Evening star., 1947-11-30
i. Policy
Facing Test
Analyst Says America
Must Decide Soon
on a Course
By Constontine Brown


The cold war" which the Soviet
Union has been waging against the
western democracies and the
United States in particular-could
change swiftly into "hot war" no
matter how anxious We are to avoid
a clash with Russia which has be-
gun its expansion where Hitler left
off.
Our position, in spite of the ap-
parent confusion which still exists
in Washington official circles, is
clear. The alternatives before us
are either to press more energeti-
cally our present policy of attempt
ing to stave off the Soviet Unions
march in Europe or Asia, or to
abandon our present obligations
and concentrate on defense of the
Western Hemisphere against any
future emergency.
Politically the Western Hemi
sphere comprises that portion of
the globe which lies between Alaska
and Baffin Island in the north and
Cape Horn in the south, and in
cludes by extension Australia, New
Zealand. the Philippines and Japan.
Russia Appears Resolute !
There seems to be no other al
tentative to these two possibilities,
unless there is totally unexpected
change of heart on the part Of the
leaders of the Soviet Union. Such
. change is not predicted by the
most obdurate optimist. unless the
United States rattles It's sabel so
loudly that the Politbureau In Mos
COW will deliberate its present course
more carefully
In its effort to stem the Red
menace in Europe the United States
Government has adopted basic
policy which President Truman ex-
pressed clearly in his message to
Congress last March H. The So
called Marshall plan is but further
implementation of the Truman
doctrine, with purpose of resolving
the complaints of Western European
governments that communism is
thriving on empty stomachs.
In asking Congress last March for
appropriate to aid Greece and
Turkey. President Truman said:
Il am fully aware of the broad
implications involved If the United
States extends assistance to Greece
and Turkey One of the primary
objectives of the United States is
the creation of conditions in which
We and the other nations will be
able to work out way of life free
of coercion. We shall not
realize our objectives, however, un-
less we are willing to help free peo-
Piles to maintain their free institu-
tions and their national integrity
against aggressive movements that
seek to impose on them totalitarian
regimes by direct or indirect
aggression. I believe that our
help should primarily be through
economic aid"
Two Basic Premises
Two important facts-sometimes
overlooked-emerge from the Pres
ident's statements: Cd That the
President pledged Americas help
to the nations whose sovereignty is
threatened, even by indirect" ac-
ton, and ~ that our help should
be primarily" economic, which
means that in the event financial
assistance proves inadequate, it may
be implemented by physical assist
ance.
Financial and economic assistance
has produced no tangible results in
Greece. The aggressions of the
Moscow guerrillas-sup-
ported by a strong Macedonian
Army with headquarters at Skoplje,
Yugoslavia-have continued without
pause and there are indications that
while the Greek Army is losing its
breath, the forces controlled by Mos
COW are being increased steadily and
are showing more daring than ever
We have sent to Greece already
about 1870 officers to act as advisers I
to Greek Army corps and division :
commanders. Most observers who
have returned from Athens doubt
that the presence of experienced
American officers. whose concept of
fighting is so different from that of .
the Greeks. will make much differ ;
ence in the overall military situa- .
ton. :
Prestige Is Threatened
If the reinforced guerrillas con-
duct major offensive which threat =
ems the existence of the govern 4
ment forces, we will be confronted
with the choice of either pulling out
of Greece and admitting that our +
effort has failed, or we shall have
to send troops to fight with the q
Greek Army on the basis of Article 0
81 Of the United Nations Charter !,
Our withdrawal from Greece =
would be such blow to our prestige !.
that we might as we'll write off all
of Europe to communism and con- II
fine our defensive efforts to the y
Western Hemisphere and its polti- >
cal extension in the Pacific.
The sending Of American troops d
to Greece may lead to a head-on 4
clash with the U. S. S. r.
If the Truman doctrine means d
what 1t says, the situation in France u
and italy involves the United States,
for in those two countries the Com
munists, on orders from Moscow, I
are using political strikes and vio-
lence to complete the political and I
economic destruction. s.
Beyond the shadow of doubt the n
Communists are making an "in- Il
direct" aggression in both of those O