Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 12 December 1944 — Page 16

The Indianapolis Times PAGE ‘14 Tuesday, December 12, 1944 ~

WALTER LECKRONB MARK FERREB Editor Business Manager

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ROY W. HOWARD President

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THE RUSSO-FRENCH ALLIANCE

HE Soviet<French post-war military alliance, signed Sunday in Moscow, is the fifth and worst defeat suf- ‘ fered by Churchill in his balance-of-power contest with Stalin, No face-saving words from London can change the fact that the Churchill plan for a British bloc of western Europe, as first announced a year ago by Gen. Smuts, has been destroyed by the Stalin-De Gaulle deal. As widely predicted from the beginning, the Churchill effort to set up a British sphere of influence frightened France into a Russian alliance as the lesser of evils—because Russia is farther

away. » . . » » .

IN JUSTICE to Churchill it must be understood that this balance-of-power game—which violates the Atlantic Charter and Hull-Moscow pact, and jeopardizes the plan for a democratic international security organization — was started by Stalin. Churchill's purpose was to off-set Russian domination of eastern Europe. His mistake was his incredible assumption that he could beat Stalin, or at least * break even with him, at Stalin's own game. Britain's only real hope from the start has been to stand with the United States on the Atlantic Charter and the Hull-Moscow pact for a frée Europe, instead of a puppet continent under hig power domination; for a united Eurgpe, instead of one divided into spheres; for a strong Europe, instead of a weak pushover for the next Hitler who rises to play Britain and Russia against each other. If Churchill now will return to the Atlantic Charter poliey- supported by the British majority, there is still time to salvage the decent workable peace upon which British survival depends. . . . n » IN ANY EVENT the 5-to-0 score in the balance-of-wer game is enough to frighten Britons, as it does AmerJove First, Churchill signed a separate post-war military alliance with Stalin, instead of trusting to an international non-exclusive alliance of the united nations, Second, having ‘established that precedent, Stalin swung Czechoslo- ~ vakia away from the British to the Russian orbit, with a Russian-Czech alliance. Third, Stalin at Tehran pressured Churchill into supporting the Russian®grab of the Baltic nations and eastern ‘Poland, in exchange for Stalin's support of Britain in'Italy and Greece—with the chaotic results now showing, Fourth, Stalin outmaneuvered him in Yugoslavia until Churchill scrapped the British-controlled regime and supported Stalin’s Tito. And now France, largest and strongest nation in western Europe, has swung away fram Churchill and toward Stalin.’ ; J “ 9.w" " a . BUT THERE is still a chance of a demoeratic and just European settlement. = For neither France, nor any other liberated country, really wants to be a Russian puppet any more than British-—or American—underling, Even Stalin, as a realist needing a long peace for Russian reconstruction, might revert to the Hull-Moscow agreement against the balance-of-power system if Churchill and Roosevelt were determined. After all, the biggest issue is allied unity during and after the war. That unity cannot be maintained by power grabs of rival European empires. ——————

GENERAL MOTORS SHOWS ITS CONFIDENCE

—]PROSPECTS for-extensive post-war employment; already bright for Indianapolis, were improved even further by the announcement that the aircraft development section of General Motors Corp. is to be transferred here on Feb. 1. An able engineering staff under the direction of Don Berlin, native Hoosier who designed the Curtiss P.40 fighter plane, will devote its talents to the development of new military and commercial uses for the famous Allison engine, The move is important, at present, from-the standpoint of the war effort. But its greatest significance to Indianapolis lies in the promise of continued post-war employment for thouosands of local workers. General Motors has demonstrated by this announcement that it regards the Allison engine as something more than a “war baby” and that it is preparing to adapt it to commercial ‘purposes. Thus, when the war ends, there still will be jobs for the thousands employed at the Allison plants, not to mention the possibility that fabrication of commercial air-frames may be added to engine production here, providing even more jobs. For what would be more logical than to build the peacetime planes here, convenient to the engine plants and the raseach staffs? General Motors has shown its confidence, both in the Allison engine and in Indianapolis as a key center of posts war aviation manufacturing.

ONE MAN'S OPINION

~ “JF I marry an American girl,” an English soldier in this : country wants to know, “do I have to eat ghastly things like apple pie with cheese, sugar on tomatoes, tea with tea. bags, candied sweet pofrtoes and cold: American beer? Brother, we'd advise you to keep such opinions to your self. For some day you'll run into an American who has ~ experienced British coffee, mutton, brussels: sprouts and “sweets.” And when you do, the cause of world brother: ~ hood will be set back 20 years at least.

