Evening star., 1947-12-07

~HE second full postwar year
displays sharper focus in
the new books on the one
- big issue in the world to-
day-the United States VS..
Russia-and a broadening of the
field of vision to the point where it
il pretty nearly impossible to dis
cuss world affairs without reference
to either Russia or communism or
both.
1t is the great dominating fact
IN the world today that, although
we speak of the second postwar"
year, 1947 is really the first year of
the full diplomatic and political
struggle which may culminate in
World War III. The ful-length
books published since last December
display consciousness of this fact.
The one really great book to come
out of the years publication was
Former Secretary of State Byrnes'
"Speaking Frankly" which was not
only summation of the issues be-
tween the two great powers but a
judicial examination, recommen-
dation of a course of action, a
you like them. many tidbits which
will make dinner conversation for .
long time to come.
Whether you agree with him or
not on what we should do about
Russia. it will be impossible for any
one who claims any interest in or
knowledge of world affairs to fail to
digest this unique presentation of
state secrets within a matter Of
months after their occurrence.
Some Authors Advocate
Unrelenting Opposition
If the Byrnes book is taken as the
keystone for the years writing on
world affairs, everything else falls
pretty much into a pattern. Subor-
dinate to Speaking Frankly" and
to be read in conjunction with it,
are six other volumes which cover
the field from fierce and uncompro-
missing opposition to Russia to kind
of leftiSt liberalism which favors
active Cancellation.
On the extreme right, angry and
bitter at the whole of world COM
munism, is James Burnham's "The
Struggle for the World" in which
the author calls for ruthless oppo-
Sition to Russia everywhere, ON the
basis that communism is the enemy
of everything the United States
stands for.
Warning that world communism
is in a stronger position than either
Germany or Japan were, and is a
more direct and powerful threat to
American interests, Mr.. Burnham,
also the author of The Managerial
Revolution" wants world fedora
ton led by the United States to
meet the challenge of the atom
bomb and communism.
Somewhat more moderate, but
still on the side of angry denuncia-
ton is William Henry Chamberlain.
who. in The European Cockpit"
also argues for federation, but only
of that part of Europe outside of
the iron curtain. With two-fsted
attacks on Russia and her whole
political bloc, Mr.. Chamberlain
warns that this is Europe's last
chance to avoid long and bleak
period of poverty and may be Amer
ica's last chance to promote a
world of liberty under law, order
and prosperity.
Thomas and Snow
Take Middle Road
With two books on the right. we
now have two in the center-Nor-
man Thomas appeal to the Ma
tions" and Edgar Shows stain
Must Have Peace"
Mr. Thomas prescriptions for
peace are disarmament. liquidation
of perialism-Russian. American
and all others-abolition of peace
time CONSUMPTION everywhere. de-
naturalization Of island bases and
international atomic energy control
To these ends. he thinks, q world
government is necessary.
Mr.. Snow attributes American
Russian differences to breakdown
of language-we don't understand
what the Russians mean In MARKHAM
ideology. and they don't understand
American ideology and terminology.
He sees the oniy pOSSibility of