"MORE IT IS STUDIED, BETTER IT LOOKS"

Auckland Star, Volume LXXVI, Issue 39, 15 February 1945, Page 4

"MORE IT IS STUDIED, BETTER IT LOOKS"

CRIMEA COMMUNIQUE

Decisions Evaluated By

British Press

N.Z.P.A. Special Correspondent Rec. 2.30 p.m. LONDON, Feb. 14. Second thoughts on the Crimea Conference have confirmed the good impression made here by the communique issued by the "Big Three" and although the London Poles' dissentient voice has been raised there is apparently little support

forthcoming for their views. "It can be said of this document, and it is a rare tribute, that the more it is studied the better it looks," says the Manchester Guardian, in a leader. After saying that apart from military plans the document falls naturally into three parts, first, the declaration on liberated Europe; secondly, the treatment of Germany; and, thirdly, the organisation of a new League of Nations, the Guardian expresses the opinion that the first is a triumph of President Roosevelt, the second of Marshal Stalin, and the third of Mr. Churchill. It regards the Polish settlement as "by no means a bad one," and adds that the guarantee of free elections should reassure those who rightly distrust the present Provisional Government. It thinks that "much of the section on Germany is sound," but says the German problem will not be solved only by occupation, reparation, punishment and control. There must also be a common plan for her redemption, and there is little sign of that.

The Guardian regards it as important that as soon as possible the "Big Three" alliance should be submerged in a new international organisation, since no alliance of victorious Powers, however firm, can replace a league of all democratic, peace-loving nations. High Tribute Prom Nazis Mr. Vernon Bartlett, M.P., in the News Chronicle, declared that a high tribute to the conference comes from the Nazis. According to German Press and radio reports the communique is "fiendish" evidence of destructive madness on the part of the. war criminals who- are planning mass murder of German men, women and children. Mr. Bartlett adds: "Soviet and American Press comments are so enthusiastic and so similar that one is left with the impression that these countries have never before achieved so close an understanding." Opinion in London, he adds, is that Russian praise is all the more remarkable in'view of the quite considerable concessions made by Marshal Stalin. After stating that the only discordant Allied comments come from some Frenchmen and some Poles, Mr. Bartlett adds: "The Arciszewski Cabinet met to face the unpleasant fact that it may soon lose BritishAmerican recognition. But, despite admitted grievances, it remains clear that the Crimea decisions are the best that could be reached under the circumstances." Mr. .Bartlett recalls that M. Mikolajczyk, formerly head of the Polish Government in London, recently suggested a compromise very similar to that approved at Yalta. There is thus the hope that prominent Poles in London as well as others in Polawd or elsewhere will shortly be back in Warsaw.

Mr. Bartlett says that the only important omission of France in the communique would appear to be in the paragraph arranging for quarterly meetings of Foreign Ministers. Presumably an invitation to France to send her Foreign Minister, M. Bidault,' to the meetings would be. forthcoming at a later date.

Just Severity For Germany The Daily Telegraph, in a leader, expresses the opinion that every problem has clearly been approached objectively in a reasonable spirit. The measure of the enemy's disappointment at the absence of rifts is . the mounting hysteria of his comments. The Telegraph thinks it is a very remarkable achievement to have agreed on ai treatment of Germany, which is instinct with just severity but devoid of unconstructive petulance. There is nothing in the terms now revealed which is likely to provoke that discord between the Allies which last time caused the United States to wash their hands of Europe and other victors to wash so much dirty linen in public that Germany was able to hatch mischief again. While response of the Poles in London has been sombre yet in no point does the Yaltaagreement reflect a more or better spirit of reciprocal understanding. Though French representatives were not present .it is doubtful whether they could have secured fuller considera-j tion of France's interests and desires! if they had been. j

The Daily Herald says one of the most welcome features of the "great communique" has been its reaffirmation of the Atlantic Charter, and declares that the conference promised rapid decisive advances towards a world security organisation which will achieve in the military sense freedom from fear.

The Herald regards President Roosevelt's message to Congress, in which he said it was time America took the lead in "establishing principles of economic co-operation as a foundation for expanded world trade" as a "happy accompaniment" to the Crimea declaration. The Herald adds that it is a lead which should be accepted by politicians and peoples in all lands for economic unity constitutes a second front in the campaign for durable peace. Economic Peace Terms Both in Westminster and authoritative quarters in London satisfaction has been expressed at the communique. The only criticism- thus far voiced in London concerns certain aspects of the economic peace terms, which the Financial News reports, have given rise to misgivings among members of the House of Commons. It is pointed out that it would be impossible to expect Germany to make large. deliveries in kind unless she were allowed to maintain and reconstruct her industries. And in possession of large industrial capacity Germany would be in a position to embark on rearmament the moment political considerations made this possible. The report states it seems evident that the "Big Three" rejected the proposal for the complete de-indus-trialisation of Germany, and even her strategic industries are not to be moved out of harm's way. It is commented that in the absence of reassuring information the economic aspects of the declaration are likely tip encounter some criticism from all sides in the House of Commons.