Evening star., 1948-05-16

In some circles II Is pelleVeo I
his associates in the Kremlin could
not resist the temptation Of placing
us in a dificult position with oul
friends outside the iron curtain
and utilize the situation to Russia
advantage.
Whatever the reasons Of tht
Soviet diplomats were, it is nov
highly unlikely that President Tru.
man or any Of his representatives
will entertain the ideas strongly
advocated by groups Of wishfu
thinkers in this country that rela'
tions between the two countries
could be improved by a meeting
with Prime Minister Stain.
Lull May Be Planned
Despite the present relative quiet,
the Soviet and American Govern
ments are still considered In the
light Of contenders for the diamond
studded belt of world championship.
Prime Minister Stain and his
henchmen in the Politburo, fully
aware that.America Is the only pow
er capable Of preventing Russia from
becoming the supreme power IN the
world, are preparing for the show
down and the present lull may be
part Of these preparations.
Yet many Americans in public life
believe that diplomatic conversations
leading to . settlement Of the pres
ent crisis should be undertaken, in
spite Of Secretary Molotov's action
last week.
On this assumption, Congress Is
being advised to 60 slowly with the
draft bill, which, by 1850, would
increase American ground forces to
about Is divisions against Russia S
260.
East and West Split
These wishful thinkers also de-
plore the fact that Congress has
approved hastily" the 70-group Air
Force, which would give the United
States an aviation strength of 1000
planes as against Russias 14,5OO
bomber and fighter planes. which
include B-29s and Jets. Russia s
annual production plans are set at
10000 planes year.
Since the failure of the London
Conference last November, the divi-
sion of the world into east and west
has become an accomplished fact.
Relations between these two groups
of powers-between which there is
such q disparity of military strength
are described as normal" in diplo-
matte language, but they are wholly
abnormal in the language OF the
man In the street.
Diplomatic and economic inter-
course is at a standstill, IN spite OF
The recent exchange OF notes with
Moscow. 1t Is true that the west
ern nations have diplomatic mis-
sions in the capitals Of countries
behind the iron curtain. But the
members of these missions are vlr-
tual prisoners. They are conflned
To their embassies and cannot make
a single move without being trailed
by security police.
Trade Goes On
Economically, 1t is true, the east
crn countries endeavor to buy from
the west manufactured and raw
materials which will help to speed
up and perfect their military ma
chimes. But neither Russia nor hel
unwilling satellites are prepared tc
pay with more-than-useless gold 1oi
the purchases they make.
Although Russia's plans are wei
known in the west, there is still
tendency to sell them sub rosa what
they need, because wishful thinkers
believe that such transactions even
tually will deter Moscow from Its
aim Of winning world domination.
Until recently oil was being
shipped from our West Coast to 81
IBERIA. where 1t was refined into
hiet-octane gas for the big air force
which is reported to have been es-
tablished in Siberia within range
Of our Alaskan bases.
Radar and other war equipment
was being sold surreptitiously to
Yugoslavia until last fall. Accord
ing to oficial word from London
Britain, up to January Of this year
had sold Russia 80 jet plane engines
on the basis Of an alleged economic
agreement.
Scrap Iron to Skoda
There are in the U. s. S. r. today
skilled German engineers who can
use these engines as prototypes for
the manufacture Of improved types
in war plants behind the iron cur
tain. Finally, 1t was confirmed only
last week that, in spite Of the grave
situation in Berlin, American au-
thorities had sold the new Czech
puppet government some 10000 tons
of scrap iron from our zone and
that 1000 tons had already been
sent to the Skoda Works, Europe's
most important arms factory today
All these steps are being taken al
legedly for the sake of maintaining
peace by placating the Kremlin.
While Russia transforms each
new satellite into a strong military
adjunct by its well-knowh minority
infliltration methods" we are reluc-
tant to assist the potential wal
forces in the West
The American government has
been more than liberal with eco.
nomic aid. but has been careful
to forbid-lest it offend Russia ano
precipitate q crisis-any military