24 MARCH 1944, Page 1

The Ambiguous Charter

The Prime Minister took a high hand with the seventy Members of Parliament who desired a debate for the purpose of elucidating the Government's attitude towards the Atlantic Charter. The terms of the motion, it is true, were unduly provocative, but to declare roundly that it would be treated as a vote of censure was a surprising move. The resultant position is unsatisfactory in the extreme. The Atlantic Charter has been before the world for nearly three years. It was clearly and categorically drawn, but recent statements by British Ministers, so far from confirming it, have indicated that in certain material respects the Charter does not

mean what any plain reader would suppose it to mean. The Charter was a document of joint authorship. It is very necessary that the British and American Governments should speak with one voice in such a matter. So far no confirmation has come from the American side of the restrictive interpretations put on the Charter by Ministers in the House of Commons. Mr. Hull's declaration this week indeed implies quite the contrary. Discussion of the Charter

in the House might have elicited the desired explanation ; it would in any case have given the opportunity for some valuable expres- sions of unofficial opinion. That will not now happen, but a debate on the subject has been arranged in the Lords, and that will pre- sumably take place. Meanwhile it is suggested that the Prime Minister may deal with the question in his broadcast address on Sunday.