LAST CHANCE TO SAVE PEACE
Where the News Ends By WILLIAM HENHY CHAMIfRUNLast Ch&nce to Save the Peace THE MCOfld »uper-»ecr*t m**tlng of the Big- Thro* is in progress at the time of writing. Us enormous importance...
...Perhaps this would also be beyond the comprehension of Americana who would deserve Mr...
...This man, so well-informed practical about American economic affairs, a exhibit* a vague mysticism with regard to matter...
...One can only hop* that Mr...
...We have received significantly little direct news from that country...
...The New Loader one* declared it* support of dent Roosevelt with rea*rvation...
...It has cost the American and British Governments infinite moral humiliation in their virtual abandonment of Poland, the first country to take up arms against Hitler...
...Thahka to them, he is now the ay American liberalism...
...This man a starry-eyed dreamer...
...It was no good augury of tho success of the present meeting when Stalin tore up the Atlantic Charter by recognizing his Quisling Polish regime as the government of Poland without even waiting for this opportunity for consultation...
...Us enormous importance is obvious...
...It would be a disaster, for instance, if Roosevelt and Churchill should recognise tha Lublin puppet regime in return for some pious assurance on Stalin's part that he desires to see S strong and independent Poland...
...Levy's characterisation of the Bulgarians, "simple, but not stupid...
...Amarican liberal thinking about the peace has been confused and disoriented by the failure of the Administration to give a strong lead on peace aims...
...Had the appointment, as Secretary Commerce been quietly approved, Wallace would mi h»ve been one among the members of the cabinet...
...He ia, for one thing, full of illusion* Russia and Communism...
...The time to make a gead start toward building a decent world la now...
...Th* first condition of stlength and independence for any people is tha right freely to choose its own government...
...But a correspondent of the A'*w York Tim**, Joseph Levy, got into Bulgaria for a time and brought out an amaxing atory of tha treatment of American,and British official representatives by the Soviet military authorities...
...So far has this reaction in favor of Wallace that th* mere matter of hi* appointment as of Commerce haa boon thrown into th* shade, him confirmation would merely add to hi* public si Whether' h* aver **rv*« in the cabinet or not, reactionaries have made this man th* leader of liberal forces of the United State...
...The peace must be considered lost as regards Poland, Yugoslavia or any other country unless there are the fullest and most satisfactory guaranties of absolutely free elections...
...The process has proceeded rapidly since the t the Democratic convention...
...Tha theory that a moratorium can safely be declared for the Atlantic Charter, that it represents an unattainable standard of ideal virtue, will not stand serious examination...
...Th* Bulgars saw tha Ruasian armies riding in Amarican cars, American jeep* and American tracks...
...There ia danger in illusions aa lie behind thi* atatement...
...But the events of the last months, and especially the martyrdom of Poland, have provided somd necessary education...
...Levy'* conclusion* are worth quoting: "It is American prestige that has suffered the most from this hostile Russian attitude...
...The result has b**A*>»erouB* an u amount of popular enthusiasm Trade unions, organizations, farmers, business men have smothered members of Congress with support fig* former Vice-President...
...For no visible reason wa have been the silent partner in the coalition, acquiescing by our silence in a series of accomplished facts that are in complete contradiction of such historic ideals of American diplomacy a* non-recognition of territorial change* achieved by force and the right of small people* to independent existence...
...Far from being vague, unreal, impractical, tha Charter clearly outlines the only baas* on which a good and lasting peace eaa be built: self-determination of peoples, equality of economic opportunity as between nations, agreed limitation of armaments...
...He must he put out of forever...
...But wa have waited in vain for what would have been the bast piece of political now...
...The Bui gars are simple peo*4*, but they are not stupid...
...American and British public opinion could have keen sroased in time and tha atab in the back weald net have come of...
...They were placed in a position suggesting house arrest, r*fu**d permiasion to viait Bulgarians in the city of Sofia...
...Th* policy of appeasing Stalin which dominated the Teheran deliberations has been proved bankrupt...
...For it represents, in nil probability...
...Thia would have been a ring. ing, unequivocal, concrete statement of American peace aims, accompanied by assertion of an intention to use every ounce af America's great political, economic and diplomatic strength to realise these aim...
...What was alerted at Chicago haa been completed Washington...
...There ware vaat difficulties in obtaining permiesion for American and British airplanes to land at the Sofia airport in order to bring in personnel and supplies...
