Evening star., 1949-03-20

WneCner or QOC tlle SO-CdllcO
cold war between the free world
headed by the United States and
the totalitarian bloc dominated by
Soviet Russia will culminate in
armed conflict. 1t is certainly
warm enough to be considered in
terms Of military strategy. AT
present. the strategic situation is
one of defensive containment by
the Western powers Of Soviet ag-
gression. expressed in tactics vary
ing from subversive Communist
propaganda to diplomatic pressure
and menacing displays OF armed
strength.
Tactically, this containment OF
Soviet aggression consists OF a
chain of Western buffers running
all the way from Norway to Korea
Collectively. these buffers consti-
tute a sort of deadline whose vio-
lation by Soviet forces would pre-
cipitate a decisive test of Western
determination. leading either to a
catastrophe backdown or open
war.
That, at least, is the opinion
which is coming to prevail
throughout the free world
Whether it is appreciated by the
secluded master-minds within the
Kremlin who decide Soviet policy
may be the crucial factor that will
determine a peaceful or warlike
outcome Of the present politico-
diplomatic struggle. Certainly
patent weakness at any part OF
our chain of containment presents
a temptation to further Soviet ag-
gression. And there is an old say
ing that a chain is no stronger
than its weakest link.
AS we survey our defensive
chain from Northern Europe tc
the Far East, one weak link is
painfully obvious. This is iran.
land that has suffered many times
in the past from Russian aggres-
sion and continues to be a major
aim of Russian expansionist
policy.
Key to Whole Segment
Historically speaking. Iran ha:
been preserved from Russian con.
quest less by its own defensive
strength than by the support o1
other powers to whom its incor'
poration in the Russian empire
would have been intolerable. since
it would have upset the entire bal.
ance in the Middle East. Today
that geopolitical truth is no les.
obvious, requiring the same reso-
lutte veto on Russian ambition BY
us and our Western Allies which
was formerly exercised single.
handedly by Britain. Russian
domination Of Iran would insure
its mastery over all the countrie.
from Turkey to India. and prob
ably penetration to Egypt and into
Africa as well. Our chain Of con.
tainment would thus be ruptured
not only at one link but over &
large q segment that it would be
fatally broken.
Fortunately. Iran, while unable
to repel q full-scale Russian at
tack, is by no means q passive OF
negligible factor. It is rela.
lively large country with an ares
of 628,000 square miles and
population exceeding 100000
animated by q strong nationa
consciousness and a fervent de-
sire to maintain its independence
The progress attained agains,
internal problems which Ions
rendered it weak and decadent
is all the more notable because OF
the handicaps. Less than half q
century ago. Iran, then known a:
Persia, was an effete Oriental
despotism. Although. eoretically
absolute. the degenerate monarchs
with the grandiose title Of Shah-in-
Shah or King of Kings were un.
able to maintain q strong central
government, local authority being
largely in the hands Of wealthy
landowners who oppressed an