DIFFICULT TASK OF PEACE MAKING

Chronicle (Levin), 18 October 1946, Page 5

DIFFICULT TASK OF PEACE MAKING

WIIAT PARIS CONFERENCE HAS INDICATED Recaivt-d Thursdav, 7 p.m. LOXl'jON, ()-{. 17. D^'-laring that Ihe Paris Peace ('on-t'erciM-e caiiriut lic said to have made more tlian "a limdest bi-giiiniiig" in the worlc oi' pi'Ui'iMtiaiviug, tlu1 Times, in a leader, emphasises that bei'ore a linal peace coiit'on-iiro can be usefully summoned, imjiortant pruredunil deeisions will have to be taken by the nia.jor Powers, and in so dning, it is reasonable to suppuse i'ldi weight will be given to the Jessons oi' the Paris ( 'oni'erence. l-'irstly, tlie pm-iso role of ihe minor eoinitries imisl be reeonsidered f'or while tlieii legitiniale claiins deserve and nnist reeeive j'ullest reeognition, both jireeedent and coimnon sense hfieak strongly again.st a diploinatie i-on i'erence whose proceedings are rcridered unmaiiagea ble by the continnous part n-ijiatioii of a score or niore delegat ioiis. Secondly, tlie vot'.ig systom proved both a snare and an illnsion. It has rnerelv tended to enibitter distussion and created a wholly i'alse impression of the realities behiml the confeience. Fiuallv, it niust be insisted that, while open covenanls remain the or.iei of the day, the processes by whioli thev are arrived at eannot, anv more thaa oi her delicate negotiations between (iovernments. be exposed at every step to the scrutiny of the Press and public. However desirable it inav be that every nation and every interest should Jiave the fnllest opportunity to state its ca.se to the world, it is essential to provide every facility for these frank discussions between statesnien withoul which agreeinent on controversial rssues will rarely or never be attained. Jf these cousideratious are borne in mind, the Tinies adds, the disappointnients attending the Paris Conference imiy be avoided by its more momentous siiceessor.