Evening star., 1947-06-15


the Reich, and the war fatigue ol
the other European powers and tne
United States.
Neither our relentless efforts te
bring Moscow to cooperate foi
world reconstruction, nor the exis'
tenee of the United Nations, has
made an impression in the Krem-
Inns determination to continue its
expansionis policy.
Pattern Becomes Obvious
The pattern adopted by the U. S. 5
r. is obvious now, even to those wish
full thinkers who believed that after
Russia enlarged her security circle
by organizing the territories west OF
the Vistula to the Oder, she would
adopt a conciliatory attitude.
The Soviet Union is making Its
position in Europe secure. 1t is
eliminating any possible opposition
and organizing large territories
under its direct control. The Hun
earian coup was only the beginning
of a larger. project which will place
the entire Danubian Valley under
the immediate orders of the Rus
sian government.
The White House and State De-
partment are expecting news of the
oficial formation of Balkan bloc
comprising Yugoslavia, Romanla
Bulgaria. Albania, the Macedonian
Peoples Republic and Hungary 1r
the near future. Poland ane
Czechoslovakia will become associ-
ated with this bloc after a certain
amount of purging has been done In
the latter country, where the gov
eminent Is not yet completely III
Moscow's pocket.
Propagandists Are Busy
whether Austria will be included
by means of coup d'etat against
Chancellor Leopold Figl's admins
tration, or whether the Russian
leaders will await the results of the
next conference of the Big -Four
Foreign Ministers, remains to be
seen.
The Russians have in Vienna Dr.
Ernest Fischer, MoscoW-tralneo
Austrian Communist, as their leader
for the new democratic" govern
ment of Austria. But the fact that
there are American, British and
French forces in that little republic
possibly may act as deterrent to
the Soviet plans.
Soviet propaganda is busy con-
tending-and not without Justice
that the Austrians could not survive
as an isolated island in a Slav sea,
extending from the Black ana
Aegean Seas to the Baltic.
Creation of the Balkan bloc,
which will consolidate Russia's posi-
ton In Europe far more than Ger
many's was IN the heyday of the
Hitler regime, is expected some time
this summer. The officially an
nounced visits of the Romanian
Premier, Petru Groza, to Yugo-
slavia and Bulgaria is considered as
preparation for the momentous an
nouncement that the Balkan bloc
finally has been born.
One More Surprise" Due
Russian newspapers, which speak
the thoughts of their government,
already are carrying long editorials
saving the Balkan powder keg,
which in past centuries had been
used by Western Europe imperialists
as a means for starting wars, is a
thing of the past and the people of
the Balkans henceforth will live in
friendship, unity and harmony.
The only drawback, according to
the Moscow press and broadcasters,
Is the fact that some of the Mace
domains still live under Fascist
Greek regime. But, they make clear,
the necessary measures are now be-
ing devised to "liberate" those peo-
pie in the same way as the others
have been liberated. At the same
time, a Czech military mission is in
Belgrade to establish a more CO.
hesive understanding with the
Yugoslav general staff.
American diplomatic and military
observers believe that creation of the
Balkan bloc will be the only big
Soviet surprise" until after the
London Conference. Next in line is
Italy. but there seems to be some
doubt in the minds of these observ-
ers whether Russia is going to pre-
cipitate an action there until some
time early next year.
1t Is important to note, however
that the center of Communist &C.
tivities for Western Europe has been
transferred in recent months from
Paris to Rome and placed in the
hands of the capable Palmiro Tog-
hatti, leader of the italian Com.
munist Party.
Improvement on Hitler
Italy is considered vitality impor-
tant potential asset by the Polit'
bureau, which devised the present
plans fox expansion of the Russian
Empire. It's forced adhesion to the
U. S. S. r. will give the Soviet ar
extremely useful foothold in the
Mediterranean. But the plans car
wait a few months longer, until thu
last American soldiershas left Italy
and the last preparations OF
Togliatti's men have been com.
pleted.
The present policies of the Mos
COW government are an improved
version of the pattern devised D!
Adolf Hitler. The timing is alst
better. Europe recovered aftel
World War I and when Hitler wa!
rising to power the forces opposing
dictatorship and land grabs wer,
still active. Today Europe is weak
ened and Frustrated.