Powers Start Talks On Security Organisation

Northern Advocate, 21 August 1944, Page 2

Powers Start Talks On Security Organisation

(Rev. 11.30 NEW YORK, Aug. 20. Tin* purpose ol' the Dumbarton Oaks conference beginning on Monday is both complex and inspiring', saysi the Washington correspondent of the "New York Times." The conferees are faced with reconciling the two conflicting principles of nationalism.; and international action io create collaboration of the Great Powers in a system of collective security without infringing the rights of smaller powers, and furthering' the goal of perpetual peace. Already the United States, Russia and Britain have drafted the broad outlines of a security organisation they would like to see formed. None of these outlines has been published, but certain facts are known. l<’or example, all three propose that a world organisation be composed of nn assembly of all the peace loving powers of the world, a council which would have final executive powers in deciding whether to a\jply military force against any aggressor or potential aggressor, and a world court to deal with judiciable international disputes. What Schemes Involve All three schemes restrict the assembly of all nations to an advisory capacity. All three suggest that Britain, America, China and Russia should be permanent members of the council. All three stipulate that each of the four permanent members should have' the right to veto any proposal that it’s armed forces bo used against an aggressor. In other words, under all three plans each of the Great Powers is protected against, the possibility that any combination of nations could Vote to put it into a war against its will. Apparently there are some minor differences in the suggestions about the total number of members to sit on the council, also about the vote necesunry in the council before military sanctions could be imposed. None of these differences is expected to cause much trouble. Roosevelt’s Hopes It is understood that President Roosevelt. is desirous of keeping the new security organisation plan entirely separate from treaties of peace, the purpose of which is not only to keep the new league of nations plan from being lost in the controversy over boundaries and othei contentious issues, but to seek additional powers in the peace treaty settlement for dealing with any aggression that might break out.

ill- Roosevelt hopes to see a peace treaty that will not only authorise the victorious powers to disarm, demobilise and control German industry, but will authorise the executive branch of the Government to collaborate with America's allies in enforcing these terms of peace, even if they have to use military force to bring this about. Congress Vote Thus tiie world security organisation and peace treaties would be separate, but they would complement each other in that both provide machinery for punishing a future violator of the peace, although under the American plan for a new league a. vote of Congress would he necessary before an American force could be used, thus hampering quick action under the American peace treaty plan as distinguished from the security organisation plan.

Tf the treaty is ratified by Senate, the American executive branch would be able to take immediate action against Germany or Japan if either of those powers attempted to break the terms of the peace.

This is a conference not of idealists, hut of technicians. Delegates will concentrate not on how to abolish war, but what to do when it breaks out. This pleases some observers and displeases others, but it is a fact worth noting by everyone.