Evening star., 1946-03-01
BY Frank r. Kent

1t is not surprising that the jour-
nalistic and diplomatic gentlemen
In Washington and New York who
so earnestly favored "appease-
ment" of Russia and have been
urging us to understand and make
allowances for the "inferiority COM
plex" and general sensitiveness of
the Russians, should feel diScour-
aged after Mr.. Stalin's two speeches
and the subsequent comment and
Interpretation.
He has not left those who insisted
upon the conciliation policy much
to cling to, and one or two of the
most ardent and conspicuous had
turned completely around some
time before Senator Vandenberg's
speech. They are now saying-as
did Mr.. Vandenberg-that appeas-
ing Russia does not pay, that she
takes advantage of friendliness, has
no respect for those who give
ground, that the only way to deal
with Russia is to be firm and hard
and just as realistic.
Of more interest than this change
of heart, however, is the effect of
Mr. Stalin's nationalistic and mill
taristic attitude plus the effect of
the revelations concerning Russian
spy activities here and in Canada
upon British-American relations
generally.
Britain Is One True Ally.
Certainly, these have been i'm
proved. Certainly, too, the pros
poets for ratification of the British
loan have been enhanced. Un-
doubtedly, strength and substance
have been added to the contention
that when sentiment is put aside
and realities faced, the British EN-
pire stands out as our one truly
dependable ally in war-and in the
effort to insure peace.
Leaving aside the strong eco
nomic reasons for the rehabilita-
ton of our best customer, the very
powerful argument is made that
the Surest form of security for us
is to keep our one reliable ally,
with whom war is practically in
conceivable, firmly on her feet; that
this is the cheapest and best pos
sible kind of defense for the United
States; that failure to insure it
would be national idiocy
Clearly, this is the most potent
argument for the loan. Once it is
admitted, no other is needed. Once
a man comedies its soundness there
is little left to argue about. 1t is
interesting that in both War and
State Departments as well as in
Congress, more men are making
this argument than before. 1t is
becoming the real reliance of those
who favor the loan.
Loan Adoption Held Vital.
This is not because of any hos
tility toward Russia or of any desire
to isolate her. Even a thoroughly
cooperative Russia would not de-
tract from the logic and sense of
this course. But an unco-operative
Russia makes its adoption of over
whelming Importance
In no sense would it weaken the
UNO-rather the reverse, as it
would keep virile and intact the
natural alliance of the English
speaking peoples, whose hatred of
are, at least, clearer than any others.
is, at least, clearer than any others.
1t Would-so it is argued-mean
more, not less, Russian co-opera-
ton within the UNO.
There is no use blinking the fact
that at this moment it is more diff
cult to defend and explain the Rus
sian position and to tolerate the
consistent and persistent Russian
propaganda than it has been since
the war ended.
There exists here no settled anti
Russian feeling. We would like to-
have Russia as dependable friend
as is Britain. But at times she
makes it a little hard
For example, there is no charge
that the wave of strikes in this
country has. been caused by the
Communists. but it is indisputable
that every Communist in the coun-