Evening star., 1946-08-14
Russia Is Taking Leof
Out of HitIer's Book
Seeks to Drive United States Out
Of Europe and the Far East
Rv Dapid Laurence

Of Europe and the Far East
By Dapid Laurence
The biggest of the unanswered ques-
tions in this country is related to the
intentions of Russia. Officials talk about
1t constantly and ask over and over
again what Is Russia's game-why does
she interpose objections to whatever the
United States and Great Britain sug-
gest, and why do the Soviet authorities
sanction the firing on our military
planes in Austria and vicinityp
There are still other questions: Why
does Russia back The Communists in
China, and why Is she harassing the
United States both In the Far East and
in Europe?
Lately significant theory has been
advanced in various quarters. 1t is that
Russias real purpose is to drive the
United States out of Europe and out of
the Far East. BY making life miserable
for the Secretary of State and for our
ambassadors and ministers in various
countries, the Russians may convince
the American people that the alternative
could eventually mean war. The Rus
sian reasoning. so the theory goes, may
we'll be that the American people then
will wish to withdraw from participa-
ton in European affairs as they did ins
1920.
Russia knows the American electorate.
There is an isolationist nucleus in the
United States, This time, however
unlike 1920-this nucleus has allied
with 1t the so-called liberals" who want
to appease Russia and give her everv-
thing she asks for rather than challenge
the Soviets in any particular.
Well-Conceived Program.
The Russian policy of harassing and
vexing the representatives of the United
States in Europe and the Far East has
become too deliberate and too wide
spread to be accidental. 1t is unoues-
tionably well-copceived program.
The idea that Russia would stir up
feeling in the United States in order to
provoke another world war is held to
be preposterous. Russia Is in no shape
Tor another war, and neither is the
United States or Britain Then what
Is the Russian game? Again it NAV be
suggested that the Russians know the
american people are new to world af-
1alrs and are unfamiliar with the back
ground OF Europe's quarrels and the
raml1catlons of pc Uer politics.
The assumption, therefore, is that II
the American people can be provoked
into disgust with everything interna-
tional that might conceivably bring
them financial burdens or armament
preparations, withdrawal from Europe
ana Asia would follow in due time, Then
Russia would dominate Europe and also
the whole of Asia.
Ihe "appeasers" In the United
States-mostly LIFT wingers-want tn
give In to Russia now and let her have
her way everywhere. A studied CAM
paign Of criticism of the administration
IS to be observed emanating from So
called liberal quarters which play along
with the Russian viewpoint.
The Soviets, of course, are building
opposition and carrying on their cam
palgn OF harassment OF the United
States In Latin America. Russian en-
oass1es and legations are overstaffed
and Communist organizations have been
formed in nearly every country in Pan
America. But the underlying purpose
may not be to secure foothold or to
control the Latin American govern
ments. 1t may be merely a means of
warning the United States to confine
It's influence to this hemisphere and
keep out of Europe or the intrusions
Will continue in our diplomatic affairs
in Latin America.
Leaf Out of Hitlers Book
In sense. the Russians are taking
a leaf out of Hitler's book. He would
have preferred to continue, as he did
In 1888 at Munich, to win diplomatic
victories without bloodshed. The Rus
slams apparently believe that if the
people Of the United States see the
possibility of another war, they will
reverse their present policy and get out
OF Europe and Asia in a hurry. The
early Withdrawal of our occupying
armies Is something that plainly would
give the Russians big advantage. Yet
the United States budget is unbalanced
and the demand for tax reductions is on
and the items of armament in the
budget are pointed to as big ones that
could be cut. All this is grist for the
Russian mill
The theory that Russia is out to get
her expansion by harassing the United
States fits IN with the reports emanat-
ing from the Soviet sphere that internal
trouble in Russia requires that the
totalitarian clique at the top get more
and more diplomatic victories so as to
retain power and to justify further
delays in improving the standard of
living.
But, 1t will be argued. the United
States has the atomic bomb, and Russia
hasn't it as yet. Why wouldn't Russia,
therefore, exercise restraint in her rela-
tions with America? The answer must
be that the Soviets are convinced the
United States would never use the
atomic bomb unless attacked. Besides,
if America can be converted to another
era Of isolationism, there would be no
need for war anyway. If that is Russia's
game, there may be plausibility in her
method, for the people of the United
States seem to be less inclined to make
sacrifices for the preservation of peace
than they were year ago. There Is