Evening star., 1947-08-31

was tnOSG QlSCOuTdSluS, -DuI duQeu I
unturned to obtain solutions by
formulas and other pacific means.
When it was pointed out that
since the end of the war the admin
istration had neglected nothing to
appease the Russians on the basis
of the agreements reached at Te-
heran, Yalta and Potsdam, and that
this policy had only gotten us into
q worse mess than ever, he sighed
and said that other methods-in-
cluding strong, straight talk to the
men in the Kremlin-were not prac-
ticable.
Futile Exasperation
He based this belief on the as
sumption that this country would
not back the government in any
strong action. AS an illustration he
pointed to the weakness of our Army
and air force, which now are far
behind the Russians because the
country demanded drastic economies
in the armed forces and Congress
had to comply with the wishes of
the electorate.
It is true that the State Depart
ment, which sometimes is exasper-
ated by the Politbureau's double
cross, would like to show greater
strength than it does. But it feels
that its words would be wasted,
since the Russians know very well
that our air arm is weak and that
we have less than four divisions
available for any expedition abroad
Two of these would have to be
drawn from the Marine Corps.
There is a great deal of talk about
armed intervention in Greece in the
event that the United Nations Cen
eral Assembly votes to apply Article
81 of the Charter. This article per-
mits the sending of an armed force
to assist the harassed Greek troops
against the invaders from Russia S
satellite countries.
Intervention may come to pass,
although the mere thought of it
fills our military men with grave
apprehension. About 175,000 Soviet
satellite troops are concentrated on
the northern border of Greece, In
Albania, Yugoslavia and Bulgaria
This force is capable in itself OF
overrunning the weak and discour-
aged Greek Army.
Situation in Greece g..
For the first time since the be.
ginning of the conflict in the Bal
kans, Russia herself has shown
indications of preparing to intervene
with an armed force. According tt
reports received last week by tht
War Department, between four anc
six Soviet tank divisions have ar.
rived in Bulgaria. This is a for.
midable force.
The United States will not inter.
vene in Greece unless there is 6
decision to that effect by the U. N
Assembly and other countries offel
to participate with a token force
But in view of the array of Sovie
and satellite troops which are sta.
toned in the Balkans, the chance.
are that before American troops
could be placed on board ship ane
rushed to Greece the Soviet bloc
armies would take Athens and the
token expedition would be useless.
These facts are known to the
administration. But no preventive
action to forestall the Soviet in
vasion of Greece is possible, because
our Government seems to be con.
vinced that it would not be sup.
ported by the American people, who
desire to avoid any action which
even remotely resembles the use o1
force.
Reports Withheld
The American people have beer
kept deeply in the dark about inter
national developments. At no time
since VI day has the country
been told the whole truth about oul
relations with the U. S. S. r.
We have been Informed by the
Government and its powerful propa-
ganda agencies that the heavy sac
rifices which we made after Decem-
ber 7, 1941, would bring great results
for us, and that with the creation o1
the U. N. we have reached the mil
lennium. Men in highest Govern
ment positions have made brilliant
speeches about the worlds radiant
future and urged the American
people to dig into their pockets fol
more postwar billions of dollars, In
order that they might cinch worlo
peace.
The antics of the Moscow govern
nent were concealed from the
American public and when some
open and unmistakable breach oi
faith has occurred 1t has beer
cloaked in pious speeches and state
ments Informing us that it was the
inevitable reaction of great power
which had been ostracized by the
western nations for many years and
consequently, lived in constant sus.
picion Of her best friends.
Literally thousands of dispatche.
and reports from all parts of tn.
world tell of Russia's open hostilit!
toward us and deep contempt fol
everything we say or propose II
accordance with internationa
agreements. These reports have al
been suppressed. They have al
been classified top secret" and flee
away in Government vaults.
Dispatches Lack Weight
II a mere 10 per cent of these re.