Evening star., 1946-08-26
Bold US. .Stund Seen !
Needed in Tito Crisis
Downing of Planes Called Test
Of Our Policy in Europe
By David Laurence

vi ouI OIiSy HI LoiopS
By Dapid Laurence
Marshal Tito's compliance with the
American ultimatum to release the
flyers does not dispose of the larger
question-why did Yugosiav fighter
plane attack lmarmed American planes?
The wanton murder of American citi.
zens occurred in rigid execution OF gen.
eral orders from the Yugoslav govern
ment. 1t is said the planes ventured
inside the air lane over which sover-
eighty Is claimed by the Belgrade gov
ernment but this does not excuse or
really explain the deliberate attack.
When an unarmed person strays into
a forbidden zone. he Is not killed but
arrested. The Yugoslav planes knew
they were observing transport plane.
They knew the plane was powerless to
defend itself. Yet they shot 1t down as
deliberately as If these Americans were
walking on the ground and had held up
their hands to indicate that they were
not armed.
Murder In cold blood by government
which processes to have been a friend Of
the United States and by government
which has received food and economic
help from the people of the United
States has awakened ofilcial Washing
ton to the fact that there is perhaps
concerted attempt developing in the
Russian orbit OF states to drive America
from the European continent.
Russia in Background.
Back of Yugoslavia is Moscow. This
Is conceded everywhere in Washington.
Hence the murder of American citizens
is being regarded as test of American
courage and resoluteness. The Depart
ment Of State will find the American
people much interested in how the
American position is safeguarded.
Any pussyfooting at this stage will be
condemned. 1t will be easy to discern.
and certainly all Europe is watching to
see whether the United States means
what 1t says and whether American
citizens can be killed with impunity and
only a few sharp words Of reprimand
ensue.
AAS S4AtCo 0tdICo 1OfCllllucllb IdS
dicated that it will demand "satisfac-
tion." This can mean an indemnity in
money and an apology. 1t can lead also
to demand that Yugoslavia demobilize
her army and air force and return to
peaceful basis and that threats Of
attacks against any friendly nations be
removed. For Yugoslavia has shown
herself to possess an irresponsible gov
ernment which prefers to use military
force rather than diplomacy.
Yugoslavia is governed by Dictator
Marshal Tito, whose behavior Is q threat
to peace. II Tito gets away with his
challenges to the United States, thA
whole Balkan area will lose respect for
America and for the United Nations As
well.
Punishment Is Necessary.
A course OF action which exacts pun
ishment from Yugoslavia is absolutely
essential. 1t will not lead to war but
will save the American people from q
third world war Had the American
and British peoples been awakened
when Hitler marched into the Rhine
land In 1886, many fine American boys
would be alive today instead OF sleeping
In the cemeteries Of continental Europe.
4 The way to prevent third world war
is to manifest readiness to fight such
a war. Tito is the tool Of Moscow, and
the deliberate firing on American citi-
zens by Yugoslav aviators must have
seemed an inexpensive way for the
Yugoslav dictator to find out for Mos
cows benefit whether the United States
would exchange few notes and run
away from European responsibilities.
Hence what the American Govern
ment does and says in the Yugoslav
crisis Is important to future peace.
Already "appeasers" are trying to blame
the American aviators for having made
flights over Yugoslav territory II these
flights were made, were any Yugoslav
planes attacked and their passengers
and crews murdered? If any American
planes strayed from their course, Is this
not matter for diplomatic protest and
handling through official channels in
stead OF firing on defenseless craft?
Irrespective Of whether any flights did
go few miles into Yugoslav territory
in the past and even If Tito is right in
his fantastic charge that the American
planes used to fly military squadrons
across some Of his airways. is this a,
justification for q cowardly assault on
defenseless planes? t.s Il
These are the questions which con.
front President Truman and his De-
partment Of State. On the firmness Of
the course pursued depends whether tho
United States will meet more trouble In
Europe and eventually another war.
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