Evening star., 1946-11-24
Red Slogans
Dispute Talk
Soviet Troops Display
Sentiment Against
War Allies
By Constantine Bro,gn

There is q discrepancy between the
nne words we have been hearing from
the Russian leaders since last September,
when Prime Minister Stain made his
FIRST peace" speech, and the weekly re-
ports from American observers who are
informing our Government about the
increasing military preparations In the
Russian-occupied areas of Europe. D
1t is this discrepancy-which is by no
means accidental-that makes our policy
trainers skeptical of the Russians words,
even when they are accompanied by
some slight concessions to the western
point Of view.
For instance, last week Secretary of
State Byrnes received at his headquar-
ters in New York the report from eye
witnesses whose integrity is beyond
suspicion that the U. S. S. r. has brought
Into Western Poland no fewer than l6
new divisions, representing about ITO 900
combat troops. That in itself was an
important item. 1t could have been
overlooked, however, by realists who are
aware that Poland is just part and
parcel Of the great Red federation.
Anti-American Slogans.
1t could have been explained that the
arrival Of the troops may have had
something to do with the forthcoming
elections in January. They may be in
tended to strengthen the hand of the
Moscow-sponsored Polish government by
being placed in localities where there
Is chance of the vote going against
the Communist front. But what cannot
be overlooked mot even as a prank
was the fact that the tanks of these
troops had printed on them in large
red letters, I'VE have just defeated the
Nazis. Now it's the turn of the Anglo
Saxons." On the box cars which con-
veyed the Russian soldiers from east
to west there were stamped the words
Death to American capitalism"
Such warlike words are customary
whenever an army goes on the offensive.
That somewhat childlike slogans are
used by enemy armies in time of war is
only natural. But it is extremely indica-
tive of the mood of the soldiers and
particularly of their commanders that
they should refer to a country with
which Russia has friendly relations.
And it is even more significant that
the political commissars, who are at
tached to every army unit and supersede
the military men at all times except
during actual combat, should have per-
mitted these signs to be painted on the
Russian tanks and box cars. It Is true
that none of the large tanks noticed by
the reporting observers were of Amer
lean make. They were of the new type
manufactured since the end of the war
by the Soviet's heavy industries.
Mr.. Byrnes is expected to make good
use of these and other reports when
Foreign Minister Molotov resumes his
plea fer disarmament and particularly
the abolition of the atom bomb.
In the last few weeks, and especially
since November 5, when the midterm
elections gave the Republican Party
control over both houses of Congress,
the Russian officials have launched an
intensive propaganda designed to por-
tray the U. S. S. r. as the champion
OF peace and disarmament; as the only
nation which is sincerely endeavoring to
relieve the peoples of the world from
the threat of war and the burden of
militarism and ornaments.
Propaganda Flood.
In broadcasts in all known languages
and in newspaper articles printed in all
the Russian newspapers and in those
which are controlled and subsidized by
the U. S. S. r. abroad, the United
States is being described as an aggres-
sive Nation in the hands of a bunch
Of ruthless big businessmen, reactionary
politicians and equally reactionary gold
braiders." People outside the United
States who don't know what is actually
going on in this country are being
flooded with wealth of statistical data
attempting to show that we are main
tanning the largest military, naval and
air establishments In the world. They
are told that billions of dollars are
being spent on scientific research to
improve the atom bomb and increase
our stock pile.
Russia is pictured as making brave
efforts to bring about disarmament and
particularly to remove the threat of
atomic' warfare. But it is contended
that her efforts are distorted and
brought to nought by the American
capitalists.
These broadcasts are listened to and
believed by many of the peoples of Eu-
rope, whose memory of Nazi aggression
is still fresh. The description of the
American Government is so very similar
to that of the Nazis that some of the
European nations are beginning to won
der If the United States is not actually
preparing the conquest of Europe un-
der the pretext of freeing that continent
from Russian domination.
The well-informed people and the
men in responsible positions take the
Soviet manifestations at their real value.
But the millions of others in the many
hard-suffering countries of Europe
wonder what it's, all about. Since 1889
they have experienced so many diff.
culties and such confusion that they can
no longer discern between the truth
and the lie.
U. N. Problem.
Within the next few weeks the Gem
'eral Assembly of the United Nations
may have chance seriously to take up
the question Of drastic limitation Of
armaments. including the international
control of atomic energy. In theory
there is no divergence Of opinion regard
ing the reduction of ornaments. Every
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