Evening star., 1949-03-28
One of the Biz Peace Barriers

1t will come as news to nobody that the
Soviet Union has shown kind of psyche
pathic obstinacy in its refusal to CO.
operate with the United States in pro-
noting a cultural and scientific exchange
between our two countries. In a special
report just issued on the subject, however,
the State Department has retold the story
so effectively, and with such impressive
Recommendation, that any one seeking a
fuller understanding of official Russian
motives could hardly do better than read it.
In the war years, when relations be-
tween us were friendlier, Soviet officials
voiced agreement with the American view
that the United States and Russia-the
biggest powers in the world-differed
vastly in many fundamental respects and
that therefore they should join together
In great program to serve their own
best interests and promote peace through
a steady interflow of ideas, cultural con-
facts and International material of all
sorts. But after the war-first by evasion
and subterfuge, and finally by direct re-
buffs and poisonous attacks accusing us
of an espionage conspiracy-the men of
the Kremlin made clear that they wanted
no part OF such program, except in the
sense of getting certain data from us
without offering anything in return.
How explain this? Like the Iron Curtain
itself, of which it is merely one expression,
it is hardly sign of strength. On the
contrary, as the State Department points
out, it strongly suggests that the Soviet
dictatorship has an inferiority complex
and that 1t is so unsure of itself as to be
literally afraid of exposing the Russian
people to free and easy association with
ideas and personalities representative of
the United States and the West as
whole. And why does the fear exist? 1t
exists because the Kremlin realizes that
under an unobstructed cultural and scien-
tific exchange program two things would
happen: CD Information about the pros
perity and liberty of the outside world
would leak into the U. S. S. r., and (2) in
formation about the U. s. S. RS weak
nesses would leak out.
In the first instance, that would make
the Russian masses-whose standard of
living Is dismally low-less inclined to
tolerate the failure of the Communist
system. And in the second instance, it
would make it more difficult for the Mos
cow dictatorship to bulldoze its neighbors
or. keep gullible outsiders blind to the fact
that the "utopians U. s. s. r. is actually
one uf historys most backward, reaction
ary and oppressive tyrannies. So the Iron
Curtain is up. Light is not allowed to play
upon the darkness Freedom of travel and
information, in or out, is strictly rationed.
Censorship is in full force, backed up by
terror and the secret police. And the giant
Soviet propaganda machine is busy day
and night butchering the truth, vilifying
the free Western world, and pouring out
a ceaseless and half-crazy barrage of self
adulation claiming that Russians invented
practically everything and that the Polit-
buro's members are at once geniuses and
saints.
It would be mistake to conclude from
all this that the Soviet Union Is hollow
she'll Nevertheless, as the State Depart
ment has observed, the thing must be
attributable, at least in part, to an anxiety
to keep serious shortcomings covered up.
In itself, no government able to stand in
spection in the clear light of day, would
deliberately retreat into darkness behind
the kind Of wall that the Stain dictator
ship has raised between itself and the
West. The pity is that as long as such
policy exists, the world will be desperately
hard put to achieve mutual understanding
and lasting peace.
Iaokv E;eanhomor md %ha IHS