Evening star., 1947-09-14

armies to meet the japanese aggres-
sion.
We have done everything that is
humanity possible to- establish a
world of peace and to repair the
destruction which the most dev-
astating of all wars has produced.
At present it looks as if we had
failed. Russia is on rampage and
no appeasement can soothe her. She
wants complete surrender to her
imperialistic aims and to her politl-
cal philosophy.
Vital to Our Strategy
Under these circumstances and
despite the reluctance of the Amer
lean people and their leaders, the
United States may be compelled
to adopt a policy of power, and for
that purpose China is of vital i'm
portance to our strategy.
If it ever obtains actual control
over Manchuria the Kuomintang
could be painful thorn in Russia S
side. A militarily strong China, with
an adequate air and ground force in
Manchuria, could Illustrate whatever
plans Moscow may have in regard
to the Western Hemisphere.
We know from verified reports
that the U. S. S. r. government
worked strenuously, during and
after the war, to make Eastern ST.
IBERIA a large military establish
ment. We know the number of
parachute divisions garrisoning
areas which in the past were con-
sidered to be unpopulated waste
lands in the area within 500 miles
of the Bering Straits.
Furthermore, we have fair idea
of the number of airdromes and
the number of long-range planes
based. at these fields. We know
that military installations of the
most modern type are being erected
there and that this arid region is
being connected by highways and
railways with Western Siberia,
which is being developed into a
frst-class industrial section of the
Russian empire. And we wonder
logically against whom and for what
purpose these preparations are be-
ing made.
Supporters Needed
In the last few months the atti-
tude of the Russian government has
given much food for thought to
most peace-minded American Off
cials. These men, who less than a
year ago declared that any one who
thinks in terms of another war is
demented, are now firmly concerned
over the future and no longer con-
slider this hypothesis the product of
diseased mind. They hope that
somehow or other such fatal out
come might be avoided, but find no
support for their hopes in Moscow's S
actions.
Whether we like it or not, we must
look for possible supporters if the
calamity of war with Russia should
befall us. From the viewpoint of
defensive strategy there is nothing
much to fear for the time being
from Russian aggression across the
Atlantic. We know that there is
not a single European nation to-
day that can stand against the Rus
sian avalanche, although Spain
and Turkey may serve as important
bases for an offensive defensive
strategy.
But China, with an adequate
army and provided with American
war materials and instructors, could
be of vital Importance. Whether we
can still reorganiZe China under
existing conditions and whether we
can rely on its effective assistance is
a question to which Gen. Wede-
meyer can provide the Govern
ment with an answer. That the re-
gime is corrupt we have known for
some time But we do not know yet
whether the disintegration of
China's military forces was caused
by the corruption and dishonesty of
some top-ranking officials or by the
/ hopelessness engendered among Of
ficers and men by our withdrawal
Of military support.
! A Momentous Decision
President Truman and Gen
Marshall will have to make a mo-
mentous decision after the return
of Gen. Wedemeyer to Washing
ton. They will have to decide
whether to let nature take its
course and see the Chang govern
ment disappear for lack of sup
port from lis, or whether to start
a new policy of strictly controlled
military assistance in order tc
maintain it in power for reasons Of
high strategy.
If the former policy is decided
on-a policy which will meet with
unanimous applause in those Sec
tions of the country which hide
their true colors under the label
of "liberalism"-we must expect the
Chang administration to be over
thrown in the near future.
The Communists, under the po-
litical leadership of Mao Tse-tung,
and the military leadership of the
Moscow-sponsored Gen. Chou En-
lai, will then be in effective control
of the vitality important Man
churian province and most of the
northern parts of China. The rest
will be dominated by unscrupulous
war lords. whose only aim will be
to promote their personal inter-
ests at the expense of the long-suf
fering population.
Tho tionS of Gen