Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-05-21
u. S.War Link
With Russia
Made Clear
Z Nations Not Married {;
just Fighting Nazis
BY PAUL MALLON

there among the people over our
policy toward Russia, and what
will come out of it after the war.
A number of very enthusiastic
Americans, on one hand, seem
to be accepting the delusion that
Russia got into this war TO save
democracy. And there are an
equal number of people on the
other hand who cringe in fear
of communism rising in this
country as a result of the VIC
tory we are going TO win.
Above all. in both groups,
there are people who think the
subject should not even be men,
toned, either for fear of rocking
the boat or offending Stain.
To make the situation appear
even more complex, domestic
Commies are coming out of the
holes they entered while Russia
was passing ally of Hitler in
Poland. and are disporting
themselves in their publications
again. advising us which Amer
leans are loyal, what we should
do about this and that.
NONE of these notions has any
~ basis in the plain and simple
facts Of the case, which are
apparently being forgotten. The
realistic policy of this govern
ment has long been adopted. is
delivering the goods to Russia
better than expected, and is gen.
orally approved.
All you have to do to UNDER
stand its ramifications and its
restrictions is TO recall the facts
of how ii came about. If you
keep these facts in mind there
can be no confusion, fear-or
political agitation.
Fact one. is that, Russia en-
tered this war because she was
attacked by Hitler. Before that
she had worked Hitler's way.
Russia is not de nocracy. Pr
marily4 she is fighting for her
existence.
We are fighting for our exist
ence, a different kind of exist
ence, but against the same
enemy.
War must run always TO the
death, and in that kind of stu
alton, any one who is not foolish
will get every kind of help he
can. Therefore, we have entered
upon a joint venture which is, in
effect. mutually satisfactory
partnership in war.
TT is not political. We have
L no treaties. We are merely
working together for our own
self-interestS in a life and death
struggle.
Now this does not mean we
must marry Russia. II does not
mean we must adopt her form
OF government. now or later. If
she had the form of government
of the Fiji Islands or Shangri-La,
it would be the same.
The administration seems TO
me to have kept these distinc-
tons very carefully and clearly.
Mr.. Roosevelt has pushed the
goods over to them, furnished
the credit, praised the sgreat
valor of the Russian army and
completely avoided the confusing
political angles.
If all citizens of this country
had followed his example. there
would be no reason for attempt
ing now to clarity the situation.
Why the President freed Earl
Browder / do not know. 1 do
not believe it was to please
Russia, because no diplomat
here suggests Stains diplomatic
ever concerned
themselves with the Browder
passport case.
AS matter of fact, Stains
diplomats stay as far away as
they can from the domestic
Communist Party.
/ UNFORTUNATELY, the do
- nestle Commies do not
conduct themselves with the
same restraint. Their publica-
tons seem 10 want to decide
strictly American issues. If any
one says the Russians advanced |
only three miles instead of five.
they are inclined to shout
Fascist" at him.
Indeed, If allowed to run loose
the way they are going. they
will have us all believing before
this war is over that they per-
sonally saved democracy. al
though all we are getting from
them is critical advice. There
lies our danger and there lies
the cause of the confusion. not
in the governments, and not in
the policy.
III. you meet those Of this ik
IN argument or in print, just re-
mind them that Russia initially
made the war possible by her
treaty with Hitler and her ac-
tons in Poland: that we tried
10 help Finland when she was
attacked by Russia; that neither
political agitation nor false
cmotionalism will help either of
us right now: that we both are
IN this matter for our own good
reasons; that our governments
seem TO know it and are doing a
darned good joint job of accom-
pllShing victory without getting
into Sideline arguments.
II we keep things on that