Evening star., 1947-11-20
Russiu, Europe and Peace

secretary OF SLaGe MdTSIldll uellileQ Ill
lucid and convincing terms the objective
he will pursue at the impending confer
ence of foreign ministers in London. The
objective is to make progress toward a
sound agreement on Germany in order to
revitalize Europe as whole, not merely
for the continents own survival, but "for
the stability, prosperity and peace of the
entire world
Taken by itself, this objective is at once
so simple, imperative and self-evidently
good that it ought to command the support
and cooperation of all governments. I'm
fortunately, however, the chances of at
tanning it in the reasonably near future
seem doubtful in the extreme. Soviet
policy is the great obstruction standing in
the way-a policy apparently aimed at
keeping Europe in a state of sickness as
long as possible by refusing to agree on
settlements for Austria and Germany,
without which the continent cannot re-
gain economic and political health.
According to Secretary Marshall, the
Kremlin is following this policy for reasons
that are still obscure" But the world is
1lCC w 1lldhC 1CS SuCooSo. AAAASS Aooo VAN
Russians have directly annexed more than
100000 square miles of territory, with
population of about 22,0O0,0OO. At the
same time, they have built up, or are in
the process of building, vast empire OF
servile satellite countries as far west as
Czechoslovakia. In short, alone among the
victors, they have been carrying out
ruthless and constituencies program of
imperialistic expansion. Meanwhile, ma
liciously accusing others-notably the
United States-of wrongdoing that can
be ascribed only to themselves, they con-
tinue to sit tight in Austria and Germany,
thus frustrating the will of the majority to
get on with the peace settlements and the
rehabilitation of Europe. Actually, there
FORE how obscure" is the objective they
have in view? Is it not simply and grimly
to prolong conditions conducive to the
spread of communism, and hence condu-
Give to the extension of Soviet dominance
over the whole continent clear to the
English Channel?
Secretary Marshall has refrained from
answering the question one way or the
other, but he has made point of remind
ing the Soviet Union of this fact: That
the United States considers its own vital
interests so wrapped up in the existence of
a European community of vigorous and
independent nations that we have twice
gone to war to keep that community free
of single-power domination" In effect, he
has served notice that the American posi-
tion has not changed and that at the
will ho
insistent on action to prevent such domi-
nation now, this time by Russia. 1t Is
position founded on the premise that our
own and the worlds peace and prosperity
depend on Europes freedom and revitali-
zation and that that revitalization depends
in turn, on revival of the German
economy
At London, therefore, Secretary Marshall
who undoubtedly will be supported in
the main by the French and British for
eign ministers-will call upon the Russians
to cooperate in program designed to
make the workshop of Germany produce
again for the benefit of the continent.
Under the program, as safeguards against
resurgent militarism, the Germans would
be denied exclusive control of the indus
trial Ruhr, and France, Britain, Russia and
the United States would join in forty
year pact to keep the country disarmed.
Then. with these conditions established,
steps would be taken to establish central
authority in federated German state and
to proceed with the drafting of a final
peace settlement.
Up to now, the Soviet Union has stub
bornly resisted all such proposals. If 1t
continues to do so at London, the conse-
quences fer Europe and the world will be
grave. What the western powers then
will have to decide is whether to try writ
ing separate treaties with a split-up
Austria and Germany or to keep on sitting
the situation out with the Russians. In
either case, the effect would be ominous.
The hard and terrible fact Is that there
can be no peace worthy of the name, that
war will be almost inevitable in genera
ton or less, if the Krenlin holds fast to
its present course.