The Detroit tribune. (Detroit, Mich.) 1935-1966, 1948-05-15

world. Specifically, of it domestic affair
Actually it international test OF strength The So
Union did nothing officially but everyone knows that
much money and direction behind the Peoples Front
campaign from the Kremln The United States used
the limit the persuasive power of the ERP and frankly
said time and time again that if the Communists TIA
" would off from material aid The British put their
oar in too And finally the Vatican came out strongly
against Communism Italy is Roman Catholic country.
and the Pope fortnight stand may well have been one OF
the most decisive factors.
The present situation in Italy is also illustrative of the
powder keg the world is sitting The Peoples Front de-
spite its loss the second largest party in Italy by wide
margin De Gaspers control of the government is made
possible only by coalition Of many other parties of
them with extremely weird ideas ranging from classical
monarchism to fascsm indistinguishable Musso-
ni The only thing that binds these groups together
a fear of Communism-coupled. of course. with
their desire for American assistance On practically all
other issues they at oggerheads The Communists,
whether they go in for bg-scale violence in
position continual unrest through strikes heck
ling and possibly industrial sabotage 1t is fortunate that
De Casper has shown high degree of competence and
courage in handling delicate and explosive situations
In the United States, the opinion is widely held that
the Italian election major setback for the Soviet IN
ions effort extend its influence all Europe. That
true but should not lead to too great degree OF opt
The Russians do not accept defeat passvey III their
timetable suffers delay In direction they always try
speed up elsewhere Until and unless the two great
powers reach agreement their spheres OF influence,
must expect fareups at periodic intervals in
hemispheres.
On the broad subject of the IT, S-Soviet differences
Dorothy Thompson recently made striking observation
She said that under conditions the
of the world would lead inevitably to war But she went
there unusual barriers to One is the
temper of peopesof the almost universal desire for
among those who would have to do the fighting and the
suffering The other is that neither high command has
been able to figure plan that 1t feels will insure
in case of No nation will start unless it is
ninety per certain that the advantage its side
From the Russian point Of view engagement IN
might lead to chaos in the countries she is controlling
through puppet Observation-Disclosures, Czechoslovakia
Yugosavia She might have terrific occupation job to
handle behind her iron curtain. From point of
view, how could IN Russian soil with great land
mics and support them?
Certainly the Russians know, do that a | o n g
drawn out could the destruction of modern
cepts Of civilization Miss Thompson for instance thinks
people might be killed by pilage. robbery and ma
audng bands than in actual conflict between armies In
short the world might descend into the abyss of an utter
anarchy from which could for many years
The only effective law then would be that of tooth and
claw--the law of the Jungle
viewpoint which is finding and more adherents
expressed In these words in Saturday Evening Post
editorial Of have remain at the ready but
sort Of relations be carried with nations whose
regimes we do not like very much-once determine
ton to halt the Communist conspiracy has been demonstra
ted That make il clear Russia that we
shall oppose to the limit Of ability her efforts 10 become
dictator Of the world-and when that is done work out
our basic problems a realistic basis
Curiously enough, that may mean return TO the hal
ance Of power policy, bah sides Of the theological
fence, which hoped dead forever Some Of
the best authorities international affairs seem TO have
come to the conclusion that in greatly revised form Il Is
the only workable program. AS matter of record the
longest period OF peace in modem times occurred when
Great Britain able to maintain balance of mower in
Europe.