Evening star., 1947-12-10
Red Comes
Into Open and Bares
Soviet Economic Ills
Demand for Reporotions
Shows Moscow Regime
Needs Democrucies' Aid
By David Laurence

Russia's strategy is finally becom-
ing clear. Whether or not one likes
the Soviet maneuvering it is a meas
ure Of progress when something that
has long been battling suddenly is
revealed in unmistakable outline.
Materialism is the dominant note
Of Russian policy. The demand for
S10,000,000,000 of reparations from
Germany, proposed before but re-
peatedly rejected, is the vital key
to the solution of Russian intransi-
geance in diplomacy, Russian in
filtration in democratic states and
Russian tactics on the home front
where desperate economic situa-
ton bodies Ill for continuance OF the
Moscow dictatorship.
The Russian effort to get $10,000,-
100000 or any other huge sum out
Of the war as reparations Is under
standable. Devastated countries
and impoverished nations present
that dilemma always. After World
War I, the world was also shocked
by the huge claims for reparations
made first by Britain and then by
France. 1t was not easy to convince
Clemenceau at the Paris Conference
or Poincare later in the 20s that
exaction Of reparations money from
q defeated Germany could contrib
ute only to economic chaos in Gen.
trail Europe. In fact, mishandling of
reparations finally brought such a
state of disintegration in Germany
as to cause a distraught people to
grasp at Fascism in 1888 as the only
way to employment and sustenance.
Realize Germany Can't Pay.
Today the American, British and
French policies recognize that rep
arations in huge amounts cannot be
paid by Germany and that sums
such as are being asked really would
have to be paid indirectly by Britain,
France and America.
The whole problem of peace in
Europe Is once more dependent on
how economic questions can be re-
solved. Russia has unfortunately
misunderstood the way to deal with
the democracies. Using the power
OF military possession in Eastern
Europe, and the power Of political
inflltration in Western Europe, and
the power of propaganda through
the air waves, the Soviets have
alienated world opinion and made
1t difficult for the rest of the world
to come to the rescue in Russia's
economic Sitl1ation
The bitterness of Russia toward
the Marshall plan is largely because
of the inability of the Soviets them
selves to accept direct aid from the
democracies lest the Russian people
discover the weakness of the Soviet
oligarchy in Moscow. The TRADES
against America and Britain are due
to a misguided belief that somehow
inside the democracies there is a
substantial opinion which favors
socialism or communism or both and
that Russia can gain her ends by
dividing the democracies. Italy and
France were selected for immediate
attack. This has been recognized
as a crude maneuver transparently
designed to coincide with the pres
sure of Russian diplomacy in the
Council of Foreign Ministers.
Needs Long Kept Secret.
Out of months of silence on what
was really wanted by Russia and
months of propaganda outbursts of
q violently hostile nature, it becomes
apparent at last that the Soviets
desperately want money and eco
nomic help. 1t becomes apparent,
too, that Russia is losing the cold
war" and that the implications of
the Marshall plan, even before it is
actually translated into goods or
dollars, are giving the Russians an
uncomfortable and uneasy time.
Mr.. Molotov has come forth with
his price. For 100000, 900 of rep
arations he will sign the various
treaties now pending. Maybe he will
agree to collaborate with the Mar
shall plan, too. Certainly the pros
pect that the Allies may unite three
of the German economic zones,
supervise the Ruhr themselves, and
go ahead with the Marshall plan
presents challenge which the
Soviets cannot afford to ignore.
Once the die is cast and the eco
nomic steps are actually taken, it
will be too late for Russia to seek
compromise.
It may be confidently expected,
therefore, that from now on the
Russia's concessions and retreats
will be f1nficeahla In hnr sfra feou