The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1947-04-17

legislature 10 put Jul tWO IOAA Aot
! publications, according to an an
nouncement here.
AS a result, there are just two
vast forces in today's World-one
is the United States and the other
is Soviet Russia. Mr.. Truman did
not speak the word Russia, but no
one who heard his voice or read
his words could doubt what was in
his mind and the minds of Cong
ress. Greece is of little importance
in herself, and few Americans can
admire the present Greek govern
ment. But Greece is a buttress be-
tween Turkey and the Soviet Union
and Turkey controls the Darda-
nelles. AS Time has put it, IF Tur-
key and the Dardanelles went, the
whole Middle East might slide in
to the Russian orbit" And that
would be an ominous victory for
the forces behind the Iron Cur
tain.
It is apparently the view of Mr..
Truman and his advisors that the
time for firmness can no longer be
postponed--and If this involves
great, calculated risks, that is a
chance we must take. To lose the
peace could be as ultimately ruin
GUS as if we had lost the war itself.
To carry out this firm policy, the
State Department has been meas
urably strengthened.
Secretary Marshall enjoys an al
most lengendary reputation. In the
view of many, he is the ablest man
in American public life. There is
none of the faint of the politician
about him. When he took over, he
shook up the Department from top
to bottom. Moribund officials, sub
merged in routine and red tape were
removed. Marshall made it clear
that a mans job depended upon his
efficiency and performance. He
picked for his closest advisors the
best men available-such as John
Foster Dulles, who went to Mos
cow with him. II is said Of Mar
shall that he was the one wartime
military leader who refused to be
moved by Winston Churchill when
he thought the Premier wrong. And
he will not be moved by the Rus
SLAMS OF anyone else If he thinks
them wrong.
The difficulties. that lie ahead are
aRafh iYfdstr6sed BY the latest Mos
COW conference. Even the simplest
questions involved interminable ar
gument. The Soviet representatives
are invariably the DIRECTORS. We are
as far from a Germanh.peace treaty
as ever. Many reasons are cited
for the Russian attitude, and some
defend it. But right and wrong
to one side, the plain fact is that
the nations which worked together
in war are not working
together in peaSe.
Invariably Russian spokesman say
that American Intervention" in the1l
affairs of European nations such as
Greece, is no different from Rus
sian Intervention in the affairs of
nations such as YugoslaVia. The
Presidents implied answer is that
there is a great difference between /
forcing a philosophy of government (
down a country's throat, virtually
at bayonet point, and aiding a coun-
try in peaceably choosing the gov |
eminent it wants, by ballot This !
could be debated indefinitely, but
that is how it stands now.
The dangers that face us are
many And the top danger, of course
is the possibility of third war which
might destroy civilization and re-
turn the world to another dark age. |
Yet it seems impossible to believe
that the peoples of the world could
bring themselves to fight again in /
the forseeable future-or that the
nations have the resources for war.
The great question is what course
can be trusted to secure the peace, /
and all the decisions are predicated +
on that.
In the meantime, is it pleasant to /
record that the country still seems /
unified in basic foreign policy. A I
recent Gallup poll showed over
sentiment in favor of re-
cisting aggressive aims of Russia.
and Democrats alike
sit in the high councils of state,
and 60 as delegates to the confer
ences. We are making our stand
on world problems plain to all
and there can be no turning back.
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Estate of SAMUEL, RJJNYAN. |,