Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1946-08-22
Return of al Families
From Europe Is Urged
Government Personases Admit
Major Crisis Is AT Hand
By Dapid Laurence

American families OF servicemen
might we'll be brought home from Eu-
rope in the near future. For appar-
emily major test, such as the world
witnessed in 1896 when Hitler marched
into the Rhineland, is about to take
place-and this time 1t could result in
war.
The test unquestionably is being engi-
neered by Russia. Despite the vitupera-
tive propaganda coming out of Moscow
calling other nations "gangsters" and
'warmongers,' the fact is that Russia
has been manufacturing war materials
in the German occupied zone under her
control. Components of advanced "V'
weapons, torpedo mechanisms, subma-
rine turbines and aircraft engines have
been made in German factories In the
last three months, according to reliable
information from London and Berlin.
Is Tito being given the go-ahead by
Moscow? If the United States and
Britain do not show any signs of re-
sistance but merely acquiesce, the Rus
sian militarists will be encouraged to 60
on just as Hitler was encouraged in
1886 by the failure of Allied diplomacy
TO recognize what was happening.
Note to Yugoslavia.
The latest note sent by the United
States to Yugoslavia threatens to take
up with the Security Council of the
United Nations the whole episode, in
which the American Government now
charges that the attack on our planes
was deliberate" When a nation &C
cuses another of deliberate attack, one
or the other must back down. II Yugo-
slavia apologies, the incident will be
ended, but assurances will be demanded
that no further attacks will occur. If
Tito, inspired by Moscow, takes firm
position and refuses to back down,
crisis will come quickly.
The whole thing could mean that
Russia Is seeking an excuse to march
on Turkey and perhaps even to grab
all Of Germany. 1t Is we'll known that
the United States demobilized so rap
idly that the Russian Army, which did
not demobilize, could overrun CONT
mental Europe in 80 days The pretext
could we'll be some trumped-up charge
that Britain and the United States have
violated the armistice agreements In
relation to control of Germany A gov
eminent which just seven years ago
fhic hor
Ter and encouraging him to believe he
would have no opposition in the east
II he chose to attack Poland. Britain
and France, can hardly need an excuse
If she wishes to pursue an aggressor
course now
1t Is curious that the Molotov who
inveighs so violently against Prime
Minister de Gasperi of Italy and insists
that Italy has not atoned for her pc
Rod of Fascist rule, even though she
later fought on the side of the Allies,
is the same Molotov who made the deal
with Hitler and drank cocktails with
him in the first alliance of 1885, after
which the Nazis opened the war; This
alliance lasted two years
For the part played by Russia In that
mischievous plot which upset the bal
ance Of power IN Europe, nobody at the
Paris conference is today denouncing
Molotov or his government. But there
will be many in America who will say
IT told you so" If it turns out that the
Moscow government is egging Tito on
with the idea of seeing just what
America will do about it.
Already the Russian press Is de-
nouncing the atomic bomb and saying
Americas attitude of frmness Is in
duced by possession of the bomb. What
the Communist writers do not under
stand Is tnat the bomb will never be
used on the initiative OF this country
but that, If America is attacked, public
opinion in the United States can be as
volatile as it was in Britain when heavy
bombing began there in 1910.
Russia Has Advantage.
Russia has the advantage now, be-
cause almost all our air forces and
ground troops have been demobilized.
But this advantage cannot last long.
The United States and Britain will en-
deavor to work through the United
Nations Security Council. Russia with
her veto will endeavor to delay action
but, in the meantime, it Is conceivable
that rehabilitation of American Air
Forces in Europe could happen. Even
If there is no war, the Allied forces
would stay there the next time until
peace in Europe is assured.
Distasteful and horrible as is the
thought of another war, the decision
soon may be whether the way to pre-
vent 1t is to run away from threats and
challenges or to meet them now while
trained force and equipment are avail
able. These are not just the thoughts
of writer commenting on the passing
scene from the National Capital but
the thoughts expressed in private by
many personages in Government, who
admit that major crisis is at hand.
The possibility exists that If Yugo-
slavia doesn't back down, the President
may return to Washington and summon
congressional leaders and place the
whole situation before them at once.
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