Evening star., 1947-03-12
Firm Stand on Greece
Might Stop Russians

rim SrQnd on 1reece
Might Stop Russians
Expansion Expected to Continue
If Congress Splits on Issue
By David Laurence
Little by little q showdown Is being
forced upon Congress and the people Of
the United States--a showdown as to
whether steps are to be taken now, at
heavy cost in money, to prevent third
world war, or whether the United States
Is to adopt course OF drifting in the
hope that the crisis of the moment will
blow away of its own accord.
In the background is Russian aggres-
sion-as plain to see as it has been ever
since VI day, but with Americans wish
fully hoping that the Soviets are too
exhausted to persist in their march Of
expansion if the United States should
show signs of checkmating that march.
1t isn't question Of war today or to-
morrow-or even year or two from
now. But 1t is question of meeting the
Communist threat now or letting 1t take
Its natural course in engulfing all of
Europe.
The Russian purpose may be entirely
defensive. There would seem to be no
logic In encouraging acts In the Balkan
states which could conceivably entangle
the United States and Russia in a third
world war. It must not be forgotten that
Russia fears the atomic bomb and
American industrial power. To safe
guard Russia. it is to be expected that
the military strategists of that country
would press to encircle Greece and Tur-
key and reach into the Mediterranean
on the south, because it is already ap-
parent to. Moscow that Germany cannot
be Won as an ally and that hence the
western limit of Russian influence has
already heen fxed somewhere In East
ern Germany.
Conference on Opportunity.
If there is in the mind of the Rus.
slams defensive concept, and If all the
inflltration into other countries-par-
ticularly the encouragement of guer-
rilla warfare in Greece and fifth
columns in Belgium, France, England
and 1taly-merely means that Russia is
uneasy about attack from the outside.
then surely there ought to be some way
to reassure Russia.
Plainly the Moscow conference Of for
eign ministers affords an opportunity
to re-examine the whole world situation.
Russia has on previous occasions agreed
to withhold her propaganda from other
countries. If the western. powers could
secure such pledges from the Soviet
Union now, 1t would certainly relieve
the tension and furnish q basis for
peace.
It may well be that the Russians will
give their answer after they learn what
Congress will do about President Tru-
mans message today. For If Congress
is divided and the fight is along the
lines Of that which characterized the
period just after World War I, there
will be tendency on the part of the
Soviets to continue their expansion In
the belief that no force In the world will
be interposed against them.
II, on the other hand, America stands
firm and united and shows willingness
to bear world responsibility no matter
what the cost, then 1t is conceivable that
Russia will give the necessary assurances
and the peace of the world can be left
to the United Nations to uphold, as uni
versally planned.
No Progress by Council.
1t Is to be recalled at this time that
the Security Council of the U. N. has
made virtually no progress toward set
ting up an international force to pre-
serve peace, and that meetings of the
military stats have been fruitless, large
ly because Russia has, by one maneuver
or another of delay or confusion, kept
the Security Council from establishing
itself as an instrument for the preserva-
tion Of the peace.
So what the world Is witnessing today
Is an effort on the part of the biggest
democracy in the world to use her power
and influence to assist weaker countries,
such as Greece and Turkey, which stand
In the shadow of Russian aggression.
The test is whether a democracy can
function in situation that is not clear
enough to arouse public opinion. In a
totalitarian country, where the press Is
manipulated by the government, there
is no concern about public opinion. The
Communist government in Moscow
knows 1t can count on division within
the United States-a division which will
be encouraged by left wingers and Com
munists inside America who have been
playing Russia's game for some time and
by isolationists Of the right wing who
are again thinking in terms of dollars
that might be saved for tax reduction.
1t surely presents a critical decision
for America and one that can easily
wreck the Republican Party and give the
Democrats chance to continue to gov
ern the country for many years to come.
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