The Wilmington morning star., 1947-10-14
The Only Road

A group of American clergymen has re-
turned from an European tour and marking
the reported impressions of one was his be-
lief that third world war" may be IN the
making.
4 Two factors are responsible for this pes
sinistic observation.
First. the Soviet Unions military strength.
It is 30 great, DR.. Harold J. Ockenga, pastor
of the Park Street church of Boston, salo
that Gin any showdown Russia could occupy
Europe in a week" On the other hand, the
United States forces on the continent are
"pitifully weak"
Second the refusal of Russia to enter into
work cooperation was cited by the ministers
and emphasized by DR.. Ockenga. Like many
others who have observed today's Europe
at first hand, they were impressed with the
Communists determination to seek a ols-
organized, confused and proverty- stricken
Germany. They are also doing all Wlthlh
their power to see that other war-Weary
states, either friends or former enemies, are
kept in turmoil.
The Marshall program has been the
principal step in drawing the lines Of dlvl-
sion between Eastern and Western Europe
It is this split that may lead to another great
war But there is no way to escape it UNLESS
of course, the democracies want all the con-
tinent to fall under Soviet domination
The United States best safeguards In
world whose future = so uncertain IS con-
tinued support of the plan, together with
the strongest military security program II
has ever known and maintained in peace
time. It will be months until Secretary Mar
shalTs proposals to help non-Communlstlc
Europe can be placed into effect.
Meantime, there must be stop-gap meas
ures, such as the conservation of food urged
recently by President Truman. Whether
Congress should be reconvened is debatable.
| If moratorium could be declared on poll
tics and bipartisan attitude attained and
maintained on European relief then an early
gathering of the lawmakers would be high
ly advisable But it is doubtful if such CO.
operative feeling could be effected, especial
1y with a presidential election next year.
Therefore, the President has done the next
best thing in ordering the committees most
interested in the relief issue to start laying
the foundation for later congressional action
Meanwhile, unification of the armed forces
is being expedited. The Reserve COM
ponents are receiving more attention than
ever before and scientific reasearch and
developments are being pressed forward as
well as restricted budgets permit.
The spirit of preparedness. supported by
public deeply concerned over Russia's OBJ
structive attitude toward means of assuring
peace is good. But only continued vigilance
will maintain it's o''"7ity Indifference born
of false belief that we are safe behind
the atomic bomb could, if carried for enough
place the nation in position to invite at
tack.
We are In "cold" political war will
Russia.
Therefore, there should be no place 1o1
either the warmonger or the pacifist Elthel
can bring on the third World War" Int
best course is all-out support of the nation
present policies of talking firm to Russl'
while remaining strong enough to absorb tn
shock of any emergency. 1t is the only patf
the nation can walk unless it desires war OF
appeasement and the eventual death OF 1T
Influence on the worlds remaining de-
4 nnos1atia governments.