The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1944-09-29
News ~
BEHIND
THENH9I4!SS|IEE|1
released by western Newspaper Union.
RUSSIA WILL BE
POSTWAR POWER
By PAUL MALION Y

air Of the Dumbarton Oaks peace
conference is filled with light tales
of efforts to be charming to the
Russians.
In the matter of seating for pic
lures, for instance, it was arranged
so the Russian delegates would be
on the right hand of the Americans.
For many generations past, the Brit
ish always have sat there or at the
head Of European peace conference
tables.
Protocol practitioners of our
state department sank into a
other when one newspaper cap
tion ON the picture enormously
identified the British as occupy
ing the position of the Russians.
Indeed, one business analyst-re-
porter here was officially advised
that his comments on the meeting
were ''not helpful to American-So-
Wet relations" as if the official at
titude should control the press ac-
counts.
Some may think little realism
might help relations a lot more, or
make them more solid for the long
run.
Investigation indicates the ex-
IRENE difference to Russia, however,
Is not necessarily being carried to
the extent of accepting entirely her
wishes in the peace. The Moscow
idea of an international air force,
for one instance, appears to have
been rejected.
The attitude seems due rather
to a prevailing diplomatic inn
preston that the Russians are
sensitive and easily offended,
which should put them in a good
bargaining position. / wish all
the people with whom / do bust
ness would consider me sensi-
tive.
Behind it also is the unannounced
conviction high in Washington and
London that there will be war with
Russia within Is years unless a mu-
tually acceptable postwar peace I'M
derstanding is reached now.
The British are especially afraid
of Russia. They see her not only
sitting at their usual place at this
conference but in the Balkans as
well, and indeed likely to sit there
over all Europe.
For instance, there were four
French underground movements, all
separate, but the strongest of these
was the Russian. In the temporary
DeGaulle cabinet, these elements
are acquiring posts of power.
The Balkan Policy.
The Balkan nations, formerly
guided by British financial and po-
litical policy, are at least unsettled,
and the same problem in Italy has
reached the point Of clash, despite
our efforts to postpone meeting the
issue as long as possible.
This is an unavoidable, apparent
and dominant matter of the peace
and to try to hold the public head
in the sand will not solve the situa-
ton. The truth is, Russia is estab-
fishing a new place for herself in
the world, and any concrete agree
ment for postwar Sterilization
means sterilization protecting her
new position as well as our own.
Formerly she was revolutionary
minority in the world, and therefore
naturally antagonistic to the world
status, but now she has acquired a
status of great power and there
fore needs conservative world or
der. The Russians seem to me to
be ultra-realists.
On the other hand, it is equally
true that much of our peace pro-
posal talk is following obsolete
thought guided by past history in
stead of coming history. We think
mainly of putting the screws upon
Germany and Japan so they never
can rise again, but they can easily
be put down to minor military pow.
ers, and kept there as long as the
world is alert.
The major military forces ex-
listing after this war will be d.
vided between the United States
and Russia, and the mutual re-
latiOns between these two alone
are apt to have more to do with
the future peace Of the world
than whatever we do to Germa-
ny and Japan.
But this is not the only invisible
electricity in the air at Dumbartol
Oaks. South Dakota's Senator Bush
field was right in his contention il
the senate that the American Sc
curity plan would give the Presiden
the power to declare war.
While the administration does no
n wish to admit this now, fearing thu
point may become involved in tn
n campaign, it does not intend Il
change that recommendation.
BY unanimous vote Of the BIZ
n Four nations on the proposed execu
u tive council Omitted States, Britain
Russia and China), military actiol
e could be taken.
II Thus the President, who naturall
mould 1ov,o;nafa the Am ariran rom