Evening star., 1948-08-29


period in our lives and that crucial
the next few months.
The attentions of our policy trainers
Rightly or wrongly, they believed
tirely on the rest of the world and
ranged; or, we must pull out before
we are inextricably involved and
the situation becomes hopeless, prin-
cipally because of our inability and
unwillingness to face another armed
conflict.
There Is no other alternative so
long as the U. S. S. r. follows her
present policies and drives for politi-
cal and territorial expansion.
Qualified sources in Washington
admit that it will be difficult to hold
Germany and Western Europe with
our present forces If the Russians
ever decide to jump US. They also
say that the initial advantage will
be with the Russians. as was the
case with Hitler when he hit Poland.
Norway. the Low Countries and
France in 1899 and 1910. However.
they believe that we can count on
final victory.
War Cost Estimated
From the strictly military point Of
view our policy makers are confident
that If Stain pushes us to a shows
down he eventually will share the
fate of Hitler and his acolytes. The
sacrifice in men will be great for all
parties involved and a preliminary
survey of the expenditure places the
cost at something near $500, ,oOo, ,0Oo,-
900 for the first l8 months.
If our ton policy trainers and the
people Of the United States become
convinced that such a major oper-
alton is necessary to eradicate the
cancer which threatens to spread
throughout the world, this heavy
sacrifice is worth risking.
One thing appears clear to the
best Of our observers: So long as
the Russians follow their present
policy Of attempting to eliminate
the United States from European
affairs and so long as we consider
that it Is In the vital interest Of the
American people to remain there,
We must be prepared to face all the
eventualities, one of which is the
prospect Of war.
II our future demands that we re-
establish freedom on the European
continent, we must remain there
and fight. Such a decision must not
be taken on any emotional impulse.
It must be based on stark reality.
We must take into consideration
the consequences OF abandoning
Europe. We must think seriously Of
how long we then would be secure
In the Western Hemisphere in these
days Of Jet propulsion and atomic
bombs. We must take into consider.
alton what future Russian war po-
,tential may be when 1t has acquired
complete domination over the West
ern European nations. We must
also reflect on whether or not the
U. s. S. r. can continue to remain
the power it is today, that is to say.
whether she will be able to maintain
the present police state and expand
it all over Western Europe.
America First?
If the results of such a careful
study indicate that the best inter-
ests of the American people can bs
served by facing the Soviet music,
our situation becomes clear. We
must adopt much firmer policy
than we have at present and pre-
pare ourselves for a final showdown
by vastly increasing our present
military potential, regardless Of the
sacrifices.
II, however, some of our observers
are right in contending that the
cycle OF civilization in Europe is
ended and that the continent Is
about ready to follow in the foot
steps of previous civilizations, there
is no point In making further sac
rifices.
The troubles in Berlin, in AUS
tria. the violent opposition of Rus
sia to the Marshall Plan and other
activities Of Russia throughout Eu-
rope have only one aim, according
to some of our best observers: To re-
move us from that continent, either
by intimidation or by force.
So long as our influence remains
even remotely effective in Europe we
shall remain thorn In the side Of
the Kremlin. In event the political
leaders in both parties come to the
conclusion that 1t Is against Amer
icas best interests to fight another
war to save the European continent.
the best policy to follow will be to
withdraw as soon as possible every
military unit and every American
Government official from the a1as
now occupied by American forces.
An Unselfish Example
This, it may be said, Is against
all the commitments we have made
in treaties and agreements. But
other nations, and especially Russia.
have ignored their commitments
since vi day. What may appear
to be dishonorable retreat may
turn out to be practical.
Politics, and especially interna~
tional politics. are essentially selfish.
We have given the first instance In
world history In which a nation has
overlooked the interests and WE'LL