The Crimean Conference

"We, by this declaration reaffirm our faith in the principles of the Atlantic Charter, our pledge in the declaration of the United Nations, and our determination to build in co-operation with the other peace-loving nations a world order under the law, dedicated to peace, security, freedom, and the general well-being of all mankind."

No session of the war has opened with so much inspiration and hope for the peoples of the world than this of 1945. The Crimean Conference decisions, announced on February 12th, bring the promise of emancipation to all peoples and to all nations. They are impressively comprehensive, dealing with almost every aspect of present and post-war problems with a full and realist application of principles previously defined.

For, from the Atlantic Charter of August 14th, 1941, through the Moscow, Dumbarton Oaks, Bretton Woods and Teheran Conferences, to the Crimean Conference of February 12th, 1945, we have an unbroken and striking development of democratic principles and programmes of action.

The static and abstract view of the Atlantic Charter principles put forward by many Tories in England is now shown to be completely unreal and without support. The specific decisions on Germany, for example, insist on the complete destruction of Nazism before any consideration of Germany's re-admission to the community of nations, and dismiss for ever the Tory plan for the de-industrialisation of that country. Or again, the invitation to France to join the Control Commission for Germany and to attend the San Francisco Conference discards the view of those who planned to exclude her from consideration as a power in the post-war world. The decision on Poland, which envisages the inclusion in a democratic government "of democratic leaders from Poland and from the Poles abroad," and the final words on the now happy Yugoslav situation, are a triumph for the people's support of the Atlantic Charter and Teheran.

The decisions and lead given on the international security organisation reaffirm the principles of Dumbarton Oaks. U.N.R.R.A. is decisively established with full support. And the proposal for meetings between the Foreign Secretaries proves the success and value of their previous Moscow Conference.

Each individual point in the Crimean declaration is a victory for the anti-Fascist cause. In the statements of this Conference are realised the principles behind the struggle for the Popular Front, and for which the men of the International Brigade fought and died. They are a vindication of the policies of the left.

We are fighting a people's war. Here is the complete people's charter, based on the reality of co-operation which is and must continue to be the spirit and experience of the United Nations.

Of great importance also is the declaration of full support for the Crimean Conference by the World Trade Union Conference on February 16th. Here the elected representatives of the workers of the United Nations pledged themselves to give not only full support for the armed struggle but also for the establishment of peace, according to the Crimean declarations; and insist on the importance of the unity by which alone we can fulfil them.

We of VUC would do well to associate ourselves with this declaration, not only in support of the Crimean principles, but pledging

"our every effort to preserve and strengthen this essential unity and to conduct a determined struggle against those forces within our lands which seek to weaken our unity and sow seeds of distrust and suspicion amongst us."

For the fulfilment of the Crimean decisions and the attainment of a better life for all!

—K.J.H.