Evening star., 1948-02-28

OF American books placed on exhibition In
Prague; and, without the help of the State
Department., be arranged to have several
Americans visit Czechoslovakia
''The move that put the seal on American
disapproval Of Czechoslovakia occurred last
autumn. The Czechs learned that their re-
quest for loan had been turned down. They
did not attempt to conceal their deep disap-
pointment. We can get along without the
money said Czech economist. But it will be
difficult. We should have been able to buy
certain goods from Italy, but now weu just
have to do without them. This will hurt Italy
as much as it will us and in the long run it will
probably hurt the United States, too The in
teresting part of it is that we are a better loan
risk than most other countries which are get
ting American dollars. But the United States
uses her dollars politically, contrary to the
principles of international trade which she
herself proclaimed
There was little doubt In the minds Of
Czechs that Americas refusal to grant the
loan was nothing else than an attempt to in.
fuence the internal politics of Czechoslovakia.
If the act (American refusal of the loan) has
any result, said many Czechs of all political
shades 1t will drive more people into the hands
OF the Communists and help upset the political
equilibrium which we have worked hard to
obtain" PAUL DRINKWATER,
To the Editor OF The Star:
The last Pickering light of liberty has died
in Czechoslovakia. Many funeral orations will
be said over the ashes. Hindsight wisdom will
counsel that our Hberating armies should not
have stopped at the Elbe, thereby permitting
Russia to include freedom-loving peoples, such
as the Czechs and the Poles, in her orbit.
But out of the welter Of words that will be
written on the subject, it seems to me that
one fact stands out clearly. That fact we
should take to heart In a world divided by
two ideologies- communism and our free en-
terprise system-socialism cannot survive.
Either 1t is supported on the one hand by
free enterprise, as in the case Of loans to Great
Britain, or 1t is swallowed up by communism
as in the cases of Hungary and now Czecho-
slovakia.
Americans clearly should recognize this fact
before supporting measures that give socialis-
tic powers to the state over the individuals
health and education. The latest proposal of
this kind is that the country's diet be super
vised by law in order that we all get our vita
minis.
Liberty, like peace, Is indivisible. The So
clallStS belleVe that we can barter part OF our
liberty for creature comforts. But the debacle
of socialistic countries bordering communistic
Russia, where they are unprotected by distance
or American help, shows that socialism Is a
hothouse flower without strength Whether
it is q good or bad system Is beside the point
1t lacks vitality to stand alone In . world
where strength is needed.
A nation is no stronger than its people
Take away the responsibility of people to fend
for themselves under the ordinary conditions of
life, and they will become liability, not an
asset, to that country. Our pioneer forefathers
put first things 1rst-freedom of the spirit
before security-and developed the greatest
nation on earth. It is proof Of the scriptural
command to seek first the welfare of the spirit
(realm of Cod, "and @all these things shall
be added unto you.' We reverse this principle
at the peril of ourselves and our children.
L. K. COLE.