Evening star., 1947-07-06

It aggression-to which the Russian
S not directed at the United States,
death of Alexander the Great in
1923 BIC.
The Moscow government has al
ready recognized the Macedonian
government and speaks often about
it's existence. The official announce
ment to the rest OF the world has
not vet been made because its capi-
tai, Salonika, is still part Of Greek
territory.
American military observers be-
lieve that before the end OF summer
the Macedonian Peoples army
formed principally Of Yugoslavs,
Albanians and Bulgars, to which
must be added a sprinkling of Greek
Communists-willm march to conquer
the capital, which is Greece's prin-
cipal commercial port.
The United States has gone on
record through the enunciation of
the Truman doctrine as the protec-
tor of Greece's and Turkeys inde-
pendence. A Russian aggression
against Greece-camouflaged as a
recovery of Macedonian territories
by the armies of the Macedonian
Peoples armies s"-synchronized with
a major uprising of the Communists
in Southern Greece, will unquestion-
ably place the royal Greek govern
ment in hopeless position. But at
the same time it will deal American
prestige in Europe another severe
blow.
Soviet Strategy
Our Government is fully aware Of
the existing threats. But 1t is try
ing to discover innocuous paliatives
to meet the situation. The Rus
slams are calculating their moves
just as Hitler did after 1886 when
he entered the Rhineland. For
instance, they took over the Hun
garian government right under Our
nose. Then they waited for Ameri-
can reaction. 1t came quickly.
President Truman denounced the
Soviet action in strong terms, but
the next day the American Govern
ment recognized the Budapest re-
gime, which was hand-picked by
the Soviets.
The State Department explained
lamely-and off the record-that
no good purpose could be served by
nonrecognition, and we would only
lose the advantages of a listening
post in the Balkans by such action.
The expected camouflaged Soviet
coup in Greece may be followed by
other movements in Italy and
Austria and prospective large
scale Communist movement in
France some time this fall, intended
to take over the government from
the present "reactionaries."
What Can We Do?'
Our policy trainers are satisfied.
however, that the Soviet leaders do
not harbor any immediate offensive
intentions toward the United States
Neither did Hitler in the summer
of 1889 But they realize that the
Soviet government will do it's ut
most to consolidate its present
position in Europe and Asia and
gather-in the next few years
enough strength to enable them to
challenge us in every field.
Our policy trainers are aware OF
the ominous situation which is de-
veloping under their eyes. Those
with a practical sense shrug their
shoulders and ask, What can we
do? The country will not stand
for any strong attitude on the part
of its Government" The wishful
thinkers say that everything is
bound to take more moderate
course in years to come and urge a
more cooperative policy by shut
ting their eyes to the Soviet
maneI,vers
Both groups agree that the forth
coming summer will witness some
spectacular developments intended
to lower our own prestige and Sc
curity and at the same time in
crease that of the U. S. S. R. And
neither the realists nor the optimists
have much faith in the authority
Of the U. N, which is being UNDER
mined by the veto power.
The reports from Paris, London
and Rome-to say nothing about
the lesser Western European coun-
tries-indicate that the present gov
ernments are willing to 60 ahead
with plans to collaborate intimately
with this country. They realize that
this means political As we'll as eco
nomic collaboration. But they are
looking for sign from Washington
sign to show them that we are
willing to stand by them If the
U. S. S. r. should become ugly. For
the time being no such sign is forth
coming.
4 IT,.