Evening star., 1943-03-10

story Of how ass -
extensive Amer David Lawrence.
tCan lease-lend aid is to Russia? 1t
is noted that in certain Russian
newspapers. copies of which have
reached New York, there are pub
NShed references to American aid
under the lease-lend program. But
it still may be true the the essential
facts are being withheld, because
IN Russia newspapers are not circu-
lated beyond certain areas, and it
may well be that the radio for
example, has not been permitted in
Russia to convey the facts about
our lease-lend aid to the Russian
people.
Certainly Admiral STANDBY had
some reason for making the state
ments attributed to him. The State
Department here says it was not
consulted in advance, which may or
may not mean that what the
admiral said is repudiated. Actually.
the department takes the customary
discreet and diplomatic attitude that
the admiral could not surely have
Intended to imply that there was
any lack Of trust between the Rus
aan and American governments.
Practiced by Stain.
The incident is just as puzzling in
tome respects as the occasional bits
Of seeming indiscretion which Pre-
mier Stain permits himself to prac-
tice. Thus, every now and then he
makes a statement or a speech ap-
parently minimizing the second
front in North Africa and giving the
impression that Russia is bearing
the brunt Of the war If the head
Of the Russian government can
speak so frankly about Russian
American relations and cannot be
accused Of attempting to foster dis
unity, then it seems plausible that
an American Ambassador might
speak his mind, too.
AS matter of fact, bluntness and
outspoken comments are believed to
be relished by the Russian Premier,
so it might well be that Admiral
Standley has done a bit of that
famous "prodding" which Wendell
Willkie INDUCED few months back
when he gave an interview from
Moscow urging a second front.
Many American observers were fab
bergasted, but apparently Stain
liked the prodding and apparently
Admiral Standby has begun a little
prodding Of his own.
The american Ambassador was
once chief Of naval operations here
and is not the kind to go off half
cooked in a delicate situation such
as envelops American Russian dip
lomacy. He evidently is after some
thing-possibly to impress on the
Russians that they must not
minimize American aid or what we
are doing in North Africa and also
to persuade them tc develop a closer
collaboration with us on military
and naval matters.
Talked With President.
Admiral Stanley was back here
FOR visit recently and talked with
President Roosevelt and high Off
cials. He presumably knows what
We want Russia to 90 for us as an
ally. 1t is. Of course. possible that
his patience is somewhat tried and
that he wants TO come home any
way, but that isn't probable.
The inference which appears most
plausible is that high officials here
want some sort Of showdown with
Russia on postwar plans as well as
Allied collaboration particularly in
reSpeg to the use Of Siberian bases
10 help in the war against JaDan
And it may be that Admiral Stand
ley chose his own way Of bringing
about the desired intimacy between
Russia and America. especially while
the lease-lend bill is pending. Ii
would be a risky piece Of pressure.
but it is not unknown in diplomacy.
especially IN the devious history Of
Russian maneuVers in world affairs.
Lives Lost in Conveys.
What is more important than
lease-lend aid to Russia. however.
are the American and British lives
lost in conveying goods to Russia
The stories Of those convoy losses
have never been tolc 10 the Amer
lean people.
If the tanks and guns and planes
landed al hIurmansk are appreciated
by the Russian government. then
the Russian people ought TO be told
about 1t, too That's not 4 charge
Of bad faith but criticism at the
censorship policy inside Russia, and
surely an American has a right to
complain about lack Of contact be-
tween our people and the Russian
people.
This IS not a private war but
peoples war. and Admiral StandIeys
effort to establish some form Of
communication between the peoples
Of this country and Of Russia on