Evening star., 1946-03-29
u. S. and Britain Seen
Aware of Red Moves
Walk Out Is Favorite Tactic of
Russians, Writer Asserts


Walk Out Is Favorite Tactic of
Russians, Writer Asserts
By David Laurence
Russia S peculiar behavior In the United
Nations Security Council may mystify
the world, but the British and Ameri-
can governments have refused to be
taken in by the maneuvers
The habit of walking out on impor-
tant conferences or threatening to walk
out is one of the fayorite techniques
practiced by the Russians In interna-
tional affairs. A threat to leave the
Dumbarton Oaks conference intimidated
American and British officials and
caused them to yield to the Russian
wish that the proceedings be conducted
secretly. The Russians have partici-
pated in international aviation and
monetary conferences, only to have 1t
left in doubt at the end whether they
really were in or out of the picture At
San Francisco the constant threat Of
Russian walkout kept the conference
upset.
But today Secretary Byrnes and his
colleagues Of the democracies have seen
through these transparent efforts to
prevent the democracies from exposing to
full discussion the merits of subjects
in dispute. Some persons may have
thought Russia was walking out of the
entire UNO, but it became apparent
the next day that the Soviet repre-
sentative was merely following instruc-
tions not to participate in discussions
about Iran-at least till April 10.
Own People Not Told.
Meanwhile Russia, significantly enough,
never told her own people anything
about the walkout. Neither the radio
nor the official Russian news agency
mentioned the incident. In fact, no
news at all about the Wednesday UNO
Council session was given to the mil
lions Of Russians who read and listen
to the radio
This might mean that the Russians
were playing a game for external con-
sumption and were hesitant to let their
own people know they were part of 4
crisis with the United States and other
countries.
The Russian people have suffered
much. They have recently been told by
Stain that they must endure a contin-
uance of the low standard of living in
order that the new five-year plan may
be successful. They may or may not
learn that through the economic help
Of the United States the five-year plan
could be made effective and the stand
ard of living for the average Russian
could be raised
So it is important whether American
public opinion is friendly to Russia or
begins to suspect totalitarian tactics
that could develop an estrangement be-
tween the two peoples. Russia is not
willing apparently to let its average
citizen know what is going on, pos
sibly because OF genuine fear that he
| might not like more crises or more talk
Of war, especially after the many mil
lions of casualties suffered by the Rus
slams in the world war just ended.
Mere Than Iran Involved.
The best chance for the American
and British viewpoints to penetrate the
Russian barriers is to keep on arguing
and discussing in the open such mis-
guided adventures as the coercion OF
Iran. More than Iran is involved. The
Russians now dominate most of Eastern
Europe. Supposedly Independent ma
tions in the Balkans have Russians on
top of them so that freedom of the
press inside the Russian sphere of in
huence is already gone and other lib
critics are denied on the pretext that
order has not yet been restored or that
security measures must be taken against
"Fascists."
A significant step has been an
nounced by UNRRA. It has declined
to let American food supplies be used
by Russia's occupying armies in Central
Europe and has insisted that food for
relief of Europe must go to the peoples
and not the armies. The true story of
what the Russians have done within
their zones of influence has been effec-
lively suppressed, but in due time it will
come out and possibly before the UNO.
1t appears now that all disputes will
eventually be aired at the UNO, because
| unless the nations work together in a
single organization which encourages
open debate the totalitarian govern
ment of Russia could keep the facts
from the world.
The UNO Councils debate in New
York eventually will have its effect on
the Russian government. The Iran
case will be settled but at a price it
seems foolish for the Russians to pay
the loss of the good will OF observant
peoples who know the difference be-
tween a violated treaty and belated
excuse for intimidating a small nation.
Reproduction Rishts Reseryed)