Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1948-05-23

hostilities in the Middle East do n
War III.
Normally the conflict between
could be brought to an end by the
United Nations, if the Security
Council were unanimous in desire
to preserve peace. There is, how
ever, deep suspicion that one OF
its most important members, the
U. S. S. R., is trying to make politi-
cal capital out of every incident and
to exploit it for its own purposes.
A world at peace is not conducive
to communism and does nothing to
further the Kremlins imperialism.
Russia Consistent Anyhow
The last two world wars resulted
from the greed of one group OF
powers. World War I could have
been avoided if Germany had not
Influenced the obedient Vienna gov
eminent to press Serbia with
ultimatum and If Rus
STA had not told the Belgrade gov
eminent to sit tight since Russia
was ready to come to its assistance.
Rivalry between the Central Powers
and the Triple Entente was the real
cause of the war of 1914-1918.
World War II was caused by the
aggressiveness of the Axis, spear
headed by Nazi Germany. 1t showed
once more how lack of understand
ing between the great powers-in
which the principal factor was the
Axis greed and desire for world
domination-could plunge the world
into catastrophe.
Since the nominal end of World
War II Russia has emerged as the
foremost military nation in the
world. 1t is up to the Kremlin
leaders, then, to decide whether the
tragic conflict between the small
forces of the newborn State of
Israel and the loose forces of the
Arab League will be the spark which
touches off a major and destructive
conflict between America and Rus
STA, which have been facing each
other with increasing hostility in
the last Is months.
Whatever criticism may be made
of the Soviet leaders, it must be
admitted that they have followed
a consistent line for the aggrandize-
ment of Russia since 1920.
u. S. Diplomacy Waivers
The attempt to reconquer Poland
after it had been proclaimed a re-
public failed until World War II
permitted the Soviet to set up its
own regime in Warsaw in succession
to that of the Nazis.
The Baltic states were forced back
into the Soviet empire in the early
days of World War II and since
VI day the major part of the
Balkans and Central Europe have
been made virtual dependencies of
the U. S. S. r.
Now the Kremlin is trying to ex-
pand westward toward the English
Channel and eastward toward the
Yellow and China Seas.
The United States has had any
thing but a consistent policy. Sid
ing definitely with the western
Allies before Pearl Harbor, the
Government started by
for the rights OF free coun-
tries, regardless of their size.
Since VI day American diplo-
macy appears to have lost its bearings
1t has followed waver-
ing line of conduct, blowing hot and
cold, which has brought us to an
policy while we are
physical means Of convert
ing our tough words into tough
deeds. It has been a hit-and-miss
policy, impulsive and conducted with
an eye on the forthcoming elections.
The only consistent line which
our executive and legislative policy
trainers have followed has been the
that dollars can secure
peace and prevent another world
war.
Some Actions Amateurish
Our Government has been thor
oughly consistent in spending Amer
lean substance in its drive for world
peace. We spent billions under
UNRRA and other relief programs.
Now we are doing the same in West
ern Europe through the European
Recovery Program. The motives
have been noble and the spending
would be worth while, if we could
convince the Kremlin to see the sit
uation the, same way. In this we
have not been successful. But bar
ring this consistent line in interna-
tional affairs we have been rankly
in the rest of our actions.
When in March, l947, the execu-
tive branch of the Government be-
came alarmed at Moscow's expan-
sionism, President Truman decided
to give "near-military'' support to
Greece and Turkey by providing
those two targets of Russia's cam
paign with the means to fight. He
passed the United Nations, which
had been created avowedly for the
purpose of preventing aggression.
There is no real criticism to be
made of the by-passing of the Lake
organization. since those
VINO looked at the situation squarely
had become aware that it was no
more able to prevent great power
from expanding at will than was
the late League Of Nations.
Our timid policy-framers, having
shown some degree Of determination
to stop the U. S. s. r., did not
consider telling the Kremlin DULLES
that we know the strife In Greece Is +