Detroit evening times., 1945-03-29
BEHIND
The NEWS
By Paul
MaIIon

WASHINGTON, March 2S-
w Yesterday l set down the
apparently false accusation
made by the government-di-
rected Soviet press, first against
the Vatican and then Walter
Lippman, the American writer,
for equally apparent diplomatic
purposes.
The Vatican had been labeled
"pro-Fascist" and Lippman
practically a pro-German, IN
which / thought was an effort
TO turn the American public
against our own best democratic
interests. and in promotion of
Russian interests and commun-
ism.
| also mentioned a third item
of recent American-type propa-
Ganda showing that an obscure
American newspaper syndicate
had pictured the Russian con-
stitutlon as having been inspired
by Washington, Jefferson and
Lincoln. The editorial was quite
cleVerly done. 1t ran only three
paragraphs.
THE first paragraph was
L truthful assertion that the
Russians are great fighters who
should be greatly respected by
all Americans. The second said
the Russian government and
system was pretty good, too,
and, in the third paragraph
came the real propaganda pay
dirt-the flat assertions that the
ideals of Our Constitution were
the same as the Russian consti-
tuition.
The truth. Of course, is Karl
Marx inspired the Soviet ConSti-
tuition, and he is about as far
from Washington, jefferson and
Loncoln as II Is possible TO get.
Washington. Jefferson and
Lincoln founded and evolved a
democratic capitaliStic system,
and Marx developed the con-
trary and opposite philosophy 10
abolish both capitalism and de-
mocracy, and promote the Com
muniSt and Socialist systems of
government.
But the truth shows an even
greater disparity. Russia has a
constitution which says many
things which might sound 10
some one born yesterday AS
somewhat like ours. 1t pro-
VIdeS president and two
houses of Congress. and free
and secret elections, for in
stance.
But the President is a nonen-
tity, and SO are both house of
Congress, and the elections,
when and if held, turn out a
965 per cent for the Commu-
MIST party. The election result
could not he otherwise, because
there is a law against any other
party than the Communists eX-
iStlng in Russia.
A COMPARABLE system here
IA would allow only the Demo-
cratic party legal status and
abolish all other parties with a
strong arm.
The existence of a president
and two houses of Congress
mean Just as little democratic
freedom for individuals in Rus
sla as the electoral system. be-
CauSe-as every one can see
the country Is run by Stain as
d eta tor. His constitutional
standing IS only that of deputy
10 the supreme Soviet Con
greSS). Actually, he Is the SUI
preme leader of the only politl-
cal party allowed by law.
Much was made here a year
or so back about the freedom of
religious worship guaranteed IN
the Soviet constitution Some
one wrote that it was even bet
ter than ours because il guaran-
teed freedom 10 be against re-
llgion.
The truth is Stain turns the
government attitude toward re-
ligion on and off, as the Greek
orthodox church complies or
fails TO comply with his chang
ing purpose. Marx considered
all religions 10 be the opium
of the people" deadening their
minds to "the class struggle"
and this is basic doctrine.
YOU cannot find out much
Il about how the Greek
church stands from time 10
time in Russia, because. unlike
this country -all-Such- news Is
censored there completely. My
understanding is that the Com
munistS run the church mainly
through the device of taxation,
laying heavy, hidden, adjustable
rates.
Here then is a contrast Of the
propaganda developing in the
new world we are entering The
Soviet press directed by the
government 10 attack the Pope
after ne advocated democratic
freedom for the individual, the
basic Christian concept, and
Mr. Lippmann because he did