Evening star., 1947-11-02

'@o-~A~A
as provided by the Marshall plan
will mean only so much more Amer
ican wealth poured down the drain.
That the promise of American
assistance has affected the peoples
of Western Europe is undeniable.
In France the municipal elections.
which ordinarily are of little po-
litical consequence, have brought
Gen. Charles de Gaulle to the fore.
His political platform, which was
overwhelmingly indorsed by the
French people, was constructive only
10 the extent that he bluntly told
his fellow citizens that he was op-
posed to Russian domination and
the undermining of France by the
Communist Party. The French peo-
pie, who for 18 months have lived
IN a political moraSs, Endorsed this
platform.
French Example Strong
1t is unlikely that Gen. de Gaulle
can become Premier of France un-
der the present constitutional set
up. But if he did, his coming to
power would mean liquidation Of
the Communists in France. And
Moscow cannot afford to lose
France.
The consequences of purge of
Communists in France would be in
calculable Tor Soviet aspirations for
world domination. Not only will
the rest of Western Europe hasten
to follow the French example, but
even in the countries behind the
iron curtain, where Frances pres
tige is still great, opposition to the
police state will take a squirt. Tha
effect of Gen. de Gaulle throw
ing down the gantlet to Moscow
can have a great influence in Soviet
dominated areas.
Gen. de Gaulle is fully aware that
he may have to fight in order to
come to power. The Communist
partisans are we'll armed and highly
disciplined. But he believes that
his own Maquis plus the regular
forces which France could muster
would be able, with the support Of
a determined population, to defeat
the Communist legions.
The principal problem. however.
is Russias reaction. Will Moscow
watch passively the destruction of
its spearhead in Western EuropeP
Or will she react against the de-
tenders of the French state?
1t is we'll known that behind the
Elbe and the Adriatic there are at
least 100 Red divisions, not counting
650.000 men in the wen-trained
army of Marshal Tito, There is no
country in Europe today which could
oppose one-third of that force. Even
If the Russians decided not to march
into France through the American
zone in Germany, they can move
their forces through Italy. where
there is no force to oppose even one
Red division. Northern Italy from
Venezia to Genoa is strongly under
the domination of the Communist
leader, Palmiro Togliatti. He is
ready to proclaim a peoples demo-
cratic republic in Northern Italy.
allying himself Immediately with the
Balkan bloc. In less than month
Russian forces could make their
appearance in Southern France in
the Alps.
Air Strength Needed
Gen. de Gaulle and the French
could fight a rearguard action as
nothing more than a gallant gesture.
But they could not last long unless
there were an American air force
ready to threaten the Soviet lines
of communication. 1t would also be
necessary to destroy the industrial
and oil centers which the Russian
Army would need to keep fighting.
All this sounds like war talk and
warmongering, but unfortunately 1t
is stark reality.
The Russians know the situation
as we'll as we do, if not better. Their
future aggressiveness depends not on
how much money, raw materials and
foodstuff we pour into Western
Europe, but on what kind of an air
force we have to threaten-if need
be-Soviet industry and oil supplies.
So long as the American Air Force
languishes in its present state Of
Importance there can be little hope
of maintaining peace in Europe, re-
gardless of how friendly Western
Europe's statesmen and people may
be toward us. The disruptive Soviet
power, supported by strong fifth
columns maintained throughout the
world, will prevent any peaceful or
ganization in the future, as it has
for the past two years.
However, If. concurrently with an