Four-power or Alliance-Step to Peace
RUSSELL, BERTRAND
Four-power or Alliance—Step to Peace Russell Urges "Spheres of Influence" as Basic Pattern By Bertrand Russell TWO recent trend* knee caused anxiety to these who hope that cooperation among the...
...This principle, of course, will have to apply to other regions besides Germany...
...IN the first place, the United States, Great Britain, Russia, and China should prolong their alliance, and aim at arriving nt a joint policy on all questions of concern to more than cne of them...
...Russis undoubtedly intends to hsve friendly govern-atents throughout Eastern Europe, but this does not necessarily mean communist governments and a communistic economic system...
...But from the moment of the conclusion of peace they should mutually undertake to respect tha indapencsnce and integrity of other States, both great aad small, and to abstain from aggressive war...
...If all went well, it might.in time acquire other functions, but its formation might be prevented If it were sought, from the beginning, te give it any other duties than the preservation of peace...
...Let us then ask ourselves what is the best possibility that ha* a sufficient chance of realization to be worth working for...
...Or, on the other hand, shall Germany be forced to retrace the steps" towards a socialistic economy taken by the Nasi*, reverting to the capitalism and pseudo-democracy of the Weimar regime ? As s compromise between these two policies, it might be suggested that the Russians should occupy the Eastern half of Germany while the Anglo-Americans should occupy the Western half, snd that each should introduce in its own half the regime it preferred...
...Rusaia, and China in an international alliance for the preservation of peace, and other nations should bs invited to join this alliance whenever it waa held that they were in genuine agreement with its principles...
...When this step has been tsken, the others should follow in due course without too much difficulty...
...Yet though we may see the difficult nsture of the problems ahead, we mast work together with other nation* 'Ike New Leader will not, like other "liberal" organa, voluntarily blind itself to the complex issues that progressive hsve to fsce...
...The degree and kind of punishment to be indicted ¦pon Germany is a matter as to which violent disagreement is possible...
...But no mechanism can prevent war when powerful nations sre imbued with the spirit of aggression...
...But if sn atmosphere of .suspicion is allowed to exist, they may be interpreted as inspired by fear of Russia...
...What it will do is to provide a mechanism by which the world can avoid drifting into war in spite of a general desire for peace...
...These sre all thorny questions, but not such ss to be incapable of settlement in a business spirit of give and take...
...There may, for instance, be a civil war between Chiang Kai-Shek and the Chinese Communists, in which there would be a temptation for Russia to take one side and America the other...
...1 do not venture to predict what solution of the German problem will be adopted, for that is likely to depend largely upon the military situation at the moment of armistice...
...And the session* which were scheduled td stsrt August 14, were postponed s week st the suggestion of the Soviet delegation— presamsbly, aa political observers claim, to give Rassis s chance to settle the Polish problem snd present s fsit srcompH to the conference...
...to abandon either capitalism or democracy...
...I do not think it at all impossible that such a body will be created at the end of tha present war, though it i* much to be feared that the United States may again remain aloof...
...If there were in Russia and America a genuine desire for the preservation of world peace, this situation would be met by a mutual pact of non-intervention...
...there will be a universal desire for peace which, for a period of years, will make it very difficult to generate bellicose emotions...
...There is, however, no good reason why the problem should be approached in this spirit...
...Next week the Big Throe powers will meet te create an international structure and ¦ore than likely will ratify Mr...
...I do not think there is...
...And there sre limits to whst csn be asked of populations...
...Shall Ger-asany be allowed or compelled to become acommiinist country, both politically and economically...
...Such sn Alliance as I km suggesting will not, of itself, secure the peace of the world...
...In time, the American public will come to realise that'neutrality ia no longer possible, but 1 doubt whether the lesson haa yet been learned...
...But I do say that there will be no great difficulty in agreeing on some solution if neither side is obsessed by fear of the other, and thst there will be little ground for mutual fear if the Russians make it clear that they will not attempt to spread Communism outside their own border...
...The chief danger, so fsr ss Europe ia cob...
...Rusaia, similarly, i* claiming an exclusive sphere of influence jn 'Central and Eastern Europe, and though we may regret thin claim, we cannot effectively resist it...
...The need of world peace ia so imperstive snd so obvious thst, if there is even s modicum of wisdom among statesmen, it will override sll other consideration...
...This is a long-term problem, depending upon eduea-tipn, upon the avoidance of gross injustice towards any one country, and, above all, upon the general diffusion of economic prosperity...
...Each side will be hoping for German friendship when the time comes...
...If the problem is approached in this spirit, it will lead quickly to bitter and irreconcilable conflicts...
...They should recognize the paramount interest of each within a certain sphere...
...We fsvor s new League of Nations, bat w< sre for independence for small nations sad against an imperialist peace...
...The .United States hap claimed such a sphere ever since the Monroe Doctrine waa first proclaimed: Americana hold that, if Argentina is troublesome, the matter does not concern Russia or England...
...America fears Communism, and Russia fears American fear of Communism...
...Between America and Great Britain there are certain occasions for economic conflict...
...However, at the start, a black shadow ia caat...
...On the other hand, the London Times, which frequently expresses the views of the British Government, has declsred editorislly that after the war Germany must still be strong politically and economically...
