Evening star., 1937-06-27
A Soviet Balance Sheet
Beyond Her What
Can Be Ion Her Athud

than formerly. On the contrary; the
300 900 men Of the former g. P. U. are
kept more active than ever.
In peacetime, assuming that q deed
OF terrorism does not remove one Of
the several key men OF the system, the
Stain regime will manage to hold fast.
But, II war broke out. nobody could
foresee what would happen In Russia
For that reason, il not for any other,
the most acute onlookers in Moscow
are convinced that Stain will not
easily face the prospects Of an inter-
national conflict. They feel that he
wants to maintain peace for all he's
worth, and that the conservative policy
followed by Russia on the international
plane Is truly sincere.
As long As Stain and his friend,
Marshal Voroshilov, feel that the
French and British governments are
ready to play their part In q scheme
OF collective security, they will with
stand the pressure OF the German
Reich and vindicate. on every occasion,
their countrys national independence.
But what would occur il their fear
OF being sold by the western powers,
OF being used as means of buying
Germany's good behavior In the west,
became justified by diplomatic de-
velopments? Nobody can foretell.
Many are OF opinion that Stain would
then come to terms with Hitler. He
would reach an understanding with
the German dictator regardless OF the
cost.
After all, 1t Is foolish to say that no
bridge can be thrown over the abyss
which separates these two men from
each other. Let US imagine that to-
morrow Stain suppresses the rem
nants OF the Komintern: Would not
the German Fuhrer welcome that
decision OF the red dictator as a
triumph for himself? And afterwards
would he not see Russian affairs under
a new light?
But were such 4 development to
take place, could France and England
hope to avoid war? All Of the raw
materials and perhaps the man power
OF Russia would become available to
Germany. Once the Hitlerian Reich
had become aware OF its military
superiority In European We con-
ceive that Great Britain and France
would then be left at rest in their
corner of the world that nothing
would be done to disturb them in the
possession OF their wealthy empires
beyond the seas?
False Premises.
In France, in England. in America
many still persist in regarding Russia
as the champion and, through the
Komintern, as the moving spirit OF
world revolution. II their advice were
to be listened to. Soviet Russia would
have to be thrown to the dogs and
Hitler and Mussolini would be con-
sidered as the joint pillars Of the exist
ing civilization. In that way we should
play into the hands OF the dictators,
though unoonsciously. perhaps; and
would promote their plans Of conquest
It must be emphasized that the
premises OF that policy are false
Stain does not take the same interest
as formerly in the Third International.
He makes light. for instance, OF the
French Communists A French cabi-
net could suppress them: He would
not raise . finger to protect them.
But he is deeply concerned in the
survival Of the German Communists.
He sees in them . sword that can be
hung over Adolf Hitler's head. and
regards them AZ 4 branch Of Russia s
national defense In order to keep
them alive he must from time to time
take some step likely to rekindle the
spirit Of international Communism
This explains his interference in
Spanish affairs hast October, after an
initial period Of indifference and
apathy. As . matter Of fact, the
French government experienced no real
difaculty. last Autumn. in stopping
Russian policy On that dangerous path
The practical conclusion to be drawn
from the above is that the political
cooperation with Moscow initiated BY
Mr.. Barthou In 1884 and carried out
by Mr.. Laval in May. 1888 with the
assent Of the British foreign ofice.
could not be departed from without
Germany's being given the opportunity
Of placing Central and Eastern
Europe under her sway. This would
be an ominous development. and no
body can boast that it would be
possible to limit the repercussions
direct and indirect. on the Western
part Of the continent. Thus, to any
thoughtful man. the principle Of the
indiviAbility Of peace Is once more
being vindicAted.