Evening star., 1944-08-20
Europe's Small Nations Turn
To Russia for Their Security
Look to Kremlin's Military Might and Political
Realism to Keep Peace Stable, Believing
Other Allies Yield to Expedency >,
BY Constantine Br0wn.

Germanys satellites are seeking way
to abandon the ship that Hitler has put
on the rocks before It becomes a total
wreck. Finland. Hungary, Romania and
Bulgaria are reported to be in direct
conversation with the Moscow govern
ment by way Of Stockholm, which has
become the great political negotiation
center, and Sofia, where Russia keeps a
diplomatic mission with an able charge
d'affaires at its head.
In the past all these satellites looked
to the United States and Great Britain
as the powers which, while spanking
them for their association with Hitler,
would maintain their sovereignty. They
are now looking to Moscow. In fact, all
belligerants in Europe are wooing Mos
COW since for security and protection
against their own neigh6ors they must
look to the USSR.
Since the outbreak of the war in 1889
Russia has followed policy of intense
realism She joined Germany to dis
member Poland and later annexed the
Baltic States and attacked Finland in
order to obtain as strong strategic
frontier in the west as circumstances
would permit. She has never departed
from that view. After she was attacked
by the Germans in l94l she fought
desperately. She joined the Allies in
1912 in signing the Atlantic Charter, but
never regarded that document as more
than an expression of fine sentiments
which would not apply in the case of
her own border state.
Wants Stable Peace.
OF course, the Russian government.
ruled by Stains iron hand, shares many
of the Anglo-Saxon ideals 1t desires
stable peace and better world in which
all people would be friends and event.
ually develop prosperous economy but
it is taking no chances as far as the
Russian Empire itself is concerned.
Stain made this clear to President
Roosevelt and Prime Minister Churchill
at the Teheran conference and there is
no question that he meant what he said
and convinced his associates that it
would be damaging to the Allied cause
to press Moscow to abide bNthe letter of
the charter.
This is admitted privately by all high
ranking American political men. When
they are asked why this government
has so lght-heartedly subscribed to the
technical incorporation of all border
states into the USSR, they reply, What
do you want us to do: fight Russia?"
Today all Eastern and Central Europe
Is striving to obtain the good will of the
Kremlin. All the countries want to rush
under the protective wing of the USSR.
This spirit is spreading to Western
Europe as well. When in recent speech,
Gen. Charles de Gaulle. the accepted but
omcially unrecognized head of the
French government, referred to Russia
as ia chere Russie" Cthat dear Russia
he spoke the sentiments of many lead
ers in Western Europe.
Follow Straight Line:
The reason Russia's popularity in
Europe has spread somewhat suddenly
lies not only in her military power but
in her political realism from which her
statesmen have not departed an inch.
While the governments of the United
States and Great Britain have been
making grandiloquent statements as
suring their various minor allies of their
full protection to restore their sovereign
ty and territorial independence. and
abandoned them later for the sake of
expediency-the Russians have followed
a straight and unwavering line intend
ed to serve Russia's national interests
exclusively.
When the Firms, threatened with the
collapse of their weak defenses, turned
to Marshal Baron Gustaf Mannerheim
and appointed him President. the Krem-
lin saw in this change strong posi-
bility of bringing Finland into the
Russian sphere of influence in a peace
full manner Marshal Mannerheim. who
IN the past has been described as a re-
dictionary who prevented the Finnish
government from yielding, became Mos
cows favorite overnight. Pravda, the of =
hclal newspaper Of the Soviet govern