Evening star., 1947-11-20
Castigating Of Russia
By Marshall Seen
OF Doubtful Value
Writer Says Word Bottle
Between Nations Could
Develop Into War
Bv David Lacrence

Secretary MarShaIls speech may
thrill a good many Americans but
In a practical sense 1t arouses con-
siderable curiosity as to what Is
going to be accomplished either by
'castigating Russia's propaganda or
by engaging in battle of words as
to who or what is responsible for
the friction between Russia and the
United States.
The language of diplomacy is not
like the language of the military
world, where blunt phrases and
sharp rejoinders so often constitute
the vocabulary OF protagonlsts.
There is no doubt that Russia's prop
aganda has been provocative and
that it has aroused widespread re-
sentiment in America. But empha-
sis on this factor alone would have
been much more effective than
counter accusations.
The danger in a battle of words
is that it can conceivably develop
into a battle of arms. If it is to be
at all effective, diplomacy's primary
operation is to hold open the doors
of international intercourse and not
to close them-to keep the phrases
of public statement dignifled and
positive rather than emotional and
negative.
Adds Up To Annoyance.
What Secretary Marshalls speech
adds up to to is a statement of
deep-seated annoyance and lrrita-
ton and an announcement that,
despite all the provocation, Amer
lean diplomats will try to keep an
"open mind" at the next meeting
of the foreign ministers conference.
Mr.. Marshall need not have ad-
mitted publicly that he goes into
the forthcoming conference in an
angry or resentful mood, even
though most Americans will concede
that he is patient man and doubt
less has very natural justification
for feeling as he does But, as
spokesman of the United States
Government, the Secretary of State
cannot be in the position of describ-
Ing his own moods.
Secretary Marshall is on safer
ground when he describes the most
important fact in Russo American
relations. This is the growth Of an
American public opinion which is
rapidly losing patience with Russia.
He refers to this only briefly, yet
it is his principal point.
The history of the world shows
that an infamed public opinion can
lead to war. The Russians, by their
propaganda of misrepresentation d.
rected at America and by their
intransigeant course in all nego-
tiations, have aroused inside the
United States a belief either that
Russia underestimates American
willingness to defend her position
In the world or that the Russians
hope to promote chaos and con-
ditlons that lead to war.
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Many Americans now think it is
Russia which wants war. Too many
Americans already are resigning
themselves to the unfortunate but
nevertheless realistic view that
maybe war must be the inevitable
outcome of the present controversy.
Why should the Russians wish to
provoke war spirit inside the
United States? What do they hope
to accomplish by convincing Ameri-
cans that maybe the only way out
of the dilemma is another war to
settle issues which Russia refuses
to settle through diplomacy?
These are questions which it is
proper to ask in the implicit Ian
guage of diplomacy rather than in
the language of invective. The
Russian propaganda is, Of course.
as Mr.. Marshall says, "brazen and
contemptuous." It is natural for
him to blurt out his inner feelings
that I'VE do not propose to stand
by and watch the deterioration of
the international community to
which we belong" But unfortu-
nately many observers will read
into this a belligerence and veiled
threat to do something militant or
military about it which will not
make American public opinion less
infamed
It is a time for restrained phrases
and for persuasive argument. 1t is
a time not for feeling but for rea-
soning. The Secretary's speech rep
resents a significant outburst, the
consequences Of which will not be
measured by the reaction inside
America but perhaps by the propa-
ganda use which the Soviets will
make of it inside Russia to solidify
their distraught people behind the
idea that the western powers mean
to deprive the Russians of economic
aid and force on them a war of
so-called defense" Hitler used the
"encirclement" idea to build up his
dictatorship, and the Russians may
be employing the same technique.
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