Evening star., 1948-12-19

upN VA 4oSOOSJOOo pa oSAAsS A4A AVA
little better than Hitler's prize
horror prison at Buchenwald. Simi-
lar institutions of confinement exist
in all the other satellite countries
for those who dare to think that
their governments and leaders are
not perfect.
From a strictly practical point OF
view the only positive result of the
Paris session Of the "peace-loving
nations" all the members of the
U. N. are described in the preamble
of the Charter-was that the di-
vision between East and West be-
came deeper than before
World Recovery Blocked
Little consolation is to be derived
from the fact that no shooting wal
started in Europe during the meet
ing of the august Assembly. The
present situation throughout the
world is regarded by some as even
worse in its effects than an actual
shooting war. 1t prevents any con-
structve step toward recovery anc
keeps the populations of the Ole
World in q turmoil, which lends
itself to civil wars and a steady eco
nomic, social and intellectual dis
integraton.
1t Is not easy for us happy people
IN the Western Hemisphere to real
lie what 1t means to wake up every
morning and not have to wonder
when our home will be blown up
either by unexpected attack by the
Red hordes or by their stooges who
are working diligently in every coun-
try to stir up civil strife.
The main problem before the U. N
was the Berlin situation. which
brought the West and East so close
to war last summer when the Rus
SLAMS decided to bring all of the
Reich under the Kremlin's wing.
We have countered the Russian
efforts by such highly successful
countermeasures as the airlift. But
these cannot last indefinitely. Re-
gardless Of how, successful our air
lift may be-and the Air Force has
written a glorious page in its peace
time history-it will not be easy
for us to continue indefinitely to
keep some 1000, 900 Berliners on the
dole at the expense of the American
taxpayer. Neither can We hope to
obtain any permanent advantages
by continuing that costly opera
ton.
We have shown the world what
we can do. But there can be no
improvement in the situation
through indefinite continuation of
the air supply operation.
Soviet War Budget Elastic
The Russians have a long-range
policy. After Hitler's destruction
the Politburo decided to extend
Russia's power and influence from
the Atlantic to the Pacific. 1t has
practically succeeded in China
where the Russians took advantage
Of our shortsighted policies to press
the war between the Chinese Com
munists and the Nationalist govern
ment. They have succeeded in
crushing militarily Americas only
friend on the Chinese mainland
In Europe the Politburo decided
that 1t would not be to its ad-
vantage, for the time being, to press
O military action, although the Rus
slams have the potential for it.
This, according to American, Brit
ish and French observers, was not
due to any real fear of defeat, but
10 the fact that the Kremlin still
believes economic disaster impends
for the United States and that the
disaster cannot fail to have its
repercussion on Western Europe.
In other words, the Politburo
still expects that Europe will fall
into its lap like q ripe plum and
that a shooting war will not be
necessary. If these hopes fail to
materialize, well-informed students
OF Russian political strategy say,
there will always be time to start
o shooting war.
The Soviet war. budget, unlike
that of the Western nations, is high
ly elastic and provides for contin-
ued large-scale military prepared
ness. The Kremlin is convinced
that 1t can maintain or even en-
large, in the next IL or IA months,
the present overwhelming superi.
ority Of Soviet ground and all
forces.
For the time being the main task
Of the Moscow plotters Is to keer
the pot boiling in all quarters ol
the world and especially in Ger
many, a country which Moscow has
slated to become Russia;s principal
satellite in the next year.
Junkerdom Still Alive
The natural inclination of the
German masses is to rally to the
Western world under the leadership
Of the United States. This explains
the recent vote in the Western sec
tors of Berlin and the overwhelm-
ingly anti Communist vote among
the workers in the industrial RUIN
and Saar Valleys. 1t has been said
that the Germans, who are under
military occupation, cannot help
themselves but must vote in accord
ance with the wishes of the occupy.
ing powers.
This Is only partially correct. AL
those who have spent time in the
Reich say that despite some unbe.
lievable blunders by American, Brit.
ish and French officials, the tend.
ency of the German masses is tt
side with the West rather than with
the U. S. s. r. But the power factor
should not be forgotten in any esti.