The globe-independent. (Hagerstown, Md.) 1943-19??, 1946-06-13

d ay. Sokolsky
wonders a bout
all this talk of ~
Understanding.
For months, he points out, the
American people have been urged to
understand Russian fact, almost
every one on the face of the earth
has been repeatedly enjoined to un-
derstand her. What no one seems to
think necessary is that Russia do a
a little understanding on her own
part.
True, Sokolsky says, Molotov did
appear at San Francisco. But he was
surrounded by his body-guard and
any mingling he did was scarcely in
the nature of uninhibited camera
derie. He further points out that
when Joe Stain was invited to come
to this country, he suddenly became
too fragile for travel, even though,
Sokolsky adds, Mr.. Roosevelt, who
was far from robust, found it pos
sible to junket all over the globe to
meet the Russian dictator at what
ever place Uncle Joe specified.
1t is also true that at the moment
three Soviet journalists are visiting
in this country, including the vitri-
Ollie Ilya Ehrinburg, of Pravda, but
who or what they are seeing no man
knoweth-nor will we know until
the Kremlin decides to release their
findings" One thing is certain, the
Russian gentlemen of the press are
conducting their own tour, a privi-
lege not extended to foreign news
men within the borders of the USSR.
Not only do we permit Russia to
operate a Fifth Column in this
country without interference, Sokol-
sky says but we permit her to pub
fish her own papers in our midst
(many of which are given over to
attacks against the government of
this country that under any other
auspices would be considered sub
versive.)
Now I agree with Mr. Sokolsky
that fun's fun. l too, think it time
that the Russians met us at least half
way in the matter of Understand
ing" and came off their isolationist
perch long enough to see how the
other half lives.
Obviously this is the last thing
that the Kremlin intends to permit.
Since we have absolutely no way of
reaching the Russian people through
the iron curtain" of a completely
controlled press and radio, it would
seem that an impasse has been
reached. That it cannot be allowed
to continue is increasingly clear. The
Atomic Age, with all of its terrifying
implications, is upon us. There
should be no careless talk of war
because there cannot be another
war. All of which indicates the
need for understanding, indeed
but for mutual understanding
I believe that our fumble-footed
State Department has, at long last,
come to understand Russia quite
we'll Whether it is too late to recoup
the dignity and prestige that we
have lost in the last year, remains to
be seen.
Perhaps now that the damage has
been done, we will dispense with the
species of child-like candor that
caused us to give Russia access to the
terms of all our agreements with
other nations, particularly if we take
time to remember occasionally that
not once have we been accorded the
courtesy of examining even one of
Russia's treaties with any of the too
numerous countries under the Red
thumb.
We are at the moment at swords
points with Russia over Trieste,
Romania, Franco-Spain, China, Rus
|sian-occupied Germany and Poland,
to mention only few portions on
the map involved in our disputes,
No Red-baiter at heart, feel that