Evening star., 1948-02-24
Some Move 10 Bring
U. s., Soviet Together
Held Long Overdue
FriendIiness Gesture TO
Weaker Motion Viewed as
Not Being Appeosement
BY Dapid Laurence

Some move to bring the United
States and Russia together Is long
overdue. It is often talked about in
influential circles but doesn't seem
to materialize.
The idea that Russia is happy
with the present drift of events is
as preposterous as the assumption
that the United States enjoys the
expenditure of $11, 600, 600 900 year
on armament, to say nothing OF
another five to six billions on inter-
national aid designed to keep Com
munism from spreading.
In an economic war of exhaustion,
Russia cannot succeed. The western
democracies have more resources
and more ingenuity. The risk rather
is on the Russian side, where the
huge responsibility and cost of sub
jugating the Balkans and keeping
her own people obedient to the
police state Is venture OF extra
ordinary hazards.
Hitler was able to police Germany
because he dealt with a well dis
ciplined country. but nevertheless
documents reveal that there were
plots going on all the time. 1t may
be assumed that the rulers Of pres
ent-day Russia wear their crowns
somewhat uneasily, too.
None Wants War.
What makes a movement toward
an understanding possible Is that
neither nation really wants war
the Russians even less than Amer
lea. Any nation which has lost lit
orally millions Of persons and still
has many more millions on the in
tured list cannot look forward to
war with any enthusiasm. On the
contrary, the prospect of war can
produce internal trouble in Russia.
The Soviet rulers are trying by
their propaganda to give the i'm
preston that the Russian people
must be prepared for an attack but
they will not make much headway
with such propaganda If the west
ern states can publicize their pro-
grams of freedom and humanitari-
anism expressed in the Marshall
Plan.
On any long-range propaganda
effort, the American view is bound
to infiltrate inside the Balkans and
inside Russia. Seizure of the reins
of government in Czechoslovakia
will dramatic everywhere in Europe
the totalitarian philosophy and in
due time bring countermovements
in the form Of undergrounds.
Champion of Small Nations.
So far as the United States Is
concerned, her moral position is
one of championship of small ma
tions. Her willingness to stand by
Austria as well as Italy and Greece
and Turkey now is well known j.
Europe. The passage of the Ma.
shall Plan will be an epochal even
It will emphasize that America is
in Europe to stay and that America S
diplomatic interest has not dimin-
ished since the ending of the war.
Russia gave evidence of trying to
harass and annoy America so that
the United States would 60 isola-
zionist and pull out of Europe. That
sort of tactics has failed. 1t becomes
opportune for Russia now to find a
way of living with the United States
In Europe.
America has made many gesture
of friendliness, but can afford to
make more A strong nation can
never be justly accused of appease-
ment when it deals with a weaker
nation. So far as resources and
modern plant are concerned in this
age of mechanization, Russia is
weak.
Could Send Mission.
The United States could send a
mission to Russia and try again to
find a basis for understanding. Such
a mission might consist wholly of
on-diplomatic persons. 1t might
include leading citizens of America
businessmen, educators, representa-
tives of the legislative branch of the
Government. Such mission could
seek an overall understanding and
bring back, If possible, comprehen-
sive program of economic as well as
cultural cooperation.
The time is ripe for such move.
Recently feelers were reported to
have emanated from Moscow indi-
eating that something might be done
to call off the "cold war" American
craftsmanship may decide that it's
better to wait until after the Mar
shall Plan is set up, when Russian
cooperation can again be invited.
But whether the moment is now or a
few months hence, 1948 should see
some effort toward a get-together
with Russia.
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