Evening star., 1945-11-25
Stalin's Condition Brings
Diplomatic Stalemate
International Affairs Becoming Increasingly Deli.
cate as Russia Holds Aloof From
Parleys Seeking Amity
Bv Constantine Brovn

Britain's Prime Minister Clement Att
lee has visited Washington where, to-
gether with President Truman, he has
canvassed the present world situation
The talks have been inconclusive and, to
q certain extent, disappointing.
Americans and British diplomats as
well as those of all the other countries
are fully aware that we have entered q
new phase of international relationship
which is at least as delicate and danger
. GUS as the days which followed the
Munich agreement.
The Russians are sulking and keeping
out of all conferences while their under
ground diplomacy is making important
headway in the areas selected to come
under Russia's permanent control.
There are occasional rumors that
meeting of the Big Three to straighten
out the situation is in the ofing Such
a meeting would be welcomed by the
leaders of the English speaking de-
mocracies and by all the others who are
looking to Washington and London for
the settlement of what is now openly
described as an "unbearable" world con-
dition.
Russian Attitude Puzzles.
There Is, however, no positive sign
from Moscow that the one man in Rus
sia who has the power to decide Russia's
policies, Premier Stain, is either able
or willing to attend a three-cornered
parley.s
Nobody can put his finger on the rea-
sons why Russia has decided to play
lone hand at time when her co-opera-
tion is even more essential than during
the war.
In some quarters, which profess to
know what is going on in the inscruta-
BILE Russian Empire, it is believed that
Stain is dangerously ill and unable to
take an active part in world affairs.
They support this contention by point
ing out that it is his deputies who have
been placed in charge of various depart
ments such as the foreign and the ma
tional defense commissariats and the
general staff.
Stain has absented himself from fes-
tivities which he had never missed in
the past. Had he been in condition to
show himself to his people, there is no
question that he would have done so on
November Z. That date is an important
one to his people; it is the first ami
versary of the establishment of the
Soviet regime which followed six-year
war from which Russia emerged as q
victorious power.
Policy Gives Shivers.
Other American and foreign diplo-
mats believe that regardless of Stains
state Of health, Russia's present policies
are calculated to give the shivers to the
world. BY their marked abstinence from
all international cooperation the Rus
slams aim to let the other nations stew
in their own juice and think over what
the worlds conditions are likely to be II
Russia refuses to play along.
After having given the rest of her
Allies enough time to digest" the conse-
quences Of her absence from the concert
of power. they may accept more willingly
the territorial and political demands
from the Kremlin. This at least is the
opinion of many diplomats who attempt
to give solution to the Russian riddle"
on the theory that Stains absence from
the helm is inconsequential.
American pohcy-framers, from Presi-
dent Truman down, admit frankly that
they do not know which way to turn to
make the United Nations Security Or
ganization a ivable thing and not q
mere expression of pious wishes as 1t
seems to be at this time.
The Western World is hungry for
peace. This is even more manifest in
this country, which expected no territor-
ial gains from the war. While the inter-
national situation is still seething. the
popular clamor forced drastic demobil-
ization Of our land, naval and air forces.
On paper we are still the most powerful
nation in the world, but we have reached
a point whereas a matter of fact-it
would take us at least another II months
to meet any new aggression success
fully. None Of the other nations has
followed our drastic rehabilitation and
reconversion program.
Seeks Definite Understanding.
The policy of the American Govern
ment since 1912 has been to attempt by
every possible means to bring about a
definite understanding with the Rus
SLAMS. esident Roosevelt was well
aware t..at Great Britain would follow
our lead. President Truman also is
aware Of that fact.
In order to appease Russia, most of
the ideals enunciated by the leaders of
the western democracies have been
abandoned. Much as the American
policy-framers disnked to give up the
principles which led us to take an open
position against the Axis, they were con-
vinced that once the Russian suspicious
against the west were removed and
all Stains claims for security" were
satisfied, we could proceed with a world
reorganization which would bring an era
of peace.
1t is because of this that Mr.. Roose-
velt yielded ground on the Atlantic
Charter-a document which embodied
all the American ideals for international
justice without which a lasting peace
could not be achieved.
Later, at Yalta, the last shreds of the
Charter were given up when it was
agreed that Poland should be chopped
up and Soviet-sponsored governments
should be installed in Poland and Yugo-
slayia. Mr.. Rooseyelts encourage, which
had not fully realized that he wished to
do everything in his power to clinch
Russia's participation in the new society