Liberals Protest Unilateral Action
Liberals Protest Unilateral Action A Statement Signed by Friends of Aid to Russia TIME BOMB WE believe the tint* bu com* when those Americans who regard dose cooperation with Soviet Russia as a...
...Isolationist Senators and newspapers now ran use the same arguments against a violation of the Atlantic Charter in regard tp Poland which were used against the League of Nations because the Treaty of Versailles failed to live up to the Fourteen Points...
...Judge Jeremiah T. Mahoney...
...Sydney Mosely, Commentator, Station WOR...
...disavowal of all connection with American Communists, who have been such an obstacle to fi ieirftly relations...
...snd Blue Network...
...Whatever is done to reduce Poland's frontiers in the east or strengthen them in the northwest, should he done for the sake of a just and permanent peace— not by robbing Peter to pay Paul...
...Thus the hopeful trend in America shown in the Gallup poll and in the votes of Congress toward a new world order is threatened...
...George Field, Vice-President, Freedom House...
...TTarry Scherman, President, Book-of-the-Month Club-John Chamberlain, New York Times...
...Americans have disavowed all efforts to interfere with the Soviet regime, and they welcomed Russia...
...John W. Vandercook, Commentator, N.B.C...
...Therefore, in the interest of all the United Nstions, we urge the British and American Governments to raise these questions with the Soviet Government, snd we ourselves appeal to our Russian allies to take cognizance of the legitimate^ disquiet of the American people...
...It must be stressed that the profits cited are after provision of about $150,000,000 allowed the railroads "for amortization of defense projects"—a euphemism which conceals the fact that this $150,000,000 was spent for permanent improvements on the roads—principally rolling stock —not for temporary war projects...
...Major George Fielding Eliot, Columnist, New York Herald Tribune, etc...
...Harry D. Gideonse, President, Brooklyn College...
...Their 1942 earnings were the largest in history—about $100,000,000 larger than in the lush , year 1929...
...Because of the necessity for tactful avoidance of unnecessary criticism between Allies in time of war, and because Russia's stunning victories and inestimable sacrifices have placed all her allies under a special obligation to her, we have hitherto allowed some things which aroused misgivings to pass in silence...
...Although Russia participates in the Allied Commission's decisions in the west, she refuses our participation in Russis's decisions in the east...
...It is recognised as fsr more progressive and far more representative than the Polish Government in 1939, and yet even that reactionary government made the heroic decision lo tight Nazi aggresison in response to the will of the whole nation...
...Whatever their intention, such methods are interpreted as an attempt to use Soviet sympathizers in America ss instruments of Russian policy, and, like the unilateral policy in Poland, they serve to revive the old distrust in America...
...Once mere we repeat, that ir we are left uncertain whether or not Russia intends to disregtrd the feelings snd convictions of those millions of the United Nstions who sre looking forward t* the triumph of democratic justice in the relations of sll nations, great snd small, there exists sn urgent dsnger thst Americans will revert to isolationism This must net happen, regardless of political dim milieu, for it would mean that humanity's hopes for a nnited werbj weuld be disappointed agsin...
...This sttitude on Russia's psrt plays squarely into the hsnds of those who have always distrusted her intensions and who have slwsys opposed international cooperation...
...We ask this not only because it would strengthen our unity in the war and hasten the day of victory, but because it would cement the friendship between the Russian and American peoples in the crucial yean to come...
...Molotov, Mr...
...The Polish government has declared its readiness to discuss concessions, but no government, least of all a government In exile, eould make such consessions as this without the express eon-sent of the Polish people...
...Therefore, we hope that Russia's tremendous power will ensble her to be generous...
...In the meantime, if improvements along democratic lines are to be made, they cannot be dictated from outside, least of all dictated by one great power which is not now a democracy...
...When Do We Take the Profits Out of War...
...Hull, which said: "The conference agreed to set up machinery for insuring the closest cooperation between the three governments in the examination of European questions arising as the war develops...
...John L. Childs, Teachers' College, New York City-Prof...
...For the Curzon line frontier demanded by Russia is close to the Hitler-Stalin line of 1939...
...Recent events,, however, have convinced us that continued silence will only play into the hands of the isolationists and enemies of Russia...
...and not only did she refuse the Anglo-American offer but the bitter attacks in Pravda followed this well-meant suggestion...
...We have expressed our gratitude for Russia's unparalleled efforts in the common cause, and our conviction thst friendly cooperation with Russia is not only necessary but possible, despite our differing political snd economic systems...
...1942—$904,000,000 Gross revenues in 1943 amounted to about (9,000,000,000...
...a time when Russia thought it necessary to collaborate with Hitler, and yet Poland, after suffering untold agony, is now asked to surrender far more to Russia than what she refused to give Hitler...
...I*HE profits of the railroads, for the past two years have been the largest in their history, by far...
...Even those who sneered at the Atlantic Charter when it was first propounded, will net let the American people forget its violation...
...And 60 other prominent liberals...
...And there have been subsequent press attacks...
...Russia must choose...
...It is for the Polish people and for them alone to decide how far they will recognize the present government when they are free...
...The Poles determined to Ight even though many foresaw that war meant the temporary conquest and enslavement of Poland, becanse they believed that the justice of Poland's cause and the loyalty of her allies would insure her resurrection in the end...
