Evening star., 1947-07-03
Russio Chooses Chaos

It has taken two years to demonstrate
beyond any possibility of doubt that RUSSIA
does not want to live in harmony with
the West. They have been dismal years,
vet not entirely unfruitful. For now, at
last. we at least know the truth, Not even
the Henry Wallaces among us can continue
to preach the false doctrine that Russian
intentions are good and that, given
decent chance, Russia would meet US
halfway.
In all but so many words, Mr.. Molotov
has said at Paris that Russia wants chaos.
Russia will not accept the Marshall pro-
posal for European recovery, even as
modified by the French. And Mr.. Molotov,
signing off on an ominous note, says that
the Soviet government considers it neces-
sary to caution the governments OF Great
Britain and France against the conse-
quences" of trying to 60 forward under
the Marshall plan without Russia.
That leaves no further room Tor wishful
thinking that can result only IN SELF
deception. We have to face the fact now
that the vision of one world is dead, that
the laboriously built postwar structure OF
collective security has come crashing down.
We, of course, cannot know the exact
nature of the consequences" to which Mr..
Molotov referred. But we know that the
Soviet Army Is supreme on the continent
of Europe and that the Soviet fifth columns
are strong in those European countries
which have not yet been brought under
the domination of Moscow. And we may
be very certain that Russia will use these
and other weapons at her command to
prevent the success of the Marshall pro-
gram If Britain and France throw In their
lot with U.S. as they have said they will do.
This could lead to anything, up to and
including an eventual war with Russia.
But there is little advantage in speculation
as to the possible military consequences
of final rupture between East and West.
We need to put first things first. And the
first thing now is to make certain, or at
least to do everything in our power to make
certain, tat the Marshall program, If put
into operation, achieves its purpose. For
If that program is tried and found want
ing, then the Russians will have had their
victory handed to them. They will have
attained their goal Of an economically
ruined world-a world in which the cap
italist system will have failed, thus paving
the way, as they see it, for the triumph
of communism.
Our one hope is to see to 1t that the
program does not fail. We may expect
that If it is successful still other problems
will arise. But we can deal with them
when we come to them. The first thing
for the American people to do is to recog-
nize that the parting of the ways has been
reached, that there is no longer any tenabls
hope of working Dith Russia and that the
only alternative Is to face the bleak
prospect of reorganizing as much of the
world as we can 1Dithout Russia. The Rus
SLAMS will resist us and oppose us at every
turn. But that cannot be helped. For the
g-impending open clash between East
and West has begun. It will be hard
and costly struggle for U.s. But we must
strive to understand its Implications; to
comprehend the fact that defeat in this
contest means the loss of all the things
which we have held to be worthwhile in
life