Evening star., 1946-01-27
Lion and Beur Renew
Their Ancient Feud
Writer Sees Russia Covetins
Britain's Role in Europe
By William II. Stoneman,

By William II. Stoneman,
Foreign Correspondent for The Star and the
Chicago Daily News.
LONDON, Jan. ga sharp exchange
of snarls and growls during the last few
days has served notice on other inhab-
itants OF the world jungle that the
Lion and the Bear are still involved in
their ancient antagonism.
Russias open challenge to British
activities in Greece and Indonesia was
primarily political maneuver to cover
Russian activities in Iran.
But it was lot more than that. II
meant that Russia was prepared to
take open -politically-with the
only other European power which was
capable of restraining Russia's ambi-
tions in Europe and the Middle East.
The Russians had made their frs,
open move in calculated and sys
tematic attempt by the Soviet Union to
"whittle Britain down to it's right size
and incidentally to build themselves up
to what they considered their right
size.
diplomats and on the world at large
that their one big problem, during the
years to come, would be to referee this
quarrel to a peaceful conclusion. And
there were many of the old heads who
felt that the job would be extremely
tough.
In the opinion of these people. Russias
ambitions are SO extensive that they
cannot be satisfied without such serious
encroachments on Britain's established
interests that Britain will have to resist
them.
These interests are both political and
material and in some cases, they are
shared by other nations, including the
United States.
Some of Russias ambitions have been
voiced, others are being kept in reserve
for the time when they can be put
forward without drawing too violent a
reaction.
BY its activities in Iran, Russia has
convinced the western powers that it
is out to assume the role which Britain
has played in the Middle East for the
last century. How far Russia can go
is problematical. but the general feeling
| is that it intends to get to the Persian
Gulf.
Russia's leaders already have openly
avowed their interest in controlling the
| Dardanelles through the annexation OF
bases on what is now Turkish territory
/ They have also openly suggested that
they be given base at Tripoli, on the
southern coast of the Mediterranean.
This means that they openly desire
a. position which would neutralize Brit
aims control of the Suez Canal.
In the Far East, Russia quite I'M
derstandably wants extensive port facil-
tiles, presumably for commercial pur-
poses but. incidentally. capable of serv-
ing its naval needs.
Nearer to home as far as Britain,
| Western Europe and the United States
are concerned, Russia shows signs of
wanting control of the Baltic. The
continued presence of its troops on
the island of Bornholm, an integral
part of metropolitan Denmark, means
that Russia now exercises strategic con-
troll over the Baltic's outlet The Rus
slams are still telling the dates they
expect to 'leave Bornholm, but have
given no sign of actually doing so.
In addition to these positive inten-
tions, Russia has certain negative ones
which are aimed directly at Britain's
position.
First, it has announced time and again
that it will not tolerate a Western
European bloc" and this term-as in
terpreted by Russia-covers a multitude
of things, not all sinful on the face
of them
1t certainly covers sany attempt by
Britain to form the small states of
Western Europe into a bloc anywhere
near as close-knit as RusSias bloc in
Eastern Europe.
Secondly, Russia has shown a deter
mination to undermine British prestige
in areas where it has always been great
and where it might conceivably be great
again. Greece and Indonesia are two
samples. Less obviously, Russian inf1u-
ence opposes the British in places like
Even in the United States the doc
trine is being spread that Britain is
finished as power, so let's face the
facts"
Britains reaction to this Russian pro-
gram has been defiance
The British do not believe that they
should regard themselves as finished and
though they are aware of their great
weakness, they believe that they are
strong enough, in various ways, to resist
Russian pressure.
Britain's present picture looks gloomy,
yet this country retains certain in
herent power in the world which can
not be, and is not, disregarded by
Russia.
In the first place, Britain is the only
country in Europe which is big enough
and solid enough to attract the loyalty
of the smaller countries which are not
in the Russian orbit. In other words,
the British have real friends.
Behind Britain always stands the
United States, whose interests decree
that no single power shall dominate
the rest of the world. Incidentally,
those interests also dictate that the
Suez Canal shall be in friendly hands
and that the oil fields of the Near East
shall not be threatened by a power
which, in certain circumstances, may
become hostile.
irI