Evening star., 1946-11-03
Danger Of European War
Is Now Believed Remote
Seasonal Conditions Make Conflict Less Likely
as Soviet Policy of Pressure Is Eased by
Recognition of American Temper
By Constantine Broyn

armies of the U. S. S. r. and the fear
Of the American leaders to take re-
prisals lest the people of the United
States oppose them. Since vi day
the Russian propaganda machines had
been endeavoring to show the outside
world that it need not hope for as.
sistance from this country since we had
become physically and morally impotent.
Kremlin Deceived.
In the period between the summer Of
1945 and 1946 the leaders in the Kremlin
believed that we were on the way down.
Some of our high Government positions
were in the hands or individuals who
were ideologically in sympathy with the
Soviet system. The reports of the Rus
sian agents encouraged Moscow in its
belief that our social structure was dis
integrating. The American people, some
of these reports said, would never permit
their government to put up stiff front
to the Soviet's challenge
The situation changed dramatically,
however, after Secretary of State Byrnes
and his two principal advisers at the
Paris Conference Senators Connally and
Vandenberg, switched from a policy Of
appeasement to one of determination
not to yield on any of the ma jor premises
for which this country had fought the
war.
Coincidental with this change of atti.
tude from weakness to patient firmness
was the change in the attitude of the
oyr c c -
Heretofore many of our people believed
that Russia was right in anything she
was doing. A neo-isolationism was adj
vocated by the Soviet propagandists in
this country. 1t was not called by that
name, but it meant isolationism, since
we were urged to have as little as possible
to do with world affairs, particularly
where Russia was involved
1t is difficult to set time or definite
cause, but it is generally believed that
she wanton attack on two American
planes flying over Yugoslavia, which
cost the lives of five American air.
men, had something to do with the
awakening of our people. Many labor
leaders who formerly were willing to
play along with friends of Russia in
the unions became angered and refused
to follow them any longer Opposi-
ton to Russia's expansionist policy and
resistance to the Soviet propaganda has
become clearly noticeable both in Gov
eminent quarters and among the rank
apd file of the American people.
American Invitation.
The reports of the Kremlin's agents
began to take a less optimistic tone.
They began to warn against wave
of reactionism" in this country They
began to point out that, soft as the
American people might be, they could
be irritated and goaded into war if
hard pushed. Some of these reports
are said to have mentioned the his
torical facts, which Moscow may have
overlooked, that the United States went
to war against Spain and also fought
the First and Second World Wars only
after the foreign powers irritated the
Americans to a point where they be.
came fighting mad.
At the same time the Russian govern
ment began to realize that Secretary
Byrnes was not joking when he adopted
firm policy The Russians were told
in plain words that this country has
no territorial ambitions. does not want
to expand. They were told that the
only reward for our effort in the worlds
greatest war was stable peace, and
we meant to have it. The Russians were
told that the line adopted at Paris
was the only policy this country could
accept and We would continue to follow
1t regardless of whose toes we stepped on.
The change in the American govern.
ment's official position, together with
the drift among the American people
is believed to have caused change
of heart on the part of Prime Minister
Stain This does not mean that tho
Kremlin has changed its objective Of
world domination. But it looks as if
the Kremlin believed that it would be
highly unwise to implement its set
policies with war
Should this contention, which now
prevails in official quarters, prove cor
rect, the chances are that we may wit
ness a period of peace which will last 40
long as this country follows deter
mined and fearless policy.
The Russians still hold the initiative.
The season is too far advanced for a
major military operation this year. The
western world is expected to be in bet
ter shape next year when it will have
more to eat. full stomach helps a
good deal to crystalize political ideas.