Evening star., 1946-06-04
Murmunsk Convoys
Forgotten by Russia
Molotov's Words on Bases Show
u. S. Sacrifices Little Known

NlOlOtOV OTQS OH DdScS OHO"
u. S. Sacrifices Little Known
BY David Laurence
OF all the comments recently ex-
changed between spokesmen for Rus
sia and the United States, none caused
more poignant disappointment in OH
cial quarters here than the Russian
Foreign Minister'S curious question
about Iceland
The fact that q man as high up in
the Russian government as Molotov
should SO soon forget the sacrifices
made by American citizens to maintain
convoy route to Murmansk through
the war and that any question should
be asked now about the strategic i'm
portance of Iceland has made a dis
turbing impression here.
Mr.. Molotov said in his recent state
ment:
For instance, what interests of the
security of the U. S. A. dictate the de
mand for military bases in Iceland:
Evidently what matters here is by nj
means the security of the United States
but entirely different aspirations"
Sacrifices Belittled.
Have the Russian governments
spokesmen already forgotten how the
United States got supplies into Russia
to help the Soviet stave OF the Hitler
armies? Do the Russian people know
hot fc he
of those brave American and British
sailors who were killed or drowned as
the Nazi submarines made their at
tacks?
Do the Russians know that only when
airplanes flying out Of Iceland bases
were able to destroy the German sub
marines the route to northern Russia
was made secure?
The Soviet rulers make point always,
in diplomatic talks about the impor-
tance Of getting Polish territory or areas
OF the Balkans in order to protect Rus
sia against future German aggression.
Has Molotov overlooked the fact that
the Atlantic ocean still exists and that
If there is a basis for believing there
may be another war of German ag-
gression, the northern waters Of the
Atlantic will need as much protection
by the British and American Navies
in such war as in the last war?
The air patrols out of Iceland were
decisive factor in rendering aid to
Russia. Likewise American and British
naval vessels operated out of Iceland
against units of the German fleet. II
the Iceland bases and patrols had not
functioned effectively, munitions and
supplies needed by Russia in the criti-
cal days Of 1912, 1943 and 1914 might
have been serious blow to Stains
defense against the Nazi invasion.
During the submarine operations the
Nazis made many devastating attacks
on British and American supply ships
In one or two instances as many as 10
and even 30 per cent of the British and
American tonnage in the conveys went
to the bottom with heavy loss Of life.
The Russians had no navy to patrol the
sea routes and they didn't even have
airplanes to 90 out from Russian terri
tory to escort and protect Allied vessels
destined for their northern ports.
Record in Sad ChapterA
The record of what happened In
respect to Iceland is written in sac
chapters that are known to the M hers
and fathers and relatives of the ! .eri-
can boys who made the supreme sacri-
fee in order to help Russia. The
American Government is determined
not only that such sacrifices shall not
have been made in vain but that in the
future American shipping destined for
European ports shall have airplane pro-
lection from Iceland against any aggres.
sor that might arise in Germany. Surely
the Russians on reflection will realize
that Molotov has made serious blunder
and that he has offended the American
Government by his naive and thought.
less remark
In any future war airpower may play
an even more controlling part than in
any previous war in history. The United
States stands committed to protect
Russia and every other country which
lives up to her obligations under the
Atlantic Charter. The provincial atti.
tude of the Russian spokesmen can
only be explained by their utter un.
familiarity with what happened in the
Atlantic as well as in Western Europe
to win the war. Their sights have ap-
parently been fixed on what happened
in Eastern Europe but 1t was not be-
lieved here that the system of censor
ship and suppression had reached the
point where the Foreign Minister Of
Russia has not even been informed of
the part Iceland played in making the
survival of Russian Armies possible,
Certainly the United States wants
bases in Iceland. 1t wants them to
protect Russia as much as any other
country and when the United Nations
wants TO take complete charge of Ice.
land bases and assign them under the
Security Council, America stands will.
ing to give them up for that purpose.
The United States wishes to help as
sure security of all members of the
United Nations, including the security
of the United States which can he
menaced If German planes or sub.
marines should seek to use Iceland bases
Reproduction Rights Reseryed)