Evening star., 1948-10-04

betroy foct lhey Lock
Atom Bomb Production,
Fear U. S. StoekpiIe
BY Dapid Laurence
' Russia is afraid of the atomic
bomb-and she will not risk war as
- long as she is in an inferior position
with respect to that most power
full of all weapons man has ever
known.
This Is the inference being
derived from Andrei VishinSky's
impassioned speech at Paris. II
Russia really knew how to make the
atomic bomb in quantity, the Soviet
spokesman would have exhibited
far less solicitude than he did about
Americas possession of the weapon
The Russian statement that
America no longer has monopoly
on the bomb appears to be a quib.
BILE on words. No nation, to be sure
has any monopoly" on the secret
Of the atomic bombs composition
science has always known what the
splitting of the atom could mean tc
war-but no nation today except the
United States possesses the indus
trial "know-how" and capacity te
manufacture in quantity the bomb,
that can rule the world. Nor has
any nation but the United States
I. actually put the bomb to use On a
target without being intercepted or
Its journey to the target.
II Russia fears the bomb. why
then does she harass the United
States in Berlin and elsewhere?
This question is related to the
fact that Russia knows the United
States will not 60 to war over the
issues that have arisen thus far in
Berlin.
q Soviet Knows o. s. Strength.
Annoying and irritating as thess
issues are,I they do not constitute as
yet q provocation to war-espe-
cially when the United States can
make many other moves without ac-
tual war. Russia is well aware OF
American strength and potentially
as we'll as the details of the pro-
.nouncements of Gov. Dewey ano
President Truman on our bipartisan
foreign policy.
Why then doesn't Russia quit
the U. N. and go it alone? The
best answer developed here is that
Russia does not dare leave the
U. N. because this would play di.
rectly into the hands of the West
ern Powers, who could then form
not only a military alliance but
actually put into being an inter
national police force with bases ir
Britain, France, Belgium. the
Netherlands. Western Germany anc
Italy. Russia is not likely to give
the Western Powers an excuse te
train large land armies for pos
sible invasion Of Soviet territory
some day. with Russia meanwhile
living in fear Of an atomic war.
So, despite the outward maneu-
vers Of defiance and harassment
over the Berlin blockade, the Rus
slams aren't likely to provoke q
war. Their latest move in order
ing the Russian military com.
nander in Berlin to announce his
desire to resume discussions on the
basis of the Stain directive OF
August 30, is proof that the last
thing the Russians would like to
see is breakup of negotiations
that would give the Western Powers
q reason to develop system of
military defenses. For this would
mean an active military force with
adequate equipment already in
Europe instead of 5000 miles away
as was the case at the beginning
Of each of the other two World
Wars.
Spending Prevents Crash.
The oft-heard suggestion that
Russia hopes to bankrupt America
with a policy of worry that costs
the United States about s15,000,-
10000 or more year for arma-
ment ignores the fact that the
best way to keep Americas infia-
ton going for several years is
for our Government to continue
to bolster the economy by spend
ing nearly half its budget-s5;O00,
00o 900 for European aid and s15,-
600 900, 900 for armament every year
for the next five years at least.
Also Russia must know that when
total war comes, labor and resources
are converted to war use here with
out regard to cost or public debt
The monetary unit Is devalued and
the productive forces of the Nation
are modified as prices and wages
are brought under a wartime con-
troll.
How long can the sparring 60 on?
, Until fear and distrust are overcome
on both sides. This takes time and
mostly an exercise of patience in
diplomacy. The biggest difficulty to
overcome is the human tendency to
get mad-to force a showdown.
The Russians are trying in their
OCOdOC W JlCoIC Oil iPl Va
strength but they only betray in
fact their weakness. The cold war
will 90 on until the Russian people,
tired of their low standard of liv-
ing and hardships, learn that their
rulers are not preventing war but
are pursuing course that could
force upon them war and atomic
destruction.
The Iron Curtain" isn't impene-
.trable at all so far as the Balkan
satellite states are concerned and
1t isn't as impenetrable inside Russia
either as most people think. For
the thoughtful people Of Russia can
read as much between the lines OF
the speech of Mr.. Vishinsky at Paris
as can the outside world.
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