Evening star., 1945-02-18

getting together in q vast confederation
which would have close ties to the
may become a reality.
The Russians have played their cards
very intellgently. For instance, they
have discouraged the Zionist movement
in their own territory where ZionisnnI e
illegal and its leaders have been sent
to Siberia. They also are reported to
have refused exit visas to about $500
Romanian Jews who wish to go TO Pal
estine after having been kept in con-
centration camps for several years by
the Nazis and their satellite government.
Whatever else may have prompted the
Russian leaders in Bucharest to refuse
these exit visas, it Is certain that tha
Arabs opposition to having Jewish i'm
migrants come into Palestine has played
an important role in the decision
From what is known here it appears
that this Pan-Arab Confederation, even-
tually will include the entire Moslen
world from Afghanistan, on the borders
of India, to the Eastern Mediterranean.
the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf
The Pan-Slav Confederation already
has been formed but has not yet as
sumed its official name. 1t extends from
the western borders Of the Black Sea to
the Adriatic and will comprise Bulgaria,
the newly Tito-created Macedonian re-
public, Albania, and the Federated Yugo-
slav States, namely Serbia, Bosnia and
Herzegovina, Dalmatia, Croatia And
Slovenia
Turkeys Place Uncertain.
The place of Turkey in either Of these
considerations is, for the time being,
unknown because Moscow has not yet
decided where to put that country.
Turkey will be invited to. enter either
the Pan-Islamic Confederation to which
she belongs racially and religiously or
thePan-Slav Confederation to which she
belongs geographically. So far as Ro-
mania is concerned, the consensus Of
observers acquainted with the situation
in that country is that she will likely
become Soviet republic by plebisciti
which may be held in the near future
while the Russian armies still occupy
the country.
The Central European Confederation,
it is believed in Washington, will COM
prise the following states: Hungary,
Austria, Czechoslovakia and Poland. The
consent of the newly-created and Mos
cow-sponsored governments of Hungary
and Poland is assured beforehand.
Austria has not yet been liberated, but
as soon as the Nal forces are crushed
it is expected that Austria also will be
given a government handpicked by the
Moscow Politbureau. President Edouard
Benes' advocacy of close alliance be-
tween Czechoslovakia an dtne y. S. S. r.
are well known and he probably has
already enthusiastically accepted what
ever ideas Moscow may have for the re.
construction Of his country in fed.
Grafton closely linked with and doni.
mated by the U. S. S. r.
Whether the peoples in the Balkans
and in Central Europe want to lose their
national individuality and place them.
selves under the protectorate of the Rus.
slams is now a matter of little conse.
quence. Most of the governments which
have been established in all the coun-
tries which are to form the Balkan and
Central European Considerations have
been handpicked by the Kremlin. They
have at their disposal the police forces
necessary to discourage opposition from
any quarter. Execution squads and con-
centration camps have been established
and those suspected of sentiments which
Il fo;l urifl fnn xrio nf
puppet governments are either being
purged or given time to think the mat.
ter over behind barbed wire.
Use Strong Hand Methods.
The Russians, like the Germans, re.
alize that dramatic changes are not
likely to succeed with kid glove meth
ods or even with the bribery of few
top men. The most drastic treatment
is considered necessary to bring people
into submission. And the stories re-
ported by reliable individuals As to
what is happening today in Poland.
Yugoslavia, Bulgaria and Romania
proves that the strong hand method al.
ready is being fully enforced.
The three great considerations, which
are not likely to be even mentioned in
any international agreements such az
the Dumbarton Oaks agreement will In
crease the power of Russia in the areas
where she considers herself predestined
to play an important historical role.
From the military and economic point
of view, these considerations are the
key to Europe and Eastern Asia. There
has been centuries old rivalry between
Russia and Great Britain about the
domination of some sections of this
enormous expanse of territory When,
under Emperor Wilhelm II, Germany
desired to become world power. she
began to expand in the direction Of
Turkey and IraQ. Hitler had dreams Of
implanting the swastika in Egypt and ii
the Middle East.
Mussolini some eight years ago At-
tempted to become the leader of the
Moslem world when he appeared on 3
white charger before gathering Of
Arab chieftains in Tripoh and promised
them he would draw his sword for de-
Tense of Islam. These attempts of the
Germans and the Italians were Short
lived. Hitler and Mussolini lacked what
it takes to bring the Arabs to their fold
real and unmistakable power. Stain
has it, and it is for this reason that hs
Is likely to succeed where the others
have failed
The three considerations will give the
Russian Premier more power and
strength than any other ruler has ever
possessed. At the end of the war close