THE senate military affairs committee, searching for the

upon the existence of any such document more "than the version printed by the house of repre-

e state

original copy of the ‘Atlantic Charter, has cast some |

| REFLECTIONS—

500040] Shot

By James Thrasher

CECIL B. DeMILLE has made one of the most publicized longshot bets in the history of political ethics. In effect, he has put up his $5000-a-week salary agaimst

dio Artists' efforts to make him pay $1 for something he doesn’t believe in. Probably Mr, DeMille can afford this extravagant gesture. As : an early movie director and pro- : ducer, he parlayed that grest American institution, the bathtub. into a tidy fortune. And it is likely that Mr. DeMille could live out his days without being wholly dependent on his social security check, even without his radio salary, which isn't hay. Nevertheless, there is a good deal of interest in and sympathy for Mr. DeMille’s fight. He objected to A.F.R. A. members being assessed $1 to fight a California referendum which would have outlawed the closed shop, He hasn't paid the dollar, If he doesn’t pay up he isn’t an A. F.R. A, member in good standing, and so can't work in radio, :

Contends Freedom Is at Stake

MR. DeMILLE CONTENDS that if he must let someone else make up his mind for him before he ' can work, then he is no longer a free man, He also contends that if this assessment is legal, then a union could levy any amount on its members for any purs pose, even tp soaking Communists $1000 a head for support of the Republican party. And Mr. DeMille has a case. Any A.F.R.A. meme bers who shared his views but not his money must have compromised principle for the sake of money and paid up rather than lower their living standard or risk unemployment, But A P.A R. has a casetoo. Assessments like the one in question are legal under California law. Consequently A.F.R.A. can say, as it does, that Mr. DeMille is not “law abiding” when he refuses to kick in with the dollar, And A.F,R. A. might cite a hypothetical parallel, Buppose a rugged and crotchety individualist thinks a pavement or sewer on his street is needless and nonsensical, and refuses to pay taxes for it, It is theoretically possible (though a little far-fetched) that he might lose his house because of his persistent refusal to pay.

Proposes to Test Law ;

NOW MR. DeMILLE proposes to test the California law to see if taxes levied by a union with mae Jority consent, in support of an idea, are any different from taxes on material Improvements levied by government with popular approval. He proposes to see if an organization within a gove ernment dedicated to freedom of speech and opinion can, under that same government, allegedly sot to abridge those freedoms, . This government has often levied taexs for projects toward which some of its tax-paying citizens had no sympathy. It will be interesting to see, through Mr, DeMiile's test case, whether a union can extend to the limit this governmental power by depriving a member of his livelihood if he fails to abide by-ma-jority opinion,

WORLD AFFAIRS—

Broken Pledges By William Philip Simms

WASHINGTON, Dec. 12. — A

The would

be (1) to come to a better understanding

the conference hetween Marshal Stalin, Prime Minister Churchill and President Roosevelt. Gen, De Gaulle might make it a foursome.

Future of Europe Hangs in Balardce

IT 18 privately admitted in diplomatic circles here that on some such developments as these hangs the future of Europe and, by the same token, the future of post-war collective security. 3 On paper, of course, a fundamental understanding already exists between Russia, Britain and Amerfea. They and other united nations are formally pledged to undertake no territorial changes that do not accord with the freely wishes of the the peoples concerned, and to respect the right of all peoples to choose the form ef government undeg which they will live. : That pledge, however, has been broken time and time again. It is still being broken almost every day. Power politics is now in full swing in Europe and is gathering momentum as hopes for the end of the war burn brighter. Russia has already obtained a dominept position throughout two-thirds of Europe and is increasing her influence while an alarmed Britain is seeking to pick up at least some of the crumbs,

All Great Powers Must Honor Pledges

LACK QF a tive American policy in al] this, it is widely held, ‘would doom everything we had been | led to expect from Dumbarton Oaks. Certainly the American people are overwhelmingly opposed to participation in Bwope’s power politics, but from every indication they aye equally emphatic against underwriting a peace in which they are denied Unless all the great powers——not just one nonor their the position will fall, Even if tain a model hands-off attitude to organize Europe to sult is doing now—our soldiers will ha lions will have been spent nation from one totalitarian Few united nations observers believe even gressional majority, let alone a two-thirds the senate, would bind this country to send forces to maintain an Internationa) status quo thus established. ?

