Evening star., 1947-11-23

~SSStSSS
is nothing Moscow wishes more than
economic disintegration of Western
Europe. Her attitude toward the
Marshall plan at the Paris Con-
ference last summer, the political
strikes and riots touched of by
Moscow's stooges in France and
Italy, the venomous campaign con-
Quoted from Moscow and all her
satellites against proposed plans
for world economic recovery, all
these show clearly that Russia is
bent on preventing any such occur
renee regardless of the cost.
European peoples are more real
istic than We are. They are fully
aware that within few days march
of France, and a few hours of Italy,
vast Red armies are poised to strike.
No less than 100 Red divisions, sup
ported by some 5000 planes, are
stationed between the Soviet-Polish
borders and Western Europe.
The peoples of Russia do not have
to be consulted by their dictator.
All that is necessary to set that
mass of men and machines in mo-
ton is an order from Moscow. And
the people of France and Italy fear
that such an order may be issued
if the Moscow stooges-the Com
munist organizations in France and
Italy-are overwhelmed by peoples
who don't want any part Of Red
totalitarianism.
Hence the question which Amer
leans abroad hear so frequently:
Are you people willing to come to
our rescue militarily if such trag-
edy should happen?" 1t is no secret
in Paris that we are not ready to
intervene in force. But, as Gen.
Charles de Gaulle is reported to
have told a highly placed Amer
ican, the French people, at least,
can put up some show of force,
provided the Americans are willing
to come quickly to Frances rescue.
Like Old Man Norton?
This is the crux of the situation
in Europe. To siphon billions Of
dollars to the Old World in the
belief that money can prevent the
spread of Russia S imperialism is to
act like old man Norton, the owner
of the Charles Dickens mine. The
main aspect of assistance to Eu-
rope is Americas physical strength,
which, if our leaders deem it neces-
sary, should be made ready to help
those nations which are so anxious
to lead a free life. But unless
there is that determination on the
part of the American people, the
long-range Marshall plan unques-
tionab1y will suffer the fate of the
Truman doctrine in Greece.
Wealth can win a war, but cannot
prevent it when dictators like Adolf
Hitler and Joseph Stain make up
their minds to fight. Germany was
poor compared with France and
Britain. Yet this did not deter
Hitler from precipitating World War
II. Britain and France were rich
and could not be convinced that
desperadoes would strike against
those more richly endowed with
worldly goods.
The same thing cannot be said
about Russia, which has more po-
tential wealth than any country in
the world. But the Soviet leaders
are not bent on making the U. S.
S. r. partner in world reconstruc-
ton. They want power, and that,
they believe, can be obtained only
by subjecting the rest of the world
to the Kremlin.
We think in terms of sound eco
nomics to benefit all people; Russia
thinks In terms of world conquest.
The Soviet economy, so vastly
strengthened by American lend
lease, is geared for war. Russian
factories work "a hours a day, just
like Hitler's did after 1884. But they
are not producing consumers goods.
Everything is stock-piled for the use
of the Soviet's vast armed forces.
This is known to Europeans much
better than here. They all hope
that the United States Congress will
be liberal when help to Europe Is
discussed. But they nope even more
that American armed forces will be
prepared to intervene when the
colossus from the East unleashes its
forces, Without that last support,
no amount of money can save them.