Evening star., 1947-03-31
Letters to The Star
Sees the World Approaching &
Possible Armaseddon

r OSSiDiC AI AIuldgSuuOu
To the Editor of The Star:
On March rs you published an ex-
tremely Illuminating article by Ernest
T. Weir. Pittsburgh, Pa, regarding
American Aid to Greece and Turkey" Z"
and what this may imply to the Ameri-
can people as a whole 1t was a thought
full study.
There is no denying that the United
States Government has been forced to
embark upon foreign venture of un-
surpassed magnitude in the history of
our Nation. The present international
situation is grave, particularly in view
Of the fact that major peace treaties
still remain to be drafted. We do not
doubt for one moment that the bolster
ing OF our position in the Near East
would prove major deterrent to am
bltions alien to our interests, while at
the same time the hand of Secretary of
State Marshall is strengthened at the
Foreign Ministers Council in Moscow.
Many thoughtful leaders in the world
long have believed that the Near East
well might become the cross of the
world upon which humanity will be
sacrificed. The Middle East is fabulous
ly rich in oil and mineral wealth.
Struggles for power in Palestine NAV
go deeper than that merely of two con-
tending races-the Jews and Arabs in
the Holy Land. Great Britain hardly
could rank as potent force in world
affairs if she lost Palestine.
Since 1887 one decade has elapsed
decade unequalled in history for it's
intensity OF war passions and fury of
destruction, which have made man turn
from the pursuits of total war into the
more peaceful channels of reconversion,
almost as painful as war. Peace comes
not without price tag. OF the three
contenders for power in distant Asia"
term used by the author George Slo-
combe in reference to Russia, the United
States and Japan, the latter is nursing
her wounds. That leaves two giants in
the ring-America and Russia. And
where do they face each other now?
In the Near East.
Great Britain, unable to maintain her
holdings, calls on America to take the
blows in her stead. We, the American
people, are being appealed to for finan-
cial aid to Greece and the bolstering of
Turkeys position as guardian of the
Dardanelles. The destinies of Europe.
Asia and Africa, as the greatest closely
knit land mass of earth, are bound up
with the guardianship of the Straits of
Gibraltar, the Dardanelles and the
Suez Canal-lifelines of the Old World,
and bulwarks of their defense and pos
sibly of the western world. A major
shift in their control would place our
civilization in jeopardy.
Could this lead to a world send strug-
gle long called Armageddon?
If America is given the facts she will
face the future with courage, if not
with warranted fear. But whether we
help bolster the Near East or not,
against "the bear that walks like a
man." the cold fact is that sooner or
later we will have to get in there, if
Great Britain loses India to home rule
in 1948, surrenders Palestine to
United Nations mandate or turns over
the policing of Mediterranean waters
to American task forces. Our question
obviously is natural: Is Great Britain
losing her hegemony faster than we
are aware of her real economic status?
And the next question is: How long will
we be able to stand the strain and
drain Of the whole famished world upon
our own economy?
Somewhere else, Mars chuckIes to
himself as he sharpens his sword to
keener edge before he puts it aside
against the martial call of drums, If
and when World War III summons hu-
manity to its Armageddon. None should
forget that struggles in the Near East
are synonymous with Armageddon, long
the symbol Of a decisive conflict which
may cruelty all mankind.
And after this, what? The end of the
world?
Only God, Himself, Ruler of the Uni
verse, knows the fate of mankind
CHARLES ALLEN RENTFRO.