...Net income of Class I railroads, after taxes and fixed charges, were: 1943—$874,000,000...
...She can impose her will but sro» cannot impose it without estrsnging millions of Americans whose opinions may be decisive in the development of our foreign policy...
...And we welcomed especially the joint communiques issued at Moscow by Mr...
...Liberals Protest Unilateral Action A Statement Signed by Friends of Aid to Russia TIME BOMB WE believe the tint* bu com* when those Americans who regard dose cooperation with Soviet Russia as a cornerstone of victory snd permanent peace should address a word of appeal to our Russian sllies...
...Eden and Mr...
...Such a default would be worth many battalions to Hitler...
...but surely the Soviet leaders must realize that they cannot fairly make such an appeal when neither our government nor our people can stimulate similar agitation in Russia, where all ffTeans of eommunicstion are government-controlled...
...George S. Counts, Teachers' College, N. Y. City-Thomas F. Woodlock, Editor...
...George N. Shuster, President, Hunter College, New York City...
...Justice Ferdinand Pecora...
...H. V. Kaltenborn, Commentator, National Brosdcasting Company...
...For they are not silent, and every act of the Soviet press or government which ran be misunderstood or criticized in America is grist to their mill...
...If, therefore, Russia valuer America's friendship, as we believe she does, she must not use hefr power to Impose either An unjust frontier or a puppet government upon the Polish people...
...So when Wendell Willkie wrote an article appealing for a friendly settlement of the Polish problem, and when Secretary Hull and Foreign Minister Eden efts red to mediate at the rtquett of the Pofuk Govommont, Russia's reaction was not understood In America...
...In common with every loyal citizens of the United Nations, we welcomed the declarations of Teheran and Moscow, which explicitly reaffirmed the earlier declaration of January 1, P.I42, pledging support tor the purposes and principles of the Atlantic Charter...
...Matthew Woll, Vice-President, A. F. of L. Varian Fry, Director, Labor Committee on Internstional Affairs...
...The Rev...
...We are further emboldened to speak frankly because our ever-increasing war effort, our increasing lend-lease sid to Russia, and our coordinated plans for the invasion of Europe all give us a greater right to speak to our Russian allies as equal partners in the war...
...And Russia will estrange others besides Americans, for what will millions of citizens of the small conquered (and satellite) countries have to hope from an Allied victory, if this is how we discharge our obligations to Poland...
...TPHEY msde this decision at...
...We welcomed the passage in the Moscow declaration which provided for united action in the prosecution of the war and in the establishment of a general international organization, based on the sovereign equality of all peace-loving states, large and small...
...Raymond Leslie Buell, former Chairman, Foreirn Policy Association...
...Signed (in their individual capacities) by: William Agar, Acting President, Freedom House...
...For how can we uphold the principle of a strong and independent Poland, to which Russia is committed, if Russia alone is to decide unilaterally what constitutes a democratic Polish government...
...We speak as individuals who hav* favored all-out aid to Russia ever since Hitler's unprovoked attack in 1941...
...Becanse of all this, the apparent determination ef the Soviet Government to insist on a unilateral settlement of the Polish problem, without mediation er consent either ef Russia's sllies or the Polish 'Government, has come as a shock to American opinion...
...But this will avail little if the Soviet-controlled press appears to stimulate agitation abroad which is forbidden at home...
...It is an axiom that there can be no lasting friendship without equality and reciprocity...
...The American and British peoples cannot forget that Poland was the first nation to stop Hitler's precession of bloodless victories by which he made himself sll but invincible...
...Christopher T. Emmet, Jr., Commentator, Station WEVD...
...Henry Pitney van Dusen, Union Theological Seminary-Prof...
...Nor is the problem solved by the proposal to compensate Poland for the loss of much of the country to which she has strong historical and cultural claims by giving her territories to the north and west, where her claims are infinitely less...
...Robert W. Searle, President, Greater New York Federation of Churches...
...In 1939, the year in which war started in Europe, profits of American railroads were less than $95,000,000...
...Robert J. Watt, International Representative, American Federation of Labor...
...The attack on Wendell Willkie was quickly followed by Pravda't attack on the British Government by lending apparent credence to the charge that the British were negotiating with von Ribbentrop, a report which was broadcast by government radio and allowed to stand for "days without an official denial...
...That would mean two violations of the spirit of the Atlantic Charter instead of one...
...J'HERE is another issue which causes equal perplexity to any sincere advocate of American-Soviet friendship...
...It means a lost .of 47 per cent of pre-war Poland, while it represents a gain of less than 1 per cent for the Soviet Union...
...It has been urged that the Soviet Government wt« using this method to appeal to the American and British people over the heads of their governments...
...But it is at least a legitimate government, supported by the Polish Underground snd composed almost entirely of men and parties who opposed the dictatorship of the Bnlish colonels...
...It would make little difference whether a unilateral Russian policy is imposed direct from Moscow or through the Ukrainian or White Russian Soviet Republics...
...As for the Polish government-in-exile, it is not our concern to pass judgment upon the merita of some of Russia's complaint* against it...
Vol. 27 • March 1944 • No. 13