...The Narkomlndal does not like independent American news papermen...
...But sine* I become the center round which the liberal and forces of thi* country rally in support of S New we give Wallace our support - but With resei v...
...Her ia It safe er reaaeaaats to accept unjust settlementa now en th* comforting theory that time will briog heeling aad ear...
...Soviet officials muat grinned when he aaid on Russian soil: "We muat a synthesis between our political democracy- and aian economic democracy...
...There have bean *omc encouraging report* of a strongly worded message delivered in London by Harry Hopkins, and, one may hope, relayed to Moscow, where it was more needed...
...Tha showdown has come far the realisation of our professed war aijat, the Fear Freedoms and tha Atlantic Charter...
...American and British officers assigned to serve in Bulgaria were held up for weeks before receiving entry permits...
...The time to make a stand against annotations in deHance of th* will of th* people affected, th* estab liahment of papaet governments, the creation of ttpn^rf'B of iitalOspdca*, w nOvt, It would be mere wishful thinking to believe that the prospect of a last-minute miracle, in the shape of a good peace settlement, is probable...
...The military situation has now reached a Stage where a German collapse within th* next few months, if not within the next few weeks, ia a reasonably good prospect } Political decisions which should have been agreed on much earlier now admit of no postponement...
...He fought back aad stood out there on Chicago platform as no other figure has stood oat th* days of William Jennings Bryan...
...It now joins in liberal support of Henry A. Wallace with reservi of a different sort...
...They are th* natural breeding gound* of thady deal* that will not bear the light of day...
...More definitely than President Rooseveelt, now the eentae* round, which American pro| forces rally...
...It is by the realisation or non-realisation of these principles that one can meaaur* most accurately whether the world after the present conflict is moving towsrd peace or toward a now...
...It ia beyond his (the Bulgarian's) com prehension that a self-respecting great power like America would permit its representatives to be treated the way they are by its Russian ally...
...Most of the publican Senators joined in with glee...
...Mr...
...had asm* enterprieing journalist learned of the atah ia the back which waa being prepared far Polsnd...
...This combines willingness to join in an undertaking to prevent Axis rearmament with inflexible unwillingness to "guaranty permanently the Spoils of in unjust peace...
...Roosevelt has been following this general line in the latest conference...
...There has bean much, military good new* since the first meeting of Roosevelt, Stalin and Churchill at Teheran...
...trace and His Enei Henry AtrARD WALLACE ha« been made by . enemies...
...After th* conference began -there waa an apparently inspired report from Loudon to the effect that tha President waa holding out for at least a mitigation of the projected outrageous eastern frontier settlements for Poland and for Germany...
...Amor ice's last chance to save tha peace...
...But he was attacked...
...Had there Been normal pre** coverage at Tehersn...
...H* now standi the creation of #0,000,600 jobs, for free enterprise, government participation in industrial life, for an of greater freedom and a mora abundant lifo...
...Secret conference* on the Teheran model are a dental of the ideal* for which American ttand...
...Now, when they **e tha way the Americans are being treated by the Russians the* aie puzzled...
...It has not gained in exchange the slightest concrete evidence that Stalin will accept the methods of international consultation and cooperation on any issue which ha can solve by the method of unilateral dictation, that hp will abide by any agreed code of international justice...
...There haa been a good deal of non-partisan support for the reasonable and statesmanlike proposal of Senator Vandeiiberg...
...The American Government could perform a actable service for a future free world if H would make it clear that this m the last conference on secret totalitarian lines in which it will participate...
...Democratic American* and freedom-loving people everywhere would take heart from an unequivocal American declaration of purpot* to have n* mors of them, to ob**nr* fieedom of th* pre.**, to far a* thi* country i* concerned, in all futur* international gathering...
...Joaiah W. Bailey, chairman of tha Senate C Committee, set oat to destroy him...
...But it is never too late to abandon a wrong or mistaken policy...
...In order to recognise just how bankrupt this policy haa become one need only consider the scandalous and almost incredible situation that developed in Bulgaria Ifter the Soviet military occupation...
...Their inseaate oppoait' elevated him to tho role of champion of full merit...
...Bad Wallace bee* . a routine approval as candidate for the Vice-Pi he might have gone on quietly in that position trading a modicum of attention...
...Tha greatest danger in such a conference ia an unequal bargain of substance for shadow...
Vol. 28 • February 1945 • No. 6
