Evening star., 1948-03-30
Cold War With Soviet
Recalls Preparation
To Fight Germany
Drift Toward Conflict Seen
With Common Distrust
Increasing Breach
Bv David LawrenSe

BY DaUfd Laurence
Are the United States and Russia
IN Q technical state Of war already
or Is the present position one of
undeclared war?
So far as previous international
law is concerned, the United States
has accused Russia Of violating
agreements and has also condemned
the Soviet regime as an aggressor
state.
In the press Of this country, Rus
ha is openly referred to as po-
tential II not an actual enemy.
Congress has appropriated money
TO be used in the Middle East to
help arm the troops Of Greece as
against irregular forces known to
be sponsored or equipped by gov
ernments in the Balkans which are
under Soviet control.
The President, moreover, in a
message to Congress-which, under
the Constitution, alone has the
power to declare war or authorize
the use of armed forces-has asked
for funds and for revival of the
system of selective service which is
the method of conscription used by
America in the last two wars.
Japan Didn't Declare War.
Japan did not declare war on the
United States before making an at
tack on American territory at Pearl
Harbor, and Congress voted in De-
cember, 1941. merely to recognize a
"state OF war" which had already
begun.
The war powers possessed by the
President, some of which have not
been repealed, were originally voted
by Congress in connection with the
war against Germany. There is no
authorization to use these same
war powers in a war against a ma
ton which hitherto has been an
ally.
The fact that direct hostilities
have not commenced is not in any
way decisive factor in interpreting
the present status. For there are
military action and support being
given by Russia in Greece and also
by the United States in that same
country. Heretofore this would have
been regarded as an unfriendly act
and as basis for breaking off dip
lomatic relations by one nation or
the other.
Theoretically the American Gov
ernment Is merely assisting the
Greek government at its request,
but actually the United States and
Russia are engaged in the same
theater of operations.
Russia Called Aggressor.
Recently the Secretary Of the
Army cautioned all members of
his service below the polioy-making
ONCE not to refer to Russia as an
enemy. But it is apparent that
officers Of the Government and the
President himself do not make any
bones about calling Russia an ag-
gressor and characterizing it as a
government that Is bent on break
ing the peace.
This state of affairs cannot drift
on without some explicit definition.
Every now and then exports are
sent to Russia and the explanation
is made that Russia and the United
States are still friendly nations.
But this distinction Is not clear
because most Americans feel that,
II Russia Is potential enemy, she
should not receive any exports Of
war making materials or equip
ment.
The present anomalous position
Of the two biggest powers in the
world may possibly be continued
deliberately by both sides until the
time for a showdown comes, though
such q showdown Is inevitable.
Whether war or an era Of peace
will follow cannot be conjectured,
but 1t is a safe assumption that,
If the American people continue to
distrust the Russian government
and the Moscow regime feels dis
trustful of the United States, there
will be no chance for the United
Nations to function or for any set
tlement to be made short Of war.
Old-fashioned diplomacy often
was sneered at as secret, but 1t did
manage to keep the peace longer
than two or three years after a
major war. There are many ex-
perienced diplomats who feel some
thing is wrong in the contact be-
tween Moscow and Washington and
who think a peaceful settlement
could yet be made Even the re-
cent approach of the Russian gov
eminent to an American diplomatic
of1cer met a rebuff that has not
been explained.
The use of the phrase cold
war" has been misleading. The
present is period where measures
short of war" are being employed
1t certainly resembles the 1939-1941
period, with Russia taking the place
Of Germany as the aggressor and
potential enemy.
Reproduction Rights Reservsd)