Each Coalition Government Facing Crisis’

THE WHOLE post-war set-up is in the balance. Says Liston M. Oak in an article in the liberal-labor organ, The New Leader.

Maa J

Mr. Stettinius’ Te- | oso’

» defend to

The Hoosier Forum 1 wholly disagree with what you say, but will! h your right to sqy it.—Voltaire.

the

By H. C. Fledderjohn, Indisnapelis Bame time ago In your editorial columns you urged the passage of a permanent compulsory military training law at onee. Your statement, or inference at least, was that “everyone is for it so why delay?” For your information the following is a partial list of oeganizations that. have declared their opposition te the passage of such a bill before victory is achieved and our fighting men are home again to share in the decision: The Federal Council of Churches of Christ in America. Nearly every major Protestant denomination, The Roman Catholic Church. The National Education association (Education Pelicies sion).

- Salhi

Illinois Federation of Labor, and other important A. F. of L. unions,

Sixteen independent railroad organizations, We can assume from your editorial that the membership of these groups is only an infinitesimal part of the population and therefore not worthy of too much worry about their opinions.

# . ” “GREEKS HAVE RIGHT TO SELF-DETERMINATION”

By James Angelo, President, James Whit. smb Order of A. HH. E A PP, po!

Press reports from Greece indi-

in what on the surface a to be an internal political squabble but ‘which, in reality, is the application of imperialistic and power politics, That Great Britain has subordinated war interests to imperialistic policies in the case of Greece became apparent a year and a half ago. The Atlantic charter and every nohle pronouncement by allied lead ers in this war are empty phrases when examined in the light of de~ velopments in Greece.

The matter calls for immediate action. Only an aroused American public opinion can force Colonel Blimps and other imperialists of Great Britain to abandon a policy which, if continued will (1) cause

ov pail Association of choot [OF the moral basis ef the co struggle Hitler,

cate that precious lives are beingito

(Times readers are invited to express their views in these columns, religious cone troversies excluded. Because of the voluma received, letters should be limited to 250 words, Letters must be signed. Opinions set forth here are those of the writers, and publication in no way implies agreement with those opinions by The Times. The Times assumes no responsis bility for the return of manuscripts and cannot enter correspondence regarding them.)

the prolongation of the war and (2) contribute to the deterioration common

All persons interested in a speedy victory and a just peace may well raise their voices against this blatant rape of Greece. Her people must be allowed to the right to choose their leaders and te adopt whatever form of government they desire. They deserve assistance, not oppression, They must be furnished with food, clothing and medical supplies. Their ports. roads, highways and cemmunications, which were destroyed either by enemy or allied action, must be restored. American lend-lease must be given to them direct and all assistance must be dissociated from political considerations, The Greek people, who have given the world the Olympian message, “It is Wetter to die on our feet than to live on our knees,” have the right self-determination. Unless American influence and prestige are brought to bear in that part of the world, lives of innocent persons will be further sacrificed and the allied cause will suffer immeasurably throughout the world.

» » “I BOUGHT TWO DOGS AT THE POUND” By Mrs, Helen Bishop, 1845 Tallman ave. I saw in this evenings paper where the dog pound should put to sleep all ailing dogs. I think that is a humane thing and have them put to sleep before they suffer too long, I bought two dogs there at the pound last January, a year ago, and they were so sick I had to doc-

tor them. I took one of them back

Side Glances=By Galbraith

-——

as it was gone too far for medicine, and the other got so wild I couldn't do anything with her so I took her to veterinarian and had her put to sleep. They both had a cold, and the reason for it was that Mrs.

