Evening star., 1945-10-28
Firm American Attitude
Urged to Guarantee Peace
Expediency, Cousin to Appeasement Held Danger.
Gus Policy Which Might Defeat Efforts
to Set Up Lasting Amity.
BY Constantine Brovn

sssDC DsODb
cases of "banditry"-an expression
which camouflages the organized re-
sistance OF the desperate people.
The relations between the American
and Russian armed forces in the few
areas where they occasionally come in
contact have been described as excel
lent. 1t is true that Marshal Zhukov
and Gen. Eisenhower are on the best Of
terms, as can be seen from the official
photographs which our photographers
are taking whenever the situation war
rants. There is little direct contact
between the soldiers even in places like
Berlin and Vienna, which are under a
joint British Russian-F French
occupation.
But the same relationship does not
exist in the areas which are under the
wing Of the Red armies. American Of
ficers, as recent dispatches have ind1-
Gated, are frequently arrested and lib
Grated only after strong protest. Amer
ican Army men are frequently relieved
of their possessions, not only by SOL
diers of the Red Army, but also by Of
ficers who take whatever they desire.
Forbearance Asked.
Previously such incidents were passed
in silence for fear the good relation
ship between Russia and the United
States would be harmed. But as the
war ended and the number of Incl
dents increased some publicity found
,,,4o -
American press.
The American people are being asked
to show forbearance and understand
ing of nation which has not yet
reached our level of education. This,
of course, is a justifable request. But
the unfortunate thing Is that the
Soviet government itself, which has
tried statesmen at its head, is showing
the same disregard as the Russian
| peasant soldier, who does not know
| any better.
The Russian government has already
| ignored the fundamental principles Of
| the Atlantic Charter, which when it
was created was described as the suf-
fering nations new bill If rights. The
question which comes to the mind Of
the few realistically thinking officials
in Washington is whether the United
Nations Organization will not suffer the
same fate at the hands of the Russian
| government.
| The government and people of the
United States, together with the bulk
of the other members of the United
Nations, believe in peace by justice to
all. We are prepared to 60 long way
to achieve this objective.
So far the Russians have demon
strated by their attitude that they have
little respect or interest in peace by
justice. The Kremlin's Interpretation
of international justice seems to be
something that suits best the interests
and the long-range plans Of the
U. S. S. r.
| Charge Echoed Here.
Any opposition to such an interpreta-
tion is described by the government
and its controlled press and radio as
"de Fascism" and "Nazism." The voices
from Moscow are then taken up in the
United States by individuals or organ
MISUNDERSTANDING in this country as
fellow travelers"-who denounced their
own countrymen and people in public
office as traitors to the cause of peace.
While no one in Russia ever dreams
of telling the Russian people that their
government might be too high-handed
in its dealings with its Allies and thus
jeopardize the cause of lasting peace,
the voices of Moscow" in this country
are vehement in their denunciation OF
some of Americas best citizens because
Moscow so desires. There are streamer
headlines which proclaim that Gen.
Macarthur, Ambassador Hurley or Gen.
Wedemeyer must CO." No one has seen
any suggestion in the Russian press OF
heard the Soviet radio intimate that
Commissar Molotov must 60 as result
Of the f1asco of the London Conference.
This country and the rest of the world
are now at a crossroads which may lead
to lasting peace or to another war.
The world had reached such a situa-
tion in October, 1888, when Hitler ter
rorized Britain and France into submis-
sion by saying: IT want this or that
and unless you give it to me shall take
I it by force" The policy of Prime Min
lister Chamberlain and Premier DaladieY
was called appeasement and eventually
led to the war.
Our statesmen, who represent the
strongest power in the world, have not
been guilty of appeasement so far; they
have been guilty only of "expediency"-
the first cousin of appeasement.
'eExpediency" Out of Date.
There was legitimate excuse for this
policy Of expediency while the war wa.
going on and any rift in the ranks oi
the Allies might have increased the
power of resistance of the Axis. There
is no excuse for the continuation of such
policy at this time.
, The UNO is not perfect. But it can
be made into good beginning for a
lasting peace if all the major power,
, show the same amount of reasonable
). unselfishness" as the United States.
. But so long as one of the major pow.
ers runs wild and insists on attaining
the territorial aggrandizement she hal
set out to attain then the UNO viii
, be only facade"
. American diplomats are stin strong
for further compromises and a policy
of expediency. The more realistic mil.
. itary men whose voices have become
negligible since the shooting war
! ended believe in a firm policy towarc