...Any breach of this agreement should constitute a eases hells...
...But tha difficulties are very great, and only great vigilance aad much wisdom caa lead the world to a lasting peace...
...If peace is to be secure, measures must be adopted for preventing the spirit of aggression from becoming dominant In any combination suffiiclently strong to challenge the rest of the world with a hope of victory...
...If this danger caa be avoided, the lesson that ssodera war is disastrous to the victors ss well ss to the vsnqalahed ntay have been thoroughly learned In Europe, and, If ae, a more peaceful epoch ia beaten history may be approaching...
...On these various grounds, it is not unreasonable to hope, in spite of the difficulties, that some international system for preserving world peace will be adopted when the war end...
...Let us consider whst grounds of friction would remain...
...for example, the United States should have • free hand, short of aggressive wsr, ia all matters concerting the Wasters) Hemisphere only...
...All tha United Nations should be invited to join with the United States, Great Britain...
...Russell, differing ss they do in many respects, offer s contribution to the problem...
...in each case, America waa Involved because Americans had hoped to remain neutral...
...Finally, some idealist might maintain that tha Germans should be allowed to choose freely what sort of internal system they would prefer...
...Four-power or Alliance—Step to Peace Russell Urges "Spheres of Influence" as Basic Pattern By Bertrand Russell TWO recent trend* knee caused anxiety to these who hope that cooperation among the United Nations will continue after peace has been concluded...
...earned, is that love of peace should be impeded by' an unwise lust for vengeance...
...1 I think We must admit frankly that cooperation between th* Great Powers will only bs possible.if each is recognised to harp a special sphere of influence...
...All small countries would therefore hare a powerful inducement to join the alliance, Thera would have to be an international legal authority to decide when aggression had taken place...
...China ia omitted from the conferences at the request ef Kuaaia...
...she other is the fear of a quarrel between the President said Congress, which ominously reminds the world of America's rejection of the Treaty of Versailles...
...The formation of tha Alliance is therefore tho first step, and perhaps it is also the most difficult...
...If the Russians will be satisfied with similar alliances in the case of other East-Europesn States, the Western Powers can acquiesce without too much difficulty Much the most dangerous possibility of conflict between Russis snd the western democracies in the near future is as to the treatment of Germany...
...One of these is the attitude of Russia about Poland...
...We think these two articles by Mr...
...each will be conscious that German resources, energy, and organizing ability may turn the balance...
...Dallin and by Mr...
...But if Russia is sincerely abandon ing the desire to spread Communism, as sn economic system, beyond the boundaries of the Soviet Republics, the reasons for mutual fear disappear, and genuine cooperation become* possible...
...These comparatively mild views seem to be wise...
...Grest Britsin, one may suppose, will claim a sphere in Africs, snd perhaps in tms Middle East, though this latter will be (hared with the United States...
...There is no essential conflict between Russian and American interests...
...Big Three I N thia article, written shortly before he left for England, Bertrasti Raaeell argues that we mast take th* present aystem ef power relations snd accept apherea of influence ss the basic er-ganisstasa for the peace ef the world...
...So long as there is mutual distrust between the Allies, the problem of Germany will present enormous difficulties...
...Every member of the alliance should, be pledged to go to war against any aggressor who might attack any other member af the alliance...
...But long-term measures of thi...
...It may be that another world war will be necessary before Americs is willing to join a League to enforce peace...
...i Between America- and Russis, it remsins to be seen how important the grounds of possible conflict will be...
...Neither this war nor the last would have taken place if Germany had foreseen American participation...
...When the present wsr ends...
...The present wsr baa broaght sach lmmeaaarable suffering to the populations of Europe that they may be expected, when It ends, to bo tiled with a passionate desire ta prevent a repetition af it* horrors...
...IF there is a belief on both sides that between Russia and America a struggle for world mastery is im-panding, it will be scarcely possible to arrive at an amicable solution of these problems as to Germany...
...It will probably be less formal thsn the League of Nations, but if it is more realistic it may be more effective...
...I think it probable that awareness of the paramount importance of A nglo-Amerkan friendship will suffice to produce an agree-saent on all these matters...
...Russell's ideas...
...sort csn only be successfully adopted when short-term messures have made war In the immediate future unlikely...
...It will also make ft difficult for the quarrels of small Powers to involve the Great Powers against their intention...
...The chief are: oil in tha Middle East snd the Dutch Esst Indies, civil aviation especially in Asia, Lend-Leaae obligation*, and the Ottowa Agreements for preferential tariffs between Great Britain and the Dominions...
...Some favor the political dismemberment of Germany and the infliction of severe economic penalities...
...The alliance should at first have no purpose except tha prevention of aggressive war...
...It is easy to be unduly discoursged by these two portent* of svil, and I wish to consider tonight whst hopes it is Still reasonable to cherish...
...If these various claims sre frankly conceded, is there any fatal obstacle to cooperstion...
...There must be no partition, but Germany must for a time be deprived of military strength, snd heavy industry must be controlled by the Allies...
...Czechoslovskia has concluded ao alliance with Russia, but does not intent...
Vol. 27 • August 1944 • No. 33
