Evening star., 1949-02-17
New Lend-Lease Seen
As Effective Substitute
For Atlantic Alliance
Held Positive Approval
To Problem of Aiming
Nations for Defense
By David Lawrence

der is that on both sides Of the
Atlantic the idea of proceeding
within the framework of United
Nations principles has given way
to the making of what appears on
the surface to be an offensive and
defensive alliance limited solely to
q few countries.
Originally the United Nations
Charter was written as consti-
tuition for all member nations
They were to take common meas
ures to resist aggression. An in
ternational police force was en-
visaged. The United States was
pledged, morally at least. to con-
tribute its share of the armed
forces.
Consultations within the Sc
curity Council have led to stale
mate of the founding of such a
defense establishment.
Consequently groups of nations
acting within Article 81 of the
United Nations Charter. have de-
cided to form regional arrange
ments for defense It is on this
basis that a plan to include the
Scandinavian countries was first
launched.
Could be Cause of War.
Actually, however. the signing
of a treaty with obligations spelled
out could in itself become cause
of war. The mere selection of
countries adjacent to a member
state can lead to the belief that
the defense pact is aimed at such
q country. This is contrary to
the basic concept of the Charter
itself.
What is permissible is the TAX
ing of such steps as will insure
the defense of all countries
against attack. This means that
Norway, Sweden and Denmark
for example. will be given such aid
as they may request in strength
ening their own defenses.
There is no need to ask the
three countries or any other ma
tions to pledge themselves in ad-
vance to defend their own bound
aries. They will do so. anyhow
Likewise the United States. for ex-
ample. would never agree to sup
ply arms to assist smaller nations
If it did not believe its own de-
fense was involved. .
Hence all that is really neces-
sary is an extension Of the origi-
nal lend-lease laws that prevailed
during the war. No treaty OF
treaties became necessary then
and they are superhuous now.
Can Vote Lend Lease.
The United States by vote OF
the majority Of both houses of
Congress-the i same majority
that declares war and provides
for the national defense-can
adopt a law providing lend-lease.
This doesn't require a two-th1rds
vote, as does a treaty. Nor does
it automatically pledge America
to 60 to war. The right Of deci-
sion is still reserved to a future
Congress.
What is most important TO the
United States is that. in the event
of war, measures can be taken in
stantly to defend American in
terests. There should be no long
waiting period for American
troops to go abroad to establish
bases from which armed forces
can help defend the European
countries under attack. Entry
into war has to be done almost
overnight in the age of the atomic
bomb.
The United States promised tc
send all kinds of supplies to other
nations under the lend-lease law
in 1910. In exchange, the Wash.
ington government asked for g
lease of certain bases.
The same procedure can be uSec
now, except that the bases shoulc
not be under United States contro
but under the authority of al
members who agree to operate un.
der Article 81 of the U. N. Char
ter. Such a group of nations can
designate single country OF
group of countries or a joint
chiefs of staff to command such
bases in peacetime. subject to re-
vision of the plans in the event OF
an outbreak of war when COM
mand might have to be altered
Peacetime Arrangements.
The American people do not like
alliances any more today than
they did when George Washing
ton made his farewell address
American policy has been to make
temporary arrangements for mu-
tual aid to foreign countries when
emergencies arise. Times have
changed. however. since the out
break of the first and second
World Wars. 1t is apparent now
that military defense arrange
ments must be made in times OF
peace to protect America against
air attack and to provide for
prompt offensive steps in the
event that an aggressor starts q
war.
1t would appear that any plan
made by a group of nations fol
a lend-lease arrangement should
be so framed as to permit il
ultimately to include all nations
This would carry out the basic
idea of collective security and
mean that regional arrange
ments we're superseded by a uni
versal arrangement. Russia has
written a set of treaties commit
ting neighboring states to helr
her in case of attack. Eventually
If Russia becomes a free country
that set Of alliances as well a!
any other similar set on the par
of the Western democracies mus
give way to universal setup.
A lend-lease plan that is de-
signed to take in all nations tina
wish to participate in 1t woule