Evening star., 1948-01-18

forces to intervene in case Of sg-
gression.
But when this new instrument for
world peace was established the
world had shrunk. Only two great
powers remained: The United States
and the U. s. s. r. Our statesmen
refused to recognize this obvious fact
and, forgetting the lessons of his
tory, agreed to give the five major
powers-among which China,
France and Britain were included
out Of courtesy-the right of veto.
If the trainers of the U. N. statute
had remembered history they would
have taken a cue from the fact that
Poland, when she was an important
power in the 18th century, collapsed
and was partitioned, for one reason.
because her Parliament was made
up Of noblemen, each Of whom pos
sessed a veto over all legislation.
There were selfish and unpatriotic
persons who took advantage Of this
prerogative to serve the interests Of
the country's enemies,
Warmed Over Methods
In the 58-nation parliament in
the Goth century the veto of one Of
the five permanent members of the
Security Council can prevent the
u. N. from taking necessary steps
to enforce peace and organize o
military force for peace enforce
ment. The Soviet governments
representatives not only have used
but have abused that right in order
to serve the selfish interests Of
Moscow.
There is, however, little difference
between the fundamental principles
of the conclave of nations as pre-
sented to the world. in 1917 and as
they exist today. The former took
"a years to die; the latter, in their
present form, are already on their
last legs and continue to live after
two years only because of artificial
respiration administered IN the
high-sounding speeches by repre-
sentatives Of the west.
Thus after World War II we
adopted as our national policy the
warmed-over ideas and methods
used after World War I, without
taking into consideration that the
interests and aims Of non-American
nations are vastly different from
those Of the people Of this country.
& Now we are told that we must
make a last and supreme effort to
bring peace, at least in the western
world, by adopting the Marshall
Plan, just as we were told after
1913 that we must contribute our
wealth to restore peace In the world.
The principal difference is that the
amounts involved now are enor-
mously larger.
Since we have no other national
policy in the field Of foreign affairs,
there is nothing that we can do but
try it again, regardless of the fact
that the cost Of the European Re-
covery Program will be felt strongly
by the rank and file Of the Amerf-
can people. Conditions all over
the world are far worse now than
after World War I.
Today's Conflict Different
An theological cold war" is being
waged now by a combination Of ma
Etions representing some 400,000,00
persons-Russia, the nations be-
hind the iron curtain and the
Chinese Communists. After World
War I theological warfare was
scarcely noticeable.
Today the conflict between east
and west Is different. The whole
question is whether western civili-
zation-whose principal representa-
tives are the peoples of this country
and this hemisphere-can survive
the onslaughts of the semi-Asiatics
from the east.
The existence of Western Europe
the cradle of civilization Of both
the Americas-is threatened phys
icaily by strong military forces
backed by the best fifth column the
world has ever seen. To continue
our assistance in an effort to save
what is left of it-and possibly save
ourselves-we must include in the
ERP the necessary military as
sistance which the western govern
ments are asking In hushed voices
and which our political leaders do
not dare discuss in public.
| Politics Overshadowed
This is an election year, but the
world situation-much as we might
like to deny it-transcends by far
domestic political issues. Those who
say that mere economic and finan-
cial assistance to the 16 nations OF
Europe which have not accepted
Soviet domination can save the
situation are rendering a disservics
to the mass of people in the United
States.
We are repeating now on a much
larger scale the methods we en-
ployed after World War I. They
| failed and led us into another world
war. The end Of the last struggle
sees us in far worse position than
ever before. Not only our economic
but our social structure Is threat
ened.
To refuse to admit that economic
and financial assistance will have
to be backed for our own SELF
preservation by thorough military
preparedness would be rendering
the worst disservice of our history
to the people OF America.
/ The men In the Kremlin can
throw out Of gear any attempt at
economic recovery in Europe simply
by moving military masses. And ii
lie hicf,Iy t,rotabie that they will dc