Evening star., 1946-08-25
By Dr.. George S. Counts
North American Newspaper Alliance

By Dr.. 0eoI
North American
| NEW YORK, Aug. 24.-What are
the Soviet leaders telling the
younger generation about the Sec
ond World War? About its origin
and conduct? About the Soviet con-
tribution to victory? About the
role of the Allied powers, and the
United States in particular? An
swer to these questions should
throw some light on the Soviet
foreign policy in the years to come
The answers may be found in part
/ in history textbook published in
1945 for general use In the last
year of the secondary school. 1t is
part III of The History of the
USSR" and covers the period from
1894 to approximately the end of
1914. Though edited by an his
torian, Prof. A. M. Ponkratova, it
was prepared, like all Soviet text
books, according to specifications
outlined by the highest authorities
Of the Communist Party.
The Interpretation of History to
the young is regarded in the Soviet
Union as matter affecting the Sc
curity of the State-a matter far
too important to be left to histor-
ians. What follows therefore may
be regarded as the official view Of
the war, and the only view which
Soviet youth at the present time
| is permitted to know. 1t is part of
the gigantic myth about Russia and
the rest of the world which the
Soviet leaders are building in the
minds of their people.
Policy Always Wise and Just.
Concerning the events leading up
to the war, Soviet policy is pre-
sented invariably and emphatically
as wise and just. In not single
instance does the Soviet government
violate a treaty, break an engage
ment, attack another state, or make
mistake. Some events of great
importance are not mentioned;
others are made to conform to the
desired pattern Of Interpretation.
The Soviet<Nazi pact in 1889 was
designed to break through the cap
italistic encirclement," to checkmate
the efforts of extremely reactionary
elements" in England and France
to direct Nazi aggression mainly
toward the Soviet Union," and to
give "the Soviet Union an opportun-
ity to prepare her forces in the event
of an attack" by Hitler.
This wise foreign policy of the
Soviet government" the account
concludes, raised yet further the
role of the Soviet Union in the solu-
ton Of international problems and
its authority in the eyes of the
workers of the whole world"
Firms Are Blamed.
The war with Finland arose out
Of proposal by the Soviet govern
ment to the Finnish government
Ito enter into a treaty, favorable to
both states, tor the purpose of guar
anteeing the safety OF the northwest
| frontiers Of the U. S. S. R." The re-
sponse of the "Einnish militarists"
was to engage in provocative acts
along the Soviet-Finnish borders,
going so far as to lombard Soviet
territory near Leningrad."
Consequently, the Soviet govern
ment recalled her political and eco
inomic representatives" and issued
an "order to the Red Army to repulse
all attacks of the Finnish militar-
lists" The latter, "allied with Ger
man fascists and melted by anti
Soviet circles Of certain imperialist
countries. declared war on the Soviet
Union"
The Red Army conquered 80 de-
grees of frost" broke through fortifl-
cations regarded as impregnable, 4"
and defeated the White Finnish
Army" killing and wounding "one-
half of its men"
Ukraine Under Protection.
Following the Nazi invasion of
Poland, the Soviet government
could not be Indifferent to the fate
of their blood-brother Ukrainians
and Bielorussians dwelling in west
ern Ukraine and western Bielorus-
sia." 1t consequently instructed
the commander -in-chief of the Red
Army to order the armed forces to
cross the border and take under
their protection the life and property
of the populations of western
Ukraine and western Bielorussia. ,"
A picture shows Ukrainian worker
embracing and kissing soldier of
the Red Army under the caption,
'our army is an army of liberation
| for the workers"
| The conquest of Lithuania
Latvia, and Estonia is represented
also under the guise of liberation
Each of these countries is treated
separately, but according to a
single pattern, under the general
heading, admission of Lithuania
Latvia, and Estonia into the Soviet
Union" The pattern of treatment
will be illustrated through the case
of Lithuania.
Lithuanian Clique Opposed.
In order to guarantee the safety
of the frontiers of the USSR and
Lithuania, the Soviet government
proposed a pact of mutual aid
The ruling clique" of Lithuania
thereupon launched new provoca-
tive acts against the Soviet Union. -
Moscow responded by demanding a
change in the Lithuanian govern
ment and free passage into Lith-
uania of supplementary elements
of the Red Army to protect the
borders of USSR and Lithuania."
The Lithuanian people greeted
the Red Army with great Joy" the
newly formed government "con-
Quoted democratic elections" and
go per cent of the votes supported
the candidates of the labor union
OF Lithuania." The legislative body
thus elected unanimously ap-
proved resolution proclaiming
Lithuania a Soviet Socialist Re-
public" and sent commission to
the USSR to petition the Supreme