Evening star., 1947-11-07

IdrSt-hand information, combined
with long experience, ought to be
reflected in the soundness OF their
views. Yet, strangely enough, they
seem farther apart than the Presi-
dent and his critics. For example,
one group has insistently-and
rather hysterically-appealed for
speed, urging that unless without
delay or considering expense we
rush to the aid of the afflicted ma
tions Of Western Europe chaos will
ensue. This means that the people
of these countries will go commu-
nistic and the Soviet Republic ex-
tend its sinister and threatening
influence.
This, we are told, will menace not
only our economic health but our
national safety. It is one thing we
simply cannot afford. At all costs
we must stop the spread Of COM
munism, inevitable If these nations
collapse. This Is the view most off,
cial as we'll as unofficial observers
have taken.
View Disputed.
Discarding the emotionalism with
which it has sometimes been pre-
sented, it Is the one that seems to
make most sense. Nevertheless, It
is now completely contradicted by
another group. These hold that the
Soviet advance already has been
stopped. The fear Of these afflicted
nations turning to communism in
the event of economic collapse and
widespread starvation Is not well
founded.
Under such conditions, history
shows, 1t Is stated that people Do
not turn to the left but to the right;
that these countries already have
demonstrated that they are not to
be captured by Communist propa-
ganda and inf1ltration. They can
only be captured by military force
and are much more likely to go
conservative or even, If in the direst
straits, Fascist rather than Com
munist. Anyhow-so 1t is said-we
already have won the cold war"
and the Soviet advance has been
checked. There Is no cause for
panic and we have been given
presumably by the other journalistic
observers or the State Department
a false estimate Of the European
situation. All of which would seem
designed to detract from the Mar
shall plan arguments.
In the light Of these conflicting
and widely disseminated opinions, it
is a relief to read the calm, clear
words of Senator Vandenberg, who
more than any other will determine
the Republican attitude on foreign
policy in the coming session. In
his recent speech, Senator Vanden-
berg, though anything but hysteri-
cal, seemed by no means to con-
slider the cold war" won nor the
Soviet advance checked. On the
contrary, he felt that the Soviet
Republic was blocking the way to
permanent peace and that it is
essential promptly to extend aid
along the Marshall lines in order
to avoid uhtoward political as we'll
dS CSOllOlll1C COllSCHNCllCCc w Jul
selves. However, he thought it i'm
portant that we should know "the
total bill"
Includes China.
It Is significant that Senator VAN
denberg included China along with
the European nations, whose saliva
ton from Soviet domination is vital
to us. This recalls the trenchant
recommendation of william G. Bull
litt in his recent report on China.
After denouncing the dishonest
and disgraceful" betrayal Of China
at the Yalta Conference, where, ura-
der Stains pressure. the late Presi-
dent Roosevelt agreed to give her
very heart to Russia, Mr.. Bullitt
wrote that, without aid Of money
and supplies, very soon the Soviet
would dominate the whole Of China,
which ultimately means all Asia,