Evening star., 1947-10-06
Russia and the Balkans

WlGn Tie OnlteQ OCdCeS agreeing uOC TO
insist upon a finding of guilt against
Yugoslavia, Albania and Bulgaria, the
problem of pacifying the Balkans now
depends primarily on the real aims of
those three Soviet satellites. More ac-
curately, it depends on whether or not
the Kremlin is willing to let them CO.
operate, in good faith, with the special
United Nations commission proposed by
us to police the region and help to ease
the tensions between them and Greece.
The American concession is substantial
one. Heretofore, on the strength of a
majority report by an investigating COM
mittee of the Security Council, we have
sought to have the U. N. declare the
three satellites to be guilty of hostile acts
against the Greeks, and we have tied
this in with our proposal for the special
commission After having been blocked
In the Council by the Soviet veto, We have
argued for the same thing in the General
Assembly. Now. however, In line with a
compromise advocated by France and
Belgium, we have modified our position
to the extent of asking only that the COM
mission be created.
This does not mean that the United
States is shutting it's eyes to the strong
evidence-as uncovered by the Security
Councils investigating committeeman
Greeces northern neighbors have been
lending support to the Communist con-
troled Greek guerrillas. 1t means simply
that we are ready to let bygones be by
cones in this situation If Yugoslavia, Al
bania and Bulgaria are ready, in turn,
to work honestly with the commission we
advocate-an idea supported by the over
whelming majority in the United Nations.
Given sincere cooperation with such
,commission-an organization equipped to
keep watch over the area and to promote
peace there-the Balkans would become
readily manageable
The situation thus boils down to rela-
lively simple question: If they have moth
ing to hide, If they are honest in their
protestations of innocence and their
claims of peaceful intent, why should Yu-
goslavia, Albania and Bulgaria do anything
but welcome the formation of an impartial
United Nations commission. to keep
watchful eye on the Balkans and strive
to end the trouble along the Greek from
tier? As far as the United States is con-
cerned-and the great majority Of the
General Assembly is in agreement-we are
willing to waive the issue of past guilt.
All we now request is that the three satel-
lites join Fundamentally In affirmative
international action to insure peace be-
tween them and Greece.
This seems to be wholly reasonable
thing to ask. But the answer, of course,
does not rest with the Yugoslav, Albanian
and Bulgarian governments. They take
their cues from the Kremlin. In modify
ing our proposal for General Assembly ac-
ton, what we have really done is to
challenge the Soviet Union to cooperate
for peace or reveal itself, frankly, to be
intent upon keeping the Balkan pot a-boil
in order to force Greece within its orbit.
Unfortunately, the signs indicate that
there will be no cooperation. The Rus
slams apparently are as determined to OBJ
struct peaceful settlement In this region
as they are to impede the overall effort
to restore normal economic and political
order to Europe under the Marshall plan.