Evening star., 1948-10-29
Writer Sees No Sign
Of War Crisis Despite
Sta|in's Comments
Red Accusations Called
Propaganda to Offset
Security Council Vote
Bv David Laurence

Security Souncll Vote
Bv David Laurence
Whatever else may be read into
the interview given by Premier
Stain to an official newspaper in
Moscow, certainly there Is no sign
of an imminent crisis leading to
war.
To this extent the Stain COM
ments confirm what has been said
here for many weeks even as the
tension of the Berlin blockade has
been increased-that the contro-
versy has not reached the point
where its sequel is inevitable war
Deadlock and prolonged tension are
the alternatives. rather than war.
The reasons why the Russian gov
ernment chose to issue its state
ment now disclaiming any RESPONSE
bility for making war are doubt
less related to a belief that prop
aganda accusing the Western world
of warlike purposes will offset the
damaging effect of the vote in the
United Nations Security Council
The sensitiyeness of the Russians
is such that Stain speaks Of the
guaranteed majority" of the West
ern Powers in the council, which is
but another way of endeavoring to
cry that the jury was rigged in ad-
vance.
Aware of Consequences.
It can no longer be doubted that
the Soviets are aware of the con-
sequences throughout the world of
their obstinate attitude at Paris
Just why the statement was issued
at this time will be the subject of
speculation among the political
campaign managers. Any idea that
Stain has any preference as be-
tween Truman and Dewey is absurd,
but there Is no doubt that he hopes
to aid the cause of Henry Wallace
by pointing out to the voters Of
America that Russia is bent on peace
and that the American Govern
ment Is opposed to such q course
and really wants war.
This makes all the more neces-
sary an examination of the record
Of American diplomacy. 1t is ap-
parent that Stain was quick to
seize the opening left by the way the
Western diplomats bungled the me-
diation proposals initiated by the
six neutral countries. When Stain
says there was an agreement in
the hands of the Argentine foreign
minister who acted as mediator, he
means, of course. that the Argen-
tine had a document to which Rus
sia was willing to agree but which
the Western Powers rejected.
The news dispatches from Paris
told of that document few days
ago. It was a proposal for stimuli
taneous withdrawal of the blockade
and the making Of an agreement
over currency in Berlin. The West
ern Powers refused this on the
theory that the blockade must be
lifted first or else they would be
negotiating under duress.
From the standpoint Of the record,
this was q mistake. The Western
Powers could have limited the dis
cussions on the details of the cur
rency problem to 10 days and could
have insisted that at the end of the
Today period the blockade must be
removed. This extra 10 days would
not have hurt the Allies position.
Their claim that they would have
been negotiating under duress'
does not sound realistic. in view OF
the fact that negotiations under
duress nave been proceeding ever
since last summer and the Argen-
tine mediator conducted his nego-
tiations under the same duress. A
few days more or less are not rele-
want when matters of such impor-
tance are at stake.
Want Irrefutable Record.
There are many people who insist
that it is of no avail to make any
agreements with the Russians be-
cause they will not fulfill them. Such
theory leads only to the tragic con-
clusion that war must settle diff
ferences and that patience and rea-
son and the making of point-by-
point record are Of no use.
History shows that, while the
American people can be brought to
the verge of war by impassioned
statements. they prefer to have a
record made which can be accepted
by all elements of the country as
irrefutable. While there are people
who are quite certain that Russia
wants war and will never keep any
agreements and believe that hence
war is inevitable, the bare chance
exists that sucn views may be wrong.
It could be that the Russians, who
are hard pargainers, are really bluff.
ing. There is also the possibility
that if one party makes up its mind
that only physical force can bring
the others to terms. the circum-
stances Of pride and nationalistic
feeling are such that agreement be-
comes impossible and war does be-
come inevitable as to both sides.
Stain is making the most of his
propaganda opportunities. While all
this is Irritating, common sense
argues that diplomacy in Paris must
not permit any flaws in the record,
Informal efforts to revise the al
legged agreement which the Argen-
tire minister had might well ensue
now. The Allies move is to ask for
q copy of that agreement and re-
sumo the parleys at that point.
Nothing is lost by patient explora-
ton of the issue on both sides and
an exposure OF the faliacies in an op-
ponent's argument.
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Warren Speaks .Toniaht