Evening star., 1946-03-19
Conciliotory Moves
By Russia Seen Soon
Soviet Needs at Least Five Years
for Recovery, Says Writer
By Dapid Laurence

An easing of tension in the so-called
Russian crisis may be confidently ex-
pected soon. The moves being made
indicate that Russia herself may have
been surprised at the development of the
crisis, believing instead that a conti-
nuance Of her pressure tactics begun
during the war period and maintained
ever since would yield results without
exciting the people of the United States.
The Iranian controversy has back of
it a struggle for access to one of the
richest oil fields in the world. The
British have large interests in Iran and
the United States Is anxious to see an
internationalization of these resources.
The Iranian government is being
pressed by Russia to grant oil con-
cessions in return for withdrawal of the
Soviet troops.
This method of bargaining is called
Russian realism. It has, in this in
stance, run roughshod over an explicit
pledge to withdraw troops from Iran.
Likewise the looting of Manchuria has
hurt the Russian position in this coun-
try.
Motives Called Crude.
Perhaps Moscow thought all this
could be quickly remedied and that
overnight Russia could withdraw her
troops from Iran and give the i'm
preston that the whole thing was a
tempest in a teapot. Certainly there
seems no logical reason why, even in
Russia's own interest, the crisis should
have been permitted to go to the point
where tension in relations to the United
States was created.
Little is known of what goes on in
side Moscow, but Russia is beginning
to act as if she is as much amazed as
are many Americans that our Govern
ment took the whole thing so seriously.
1t must mean that the State Depart
ment decided to try to keep the Rus
sian tactics from becoming extreme
and hence made fuss about it, fearing
that unless stopped now, Russia might
'precipitate further incidents which
would really produce apprehension.
Whatever may be the motives of ma
terialistic Russia-for the Communist
Soviet is as crude in its selfishness as
any capitalistic empire ever was-the
net result has been to awaken America.
Demobilization of our Army and Navy
may go on as scheduled, but authority
will be voted by Congress to build up
our military power through volunteers
and through an extension of the draft.
AS for the atomic bomb It's secret
will never be given to Russia. Persons
who talk glibly about Russia get
ting the secret anyhow In five years
are guessing. They actually do not
know what the secret is. 1t Is be-
lieved that few men in this country
really know the secret. Though many
scientists may know a great deal about
how to use it in a weapon that can
be detonated without destroying the
detonators. Experiments are rather
risky business.
Called Inept In Affair.".
Russia has managed her external af-
fairs very badly. She has sought to
drive a wedge between America and
Britain on the theory that the United
States would hesitate to side with Brit
aims efforts to maintain her Mediter-
ranean influence.
While Secretary Byrnes quite nat
urally has deplored any talk of alli-
ances and seemingly takes issue with
Mr.. Churchill, all he really is doing is
supporting the United. Nations Charter
as substitute for alliances without in
any way retreating on his earlier speech
virtually accusing Russia of breaking
her treaty pledge in Iran.
The notes which the American Gov
eminent has sent to Russia and which
have for so long now gone unanswered
stand as an indictment of Russian
ineptitude If Russia seriously wants
peace-and there is every reason to
think her people are tired of war-she
is not adopting the best way to Keep
nations from thinking about her in
terms of war. The Russian government
has done more "warmongering' in the
last two months than a thousand
speeches by Winston Churchill
There will be no movement toward
war for a while, because Russia needs
at least five years for domestic recov-
cry. So the moves which may soon
emanate from Russias side will tend
to become conciliatory.
Dto