Simms: In the balance
By William Philip Simms
WASHINGTON – United Nations circles here – especially some of the smaller members – are awaiting the outcome of the Big Three meeting with an anxiety only faintly tinged with hope.
As seen from here, Marshal Stalin and President Roosevelt hold most of the cards. Between them, they will largely decide the political issues upon which the fate of Europe and the future peace of the world so largely depend.
Prime Minister Churchill, a realist, will shape Britain’s course according to the way the Stalin-Roosevelt hands are played.
As Russia today is by far the most dominant power in the Eastern Hemisphere, Stalin can make or mar the prospects for international collaboration, in line with Dumbarton Oaks. Already a Moscow-made design for a post-war Europe is pretty far advanced. In its making, however, neither Britain nor America thus far has been consulted.
U.S. has plan too
In the Western world, the United States is the strongest power. Without it – just as without Russia – the proposed new League of Nations, built around the present grand alliance, hardly can hope to be effective. Yet it, too, has a plan for post-war collaboration. A plan which conforms to the principles of the Atlantic Charter.
Today everything depends on whether the Russian and the American these can be made to dovetail. Russia, by unilateral action, has already taken most of Europe under her wing. If she stands pat, if she refuses to permit the liberated peoples of Europe to have a say in their own political and territorial future, it may well wreck the new league.
But, it is pointed out, President Roosevelt went to the Big Three parley loaded down with ammunition. Gov. Dewey and Sen. Vandenberg made it plain that the Republican Party, no less than the Democrats, is behind the proposed peace plan.
He has everything it takes to convince Marshal Stalin and Prime Minister Churchill – if they want to be convinced – that the United States is thoroughly prepared to go as far as Russia and Britain to enforce a just and durable peace.
The big unanswered questions – but which everyone hopes the Black Sea conference will answer – today are:
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Will President Roosevelt make full and effective use of his ammunition?
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Will Marshal Stalin meet him halfway? (Prime Minister Churchill unquestionably will do his utmost to effect a close relationship but if the attempt fails, Britain may draw closer to the Soviet Union.)
Situation reversed
It has now become a habit on both sides of the Atlantic to blame any lack of world collaboration progress on American uncertainty. Britain and Russia, these circles say, don’t know whether they can “depend on” the United States. Maybe the Senate won’t ratify.
Well, the situation is now reversed. The President, the Senate, the House of Representatives, the Republican candidate for the presidency, the national elections last November – all demand an immediate, definite, iron-bound united nations or league to safeguard against aggression.
Now, people ask, are Russia and Britain prepared to play ball with America? Do they, like the United States, want a just peace, democratically arrived at and maintained, if necessary, by force, in line with the formula laid down at Dumbarton Oaks?
The Black Sea rendezvous of the Big Three should tell the tale. If it doesn’t, the outlook will be most unpromising.