The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-12-17
MASEFIELD Sees
REDS. AS STRONG
FORCE FOR PEACE
nv RUSSELL C. LANDsTROM

BURCOTE BROOK, Near Abing-
en-, Berkshire, Dec. 16.-RCJohn
Masefield, England's poet laureate,
said TODAY he believes Russia will
be one of the strongest forces Tor
peace in the postwar world.
Russia seems determined there
shall not be another European
war, that the craze for conquest
shall not again get out OF hand
oh this continent" the 69-year-old
gray-haired man of letters said in
an interview.
| Masefield predicted that Russia
would come out of the war with
plenty of weight behind her. con-
victions; for we have seen an
astounding feat in the east, pro-
foundry significant rebirth Of a
vast nation within a generation.
PRUSSIA will emerge triumphant
ly from the war, knowing her po-
litical system will stand almost
any shock and with the knowledge
that she virtually has saved Eu.
rope. Her voice will be strong in
deed in world councils
Masefield said the two danger
points" in Europe as he saw them
'.are Germany and the Balkans.
Russia will have her realistic way
dealing with the Germans, and she
may well be a means of controlling
threats in the entire Balkan area.
People OF those lands, hot-temp.
cred mountaineers, love fighting
and thrive on national i1atreds to
degree incomprehensible to us
and especially to Americans.
''Most of the other European
countries-even Italy should have
had her fill of war-desire lasting
peace. That will provide Russia
with her golden chance. It should
be our chance, toto help build
a practical community of nations
in Europe
Masefield added, however, that
what I fear is that most of the
European nations-perhaps all ex-
cept Russia-will be too tired after
the war, just as they were after
the last war, to do what will be
required to keep the peace.
Nations will want to rest rather
than to tackle peace problems
boldly and vigorously. Alas, active
scoundrels then will be quick to
take advantage of such unguarded
and apathetic times, just as they
did BEFORE
Masefield is more of reporter
historian in wartime than a Great
er of poetry.
He told the story Of Dunkerque
in "The Nine Days Wonder"
prose masterpiece Of its kind. His
book about London's emergency
health services under years of fire
will be published soon. Now, with
the accent still upon high heroism
but shifted to an ancient age, he
is translating Homer's Had.
Masefield, who smiles gently but
has the inward toughness of man
who has been ships cook, farm
hand, hobo, dock walloper and
New York saloon porter, did not
wish to try to unravel the snarled
skeins of conflicting motives in
Greece, Italy and Poland.
He emphasized, however, that
most of the problems ahead of
us will have to be solved by the
European peoples
1.-The United States will be able
to help, of course, by counsel and
by example of political morality
and social consciousness, but by
hardly more than that.
However well intended the
United States may be. however
generous of money and manpoW-
er, they are too far away to be
able to play really vital part in
old world reconstruction, and it is
too difficult for Americans to un-
derstand our problems over here"
Of France, Masefield asserted,
"that country will, 1 feel, amaze
the world -