Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-02-21
u. S., Russian
Communist
Nothing Alike
One Brave ldeolist While
Other Is Traitor
By WESTBROOK PEGLER(

IT is plain that our government
L wants TO gentle the feelings
of the Soviet government on the
subject of communism.
Even old Judge Hatton Sum-
ners of Dallas. one of our truly
wise congressman, recently APP
pealed to his colleagues TO use
"horse sense" and reject a little
aggravating rider offered by
Martin Dies which reiterated
the standard American opinion
of our domestic Communist ele-
ment and the American Commu-
mist Party.
Judge Summers held that this
was an unnecessary offense to
proud and mighty ally and there
was even that in his manner
which suggested fear that
Joseph Stain might pull out of
the war and leave us fiat if we
didn't mind our manners.
President Roosevelt later We
toed some routine measure,
lJONNlOlN NV Ndlllt WIN III illC
interests of harmonious rela-
tionS with our Stoutest military
and industrial ally and / have
discovered in Joe Davies report
Of his mission 10 Moscow an inn
piled appeal 10 his countrymen
10 have done with Red-baiting.
lest we ALLEVIATE comrade in
arms whom he deeply admires
for qualities which all Ameri-
cans must envy in the present
hour.
But does this mean that
Stain and the Russians are
fighting this war because they
like Us?
am willing 10 believe that
they do like the American peo-
pie better than they like the
Germans, who are their natural
enemies. but Davies. himsel
gives no reason 10 believe that
the Russians would fire single
rife bullet IN any other interest
than their own.
THEY are most practical
l. patriots Of all. fighting for
Russia only. and II is fneorceiv-
able that they would prolong
their war single hour beyond
some point al which they de-
CIded that truce or peace
would best serve the interests 81
Soviet Russia
OF course. this does not mean
that they would refuse 10 create
a diversion against the Germans
10 relieve pressure on us or the
British, all other things being
equal. because when nations
team up IN war. very often one
Of the allies loyalty makes a
bloody effort which cannot pos
Slbly show an independent mill
tarv profit lust 10 draw the
common enemy away from a
distressed sector of the common
front
Davies puts il that the Rus
SLAMS can afford 10 feel kindly
toward Us and vice versa. be-
cause We have no designs on
anything OF theirs and they
covet nothing Of ours.
In the first half Of that propo-
Sition he is right. butt rcmen1-
( Der that during the period when
this was an lmperialist war pre-
cipltated by the predatory pluto
( dcmocracieS Of the .capitallStic
bloc. the American Communists
we're muttcTing that Alaska
should by rights be Russian be-
cause the car who made the
sale had no right 10 dispose ~
T the property of the Russian peo-
pie.
But I agree that mono Of w.
should necdlcSSly antaGoni2i
Russia and that We all Shoul,1
appreciate the vast, II Incidental
benef, that We have received
! from the astonishing bravery.
tcnacity and military skill ~
( their fighters and the foresight
and adaptabllty of their indus
tries.
4 Ii authorities write of Rus
~ Sia's magnificent patriotism.
hut. having done that cross
! themselves up when they suc-
gcSt that Russia would quit
fighting before her own inter-
eStS we're secure merely because
some Americans had resisted
efforts 10 substitute communism
for AmcricaniSm here
Purely gratultous JlbeS At
communism. as such. should he
avoided IN the interest Of better
sympathy between two countries
/ in this war.
But the American Communist
Party by its own contention
and by the terms Of the basic
treaty between our country and
Russia, is not a Russian organl-
zation.
II processes 10 be wholly
American and absolutely indie
pendent Of Moscow and If that
is so, II is a strictly domestic
affair Of ours.
i'll