Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1948-03-12
U. 5. Reply 10 Russian
Aggression Slowly but
Surely Being Formed
PorIey Of Top Officials
Of Two Nations Seen Only
Step Thot Con Be Token
By David Laurence

answer to Russian aggression is
being formulated.
The situation growing out of
communistic advances in the Far
East, which threaten to make China
a base of operations for Russia,
and the problems arising out of
the Communist seizure of Czecho-
slovakia and the threatened seizure
OF Italy and France have all COM
bined to make inevitable some con-
crete step on the part of the United
States Government.
To issue an ultimatum would
force showdown and perhaps pre-
vent an honorable retreat. 1t
might provoke a war that could be
avoided.
To encourage a debate in the
United Nations Security Council is
a step that has been proved futile
In impressing Moscow.
1t all adds up to the likelihood
that conference between high Of
ficials of the American and Rus
sian governments is the only step
that can be taken, because diplo-
macy conducted with Klieg lights
does not permit adjustment of
vexatious disputes.
Any conference that might be
held, however, could easily be the
forerunner of public exchanges, but.
II such an event occurred, it would
be recognition that strong words
would be followed by military as
sistance to the countries Of Europe
most in danger from further Rus
sian aggression.
No Official Approach.
President Truman has let 1t be
known that no Official approach"
looking toward q meeting of high
officers of the two governments has
been made. From this 1t may be
inferred that informal efforts to
get the two governments together
have been made and that Russia
has taken the initiative. In view
of the fact that such informal ac-
ton occurred, according to anthem
tic reports, just before the Czecho-
slovakian tragedy. it may well be
that the United States Government
did not feel inclined to enter into
such parleys.
The situation now has veered toI
the point where-American officials
may want the conference If only
to say in unmistakable language
that the end of the jockeying or
bargaining on the various items In
dispute between the two countries
from Korea to Berlin and Vienna
is now at hand.
If the American Government
were to choose to speak plainly and
forthrightly to Russia in private
conference and issue a warning
there that war could conceivably
result from further aggression and
refusal to settle pending problems
amicably, it would be because such
q procedure would allow for So
Wet refusal without public humilia-
ton or criticism from within her
own country.
AS dangerous as the situation ap-
pears on the surface, in the sense
that war could come quickly, it is
equally logical to say that overnight
the whole situation may be trans
formed and an era of peace intro
duced.
There has all along been a school
of thought which has believed that
Russia was bluffing her way for
ward in Europe and that she hoped
to take advantage of traditional
isolationism in America which
would forsake the European CONT
nent altogether and, in effect, aban-
don it to Russian caprice.
Americans Thinking Alike.
But events in recent months and
various polls show that Republic
an and Democratic Parties are re-
fecting the basic American view
point, which is that Russia must
halt her aggression or face the con-
sequences. If Russia ignores the
American trend in policy, it seems
certain that billions will be spent
to build up manpower and equip
ment among the western democ-
racies for broad defense OF Eu-
rope and the world against further
aggression.
The fact that the Republican
leaders of the House have just
agreed to insist on military assist
ance to China and that the Mar
shall Plan billions could be made
available in an emergency for mill
tary aid in Europe should impress
N6ocoouy tlot 6espjte the election
year, Americans are thinking alike
and working together against Rus
sian aggression.
The opportunity for an overall
settlement with Russia by peaceful
means is at hand If the Russians
will only see the folly of provoking
American opinion still further. Once
an overall settlement of the major
problems is reached, a rapid de-
fiation of war talk everywhere would
occur and all attention could be
concentrated ~, aooporoic recovarv