Evening star., 1946-03-03
Balkans Closely Watched
For Threat Against Peace
Hostile Action Against Turkey or Move by Tito
Feared as international Relations Feel
Strain of New Pressures
By Constantine Broom

Ifine Broom
developments In MAnchuria and Korea
and by the trouble that is brewing in
Japan itself.
The Moscow leaders are aware that
we have only token" armies in Europe
and the Far East. They also know
that Britain has insufficient manpower,
Is experiencing trouble in India, Egypt
and the Middle East and that Britain's
people at home are suffering from lack
OF food, clothing, fuel and housing.
The rest Of Europe Is so weakened by
years OF suffering and destruction that
it cannot offer even token resistance
TO the millions Of well-trained and we'll
equipped Russian legions
Faces PROSTATE World.
Thus, while in 1888 and 1889 Hitler
had to use certain discretion because
there were still five great powers with
considerable military potential ready
to oppose him, Stain today has .
PROSTATE world at his feet.
Unless the American and British in
telligence services-military and diplo-
n1atic-have completely fallen down.
the first act of aggression is expected
to come from Russias puppet, Yugo-
slavia's Marshal Tito. After having
opened war of nerves through the
radio stations Of his country three
months ago, he has now concentrated
between seven and IA divisions in front
and behind the Morgan line, which was
established last summer to divide Yugo-
slavia from the italian territories she
desires. Russia will watch with in
terest the reaction in Washington and
London. The Moscow and Belgrade
governments expect vociferous protests
from Western capitals, with the ac-
companying denunciations that another
United Nations agreement has been
broken. But they do not expect any,
thing more than academic protests.
Turkish Problem Complex.
The Turkish problem" is somewhat
more complex because it is still unknown
whether weakened Britain will be able
to rush to Turkeys assistance.
But Russia has completed preparations
on the European borders of Turkey and
IN the Caucasus. More than 100 divi-
sions, equipped with the most modern
war material, are awaiting the signal
to attack, and the Ankara government
and British and American military men
believe the signal will be given as soon
! as weather conditions allow mass move
ment OF troops. The SHOWS in the
Anatolian and Balkan mountains ordi-
narily melt in April. Russia is believed
certain to take action in those areas,
unless something unexpected occurs
| which might be considered by the Rus
sian military leaders as being a serious
handicap to their plans.
The Turks have informed the Amer
ican and British governments that de-
spite the unequal odds they are going
| to fight to the last. They admit they
have even a smaller chance than
Czechosloyakia had in the fall of 1888.
But they know what it means to become
a satellite state" The Ankara leaders
say that they are being backed by the
entire population.
President Benes and his government
knew in 1888 that after Hitler took the
Sudetenland he would take the rest Of
the country at the earliest possible
opportunity. DR.. Benes advised his
French and British friends to that
effect, but no one listened to the clever
Czech political man because the Paris
and London governments believed that
appeasement would keep peace.
In the same manner President Isnet
Inonu is advising his allies and friends
that there is no question of Russia want
ing security by having base or two in
the Dardanelles, but she desires to con-
troll the whole of Turkey politically and
militarily.
Iranian Pledge Broken.
The hope of our diplomats that the
whole matter might be submitted to the
United Nations Security Council is
scoffed at by all those who know the
score. The Iranians, who were backed
by solemn pledge signed only little
over two years ago, lost one of their
most important areas and are now by
way OF becoming Russian satellite
state. The chances of the Turks are
even simmer than those of the Iranians
so far as the Security Council is con-
cerned.
Russia's future movements in Europe,
particularly her push toward the west,
depends entirely on what attitude the
American and British governments take
when the Turkish situation comes to a
head. If. according to the Russian
expectations, both western powers con-
fine their actions to talking, the already
low prestige of the United States and
Great Britain will suffer further and
any vestige of opposition to the Soviet
drive toward the Channel countries will
disappear altogether.
Facts Well Known.
All these facts are not spoken Of
publicly by the policy-frarners in WASH
ington, but nevertheless are well-known
to them.
Onicial Washington prefers an ostrich
policy in the hope that unpleasant issues
might be avoided if not brought to the
attention of the public. The adminis-
tration has assured the American people
that the adoption of the United Nations
Organization, with all the commitments
involved, would assure the world long
period Of peace. The London per-
formances at the first formal meeting
of this organization have, to say the
least, been disappointing. But wishfuI