their book in the days
hen Hitler's Naziism was beginning
take possession of Germany. Had
'1e powers perceived then the
'angers that come from totalitar-
m regime. thew might have nipped
he dictatorship in the bud.
ExDorr1e1 bv Bishops.
The importance of examining the
thermal structure nf a government
,, relation to its threat to peaceful
'ations was ablv evpo,lnded by the
"atholic Bishops of America three
ears ago when thev made public
heir proposals of basis for inter-
national peace.
International law, as technically
interpreted, heretofore has blocked
action on internal matters that have
an external repercussion. Where
such internal problems or laws are
purely economic, they do not come
under. any such ban, but there is
growing up rapidly q feeling that
where human rights are concerned.
where human slavery Is the issue
and despotism Is running amuck.
there should be no hesitation to
push beyond the alibi or excuse Of
internal" and tackle boldly the in
ternational effects of such concen-
tration Of power in the hands OF
the few who exploit the many
Where parliaments and democ-
racies exist, there can be no sudden
declaration of war or aggressive
attack. But as long as relationships
exist. the whole world must remain
In fear Of a sudden determination
to send military forces into action
overnight. In an age Of the atomic
bomb relationships become greater
menace to world peace than ever
before.
So long as the Russian Dictator
ship exists, there can be no assur-
ance Of world peace. This means
that the world must pay heavy
taxes and maintain heavy arma-
ments indefinitely as measures Of
defense. Plainly an internal policy
and maintenance Of . particular
form of government have become
matters Of international concern
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