Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1945-10-13
PAUL
MALLON
Behind
The News
WASHINGTON, Oct. 11-Peo-
w pie have written me asking

w pie have written me asking
an explanation of the strange
new tactics of Russia in di-
plomacy.
What puzzled them last was
the editorial in Izvestia setting
forth reasons for the inconclu-
sive results at the London peace
conference.
The bitterness of the tone was
apparently amazing to many
Americans.
The really important facts of
the matter which State Secre-
tary Byrnes presented in calm
voice (and the Republican John
Foster Dulles fully confirmed
were omitted, particularly the
fact which proved Russia guilty
for the deadlock, namely that
the Soviet delegation did not
simply wish TO withdraw the in
vitations to China and France,
and refused a compromise, but
reversed itself suddenly after
DAYS of silence and claimed the
invitations should never have
been sent.
In short, they did not tell
their people that they reversed
their position, or that by doing
so. they presented the United
States and Britain with a propo-
sition which could not be
honorably accepted as their
delegates well knew.
IN TYPICAL Russian style
L Izvestia launched out with a
TRADE about a conspiracy be-
tween Britain and the United
States to unload the guilt OF
failure from a sick head TO a
healthy one" Now they could
not have dared this pretense
without the most important
basic facts.
Such palpable and plain de-
ceptions are naturally some
thing new in major diplomacy
into which Russia has now come
with a loud voice.
To understand the tone and
technique you must first realize
that IzveStia is not a newspaper.
An editorial taking the same
tone against Russia in this coun-
try would mean nothing more
than the expression OF the man
who wrote it, or the paper.
IZvestia. represents an escap-
list Russian technique for ex-
pressing official announcements.
The IzVestia editorial was just
as official as the Byrnes state
ment.
TNTIE Soviet foreign office does
Il not dare or care to take
direct responsibility for its po-
sition, but goes TO the extent of
hiding Stains views visible,
right before your eyes, In the
guise of an editorial.
This is a sort of legerdermain
in which the magician stands
with his back to the audience
so all can plainly see whence
the rabbits come. yet we and
the Russian people are supposed
to pretend we do not know.
These receptions represent
what American scientists might
term ehildlike personality.
The Russian mind is not child
like, but it is preponderantly a
Slavic type of mind, and there
fore an emotional mind, one
easily given TO mysticism.
1t is furthermore a peasant
mind which further accentuates
its Slavic qualities. 1t can write
bitter, dark literature, but the
amount which ever attained the
quality as mild classics is small.
Nor has il developed any great
art. Offhand l cannot recall
single world masterpiece which
is Russian.
THE modern art which il pro-
Il duces, but in which il does
not lead (the Spaniard Pecasse
and the French led that move
menD is devoted TO distractions
entirely. They have never pro-
duced anything 1 have heard
the world call beautiful. In mu-
sic they have distinguished
themselves and in the ballet
they are supreme-but only in
the ballet of all the arts,
l think this is due to their
domination by politics. Russia is
ruled by what the psychiatrists
would call political obsession.
Nothing else matters. The
search for happiness which
moves most men was found
TO considerable extent among
the common Russian soldiers by
the returning Americans who
thought them jovial companions.
But not so in their politics, or
their government.
Nor is the common search for
psychological peace evident in
their characteristics, or il it is
present in any degree, IL is AL
ways subservient to the commu-
mist restlessness for agitation,
strikes, action.
THEY are romantic but their
Il romanticism seeks expression
in conviviality rather than in