The Wilmington morning star., 1946-06-02
Stain And The Army

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Joseph Stain continues to play the
role of lone wolf in world diplomacy.
Latest sign is the disclosure that,
since April 4, the Russian leader has
rejected a second invitation to come to
the United States as a guest of Presl-
dent Truman. Obviously the bids have
been extended to bring about face to
face discussion of the troubled rela-
lions between the United States and
Great Britain on one hand and the
Soviet Union on the other. The reason
Stain has given both times is that ne
is not we'll enough to make the long
journey.
We do not know the exact state of
the Generalissimo's health and we
doubt if the Russian people, as a whole,
know the full truth. 1t has been a topic
of discussion in diplomatic circles for
sometime but President Truman's an
nouncerent is our first official word.
There has been, however, no inclina-
ton on the part of Russian propagan-
da since the end of the war to cover up
the fact that Stain is getting tired and
old. Earlier in his career, any public
mention along these lines meant a one
way trip to Siberia for the person so
indiscret. Recently pictures have ap-
peared showing that he is naturally
aging. They were formerly banned.
This trend is politically significant be-
cause it may be taken to mean that he,
last of the wars great leaders, is pre-
pairing to bow out of the scene.
Anyway, the condition of his health
was the excuse, valid or otherwise,
given.
Such action re-emphasizes the Sow
let Unions policy of extreme isolation,
protected with an iron wall of secrecy,
which she has followed from We day.
The passive non-cooperation is block
ing the western world, day in and day
out, in it's efforts to lay the foundation
for a permanent peace. Meanwhile, the
Russians extend their sphere of influ-
ence through use of the greatest army
in the world. Through the religion of
communism-and that's exactly what
it is-they threaten the entire Euro
pean continent and the greater part
of Asia. While she reconstructs, she is
forcing her power, prestige, influence
and commerce on her neighbors. Her
guise is that her borders must be pro-
tected. But this is cancerous imperial
ism. There will always be more bor-
ders to protect, may eventually mean
a Jump across the English channel
which has but one answer-war-for
U.s..
What is the m%otivating power for
this policy? Stain? No. 1t is Russia's
Army.
It is an Army as great, as powerful
and certainly more modern than the
day it marched into Berlin. 1t is a
mighty force in position to tell Stain
what to do and is probably doing just
that today.
Stain as the political leader brought
Russia from political childhood to ma
turity. That was his principal task.
Even during the wal he did not direct
his Army in as personal a manner as
Hitler. 1t was his generals show and
they ran it we'll. They saved the coun-
try. Now, these same leaders are de-
handing, and receiving, a direct hand
in mapping it's future.
Maybe Stains health isn't good
enough for the Washington trip. But
whether he or the army decided is
something we may never know. Mean
while, we suspect the Army is writing
the lines of his lone wolf role, a foreign
policy that will make it much easier
for it to install it's man when the op-
perfume time arrives.