Evening star., 1948-03-16
Series Of Sharp Notes
To Russia Likely 10
Follow Truman Talk
Rulers of Russiu Must Be
Warned U. S. Will Back
Up Words With Deeds
Bv Dauid Laurence e

President Truman in addressing q
Joint session Of Congress on We'd
nesday will be starting an era Of
tense exchanges~of viewpoint with
Russia that could conceivably lead
to war or q peaceful settlement Of
outstanding disputes between the
two countries.
The United States Government,
fully conscious that the patience of
the people, Of this country Is being
severely tried by Russia'sc role of
non-co-operation, must find q way
to warn the Soviet rulers that words
will be backed up by deeds If ag-
gression continues.
The mere fact that the President
lays the situation before a Joint ses-
sion Of Congress Is indication In it.
self that q grave turn has occurred
and that from now on. the choice Of
peace or a. drift toward war Is in
.Russia's hands.
The seizure Of power in Czecho-
slovakia and the evident attempt of
the Communists to take over italy
have brought a crisis that has been
accompanied by no outburst Of feel
ing that could even remotely be de-
scribed Is war fever" Yet. from
one end of the country to the other.
the Characteristic American attitude
is crystallizine on the thesis that
maybe the time has come to find
out If the Russian rulers are bent on
war
Many Moves Possible.
There are many ways by which
the American Governments grave
view of the whole situation can be
underlined. One is to ask for i'm
mediate enactment Of the Selective
Service Law, or for the setting up
Of adequate machinery to call into
being on quick notice a huge army
to back up our forces now scattered
In the Mediterranean and the Far
East.
Another plan is to notify the
whole world that America will not
stand idly by If aggression con-
tinues and that the United Nations
is expected to take some action to
ienonnce aggression such as, has
occurred in CEechoslovakia.
The explicit points in American
policy may not be contained in the
presidential message, for 1t may be
found that the better course lies in
an informal expression Of the Amer
lean viewpoint through diplomatic
channels without undue publicity
and some clear-cut action In the
nature Of military preparation 50 as
to impress the Soviet leaders that
words will be supported by physical
forcs II necessary. ,,,
A theory prevails here that the
Soviet chiefs are blufnng and that
they think America will not rise to
defend democracy or will not mobil-
ise for the protection Of the integrity
Of any European states. Twice the
government OF Germany made the
same mistake In incorrectly apprais-
ing the psychology OF the people OF
the United States, What President
Truman says this week Is designed
to prevent the Russians from mis-
constituting American forbearance as
a sitn Of weakness or indifference
to aggression. a.: !
Talk Of War Here. 49,, 1
The talk in the national capital
for-, several days, has been one Of
war. The fear has been expressed
that war might suddenly be forced
on America and that hefice no time
should be lost in r1obilizing the
armed forces for defense. =
There Is reason to believe that
the Russians will recede. II they
really think America is in earnest.
Certainly nobody familiar with the
internal economic situation in Rus
sia can suggest any reason why the
present Soviet rulers could benefit
by war at this time. In fact there
might we'll be a revolution II the
Russian people are dragged into
another war so soon after the end
ina Of World War II.
It should not be forgotten that
the Russian people know little from
their own press about the difflcul-
ties which the Russian government
has piled up to prevent peaceful
settlement of the issues growing out
Of World War II. Any action, how
ever, by the United States to. warn
against aggression, If anything so
definite is expressed, would filter
into, Russia and would gain wide at
tention over a short period of time.
The showdown between Russia
and the United States Is near. It
could mean war but the most prob
able outcome is backdown by Rus
sia and a move. toward better rela-
tions with the United States. go