| Frankfort has the heat turned off

in the place every night. I was there at night when I took one ef my dogs back, and I know. y All the short-haired dogs were shaking from the cold. No wonder they get sick. I have worried about them ever since. You can print this if you want. This should be looked into right away. Go out there and see for yourself, as it is cold weather now. She should be made to keep heat on and put dogs to sleep and not let them suffer. She goes home to a nice warm house. I have thought of writing you for a long time. ‘14] never send a dog to the pound. I'll pat‘ghhem to sleep by a veterinary first. Small dogs don’t have any straw, just boards for bed all night. That is terrible. Let her Keep just a few and take better care o ‘them, ® =» . “LAY THE BLAME WHERE IT BELONGS” By Verna Melton, Paoli, Indiana This, dear readers, is in answer to Mr. C. I. O. Worker. I was wondering how much longer I would have to wait for another dose of that “patriotic propaganda” alias anti-Reoseveltism. Well, I got it, and what a dose. Mr. C. I. O. Worker, you blame our commander-in-chief for the ammunition shortage, but did it ever occur to you that there might, just might mind you, be a little room for blame with the strikers? —¥ you-are-just a bit too eager to find fault with the President. You know as well as I what happens if F. D. R. orders strikers back to work. Cries of dictatorship, communism, ete., fill the papers and air lanes, If you, and others like you, who are so eager to pick a bone, would enly find the right one. Lay the blame where it rightfully belongs, on the strikers, workers who miss every few days, go hunting, ete, instead of staying en the job, Yes, the ammunition shortage will mean

you and I aren't helping it any with words. Work and more of it is what counts. Build up instead of doing so much tearing down. Your letter filled almost half of the Forum with its bunk, but I will

I've had my say and I feel better. P. 8 II wasn't a lady, I'd tell you how mad your letter really made me! a» “FOR MEN, 0. K, FOR BOYS, NO”

By. Serious, Indianapolis

tig hits

Hy 28 od]

the loss of thousands of lives, but!

POLITICAL SCENE— European Issue By Thomas L. Stokes yy

WASHINGTON, Dec, 13—It's

$ about the possibilities of polities 1

to followed world war I, and susceptible to propaganda advance now, with the publicity opens. the way to solutions that accord with American principles and may | avert the rebirth of isolationism on a large scale. This is in reference to the way the British ernment, through ‘Prime Minister Churchill, threw |

to impose its preferences as to who should control the governments there; and the prompt and publie way in which our government, through Secretary of State Stettinius, called attention to what was going on, and expressed our disapproval of i.

Approach to 'Open Covenants’

SOME ‘VERY Interesting and salutary develop= ments have occurred. . Secretary Stettinius’s statement, re-gsserting the traditional policy of non-interference in governments of other nations, seemed to set a style of publicity under which there may be an approach to Woodrow Wilson's postulate, not successfully carried out then, of “pitiless publicity” and “open covenants, openly arrived at.” Thus far there's been too much of the opposite. It puts the people of this country and of the world on notice in advance of the next meeting of the Three—President Roosevelt, Prime Minister Chur and Marshal Stalin—in which the political adjust ments of Burope will be a chief concern, and it arms the President with public opinion that was promptly aroused. . If the President is not satisfied wtih the results, he can appeal to world opinion, since the issue has been drawn ahead of time. His purpose to shine through developments of the last few days. Another salutary result of these developments, too, was the quick response of the British people, through their parliament, to call their government to accoun so that Mr. Churchill had to explain himself. An explain himself he did, in his usual effective fashion, Leading British newspapers joined in the hue and cry,

Battle Between Right and Left

WHAT WE ARE seeing is the opening of the b battle between the right and left for the postwar Burope. The continent may be in a constant state of upheaval. There Will quick and easy solutions, because pf‘what is at There's Great Britain on the one side the other, with the United States as a or umpire trying to establish some course, and being in the difficult ition of assed liberal who is caught in the crossfire : side. 1 Mr. Churchill's position is thoroughly ; able. He's looking out for the empire in old-fashioned way, intruding in Italy and protect the Mediterranean line. He never in to stand by and see the liquidation of the empire and he is re-stating this now in His excuse is the negesasry “restoring of which was one that was once familiar in our diplo= macy, back in the 20's, in various Hh Saribhean Sit Sud in Ocul (America lox benefit of certain American interests, business otherwise. Our term for it was “dollar diplomacy,® which was quite frank. ’

Imperative for Big Three to Set Together

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the old familiar pattern of what B soraudly knows . “power politics,” or whether are to be at effectively within the orbit of the world peace organizatoin envisioned in

out adjustments that will save as as possible, but with consideration for everybedy, The present situation suggests that it is tive for the Big Three to get together some common program for Europe, which up to is sadly lacking, and to get the world under way before the situation is pair, and the American people begin to Jose hope.

IN WASHING TON==

Miscellany

By Peter Edson

WASHINGTON, Dee 1% Small round , mirrors given out to

of the United States Philippines in full color. Above them is a Mess of Gen. Doug himself, also in ing the salute. And above that, around the rim, is the printed legend, “I WILL RETURN," »