Evening star., 1946-08-23
u. S. Set to Demand
Reporotion, Apology
Release of Flyers Only One
Phase of Yugoslavian Crisis
By David Laurence

By David Lawrence
Release Of American airmen by the
Belgrade government affects only one
phase of the crisis between the United
States and Yugoslavia.
The United States Government is
determined to exact reparation and to
require an apology for the deliberate
attacks on American unarmed planes.
Furthermore, as safeguard for the
future, fighter escort planes may ac-
company American planes so that II
bad weather does cause them to deviate
from their routes they will be protected
against Titos attacks.
This episode, however, is but part
OF larger situation. The United States
is determined that her position as
full-fiedged member of the European
concert Of nations shall not be ignored.
1t may take Russia and other countries
little while to get the full import of
what the late President Roosevelt
pledged at Yalta, but the United States
intends to use its tnfluence-and its
force, when necessary-for the pres
ervation of the peace of the European
continent, the breaking of which twice
has involved America.
Truman "Concerned.-
President Truman is reported to be
greatly concerned over Russias expan-
sionist policies and over the indirect
encouragement which Yugoslavia is be-
heved to have obtained from the Soviet.
The deliberate" attack on unarmed
American planes by Yugoslavia fighter
planes has been taken to mean that
the readiness of the United States to
protect her rights in Europe Is being
tested.
1t now Is beginning to be conceded
in official circles that America should
never have withdrawn its large armies
and air forces from Europe. Marshal
Tito has given the United States an
opportunity to go back to Europe with
sizable forces and stay there until peace
treaties are signed and disarmament by
Russia as well as other nations in
Europe Is fact.
Unquestionably Moscow is advising
Belgrade, and If Tito doesn't grant sat
isfaction to the United States, it seems
possible that the Congress may be called
into special session and an immediate
revision of the Selective Service Law
asked
The truth is American Army and
Navy and Air Forces have plenty of
equipment but their personnel Is scat
tered. For the United States has fully
demobilized, while Russia still main
tains an army of somewhere between
100000 and 100000 men. The soviets
could overrun the European continent
in a few weeks.
Such step, however, would wreck
the United Nations and compel the
American and British governments to
supply personnel to enforce the United
Nations Charter. War would be in
evitable under such circumstances.
Preparing for Eventuality.
| The belief prevails here that war i;
not coming as a result of the present
| crisis but that, If America shows weak
ness, there will be aggression in Europe
which will bring on another war ut
later date.
What is happening, therefore, at the
moment is that the United States is
preparing for any eventuality with
what forces 1t has available and, II the
Yugoslavian reply is not satisfactory,
the matter will be turned over to the
Security Council of the United Nations
for consideration at once
While the debate goes on, the United
States will doubtless begin process of
remobilization within existing war pow
ers and the Congress will be asked for
legislation to enable trained reserves to
be called into the service.
Even If Yugoslavia's answer is salts
factory, the chances are that build
ing up of American occupation forces
will be begun and the trend reversed
from what it has been for the last
several months. Most of Americas
naval forces are in the Pacific, but
they can be rather quickly brought to
European waters. AS for our air forces,
the need Is for ground and air person.
mel
1t seems likely that the Tito out
burst will some day be regarded as
having been a warning to the United
States that its policy of running away
from Europe by pulling virtually all of
its armies home encouraged aggressive
tendencies and made difficult the task
OF negotiating as well as enforcing peace
treaties. The Yugoslavian crisis could
conceivably cause a breakup Of the
Paris Conference and a transfer of dis
cussion to the United Nations Security
Council in New York
(Reproduction Rights Reseryedl