Evening star., 1949-04-02
Red Visitors Declared
Ignorant Of Attitude
WU. ). Toward War
Communists Should Meet
And Listen to People of
Middle and South West
Bv Dorothy Thomson

: 1t Is rather a shame that the
visitors from behind the Iron Cur
tain could not really visit this
country. to listen and see, rather
than to talk. There is something
preposterous about people dashing
in for a few days to express their
views ignorantly on Our attitude
toward peace or war, loudly ap-
plauded by the least representa-
tive part of the people.
Before departing for Europe
I spent 10 days in Kansas. Okla
homa and Arizona. Coming i'm
mediately before the European
trip. this journey, long contracted
for. filled me with dismay. But
] am glad now that I had to take
1t.
All I saw from train or plane
the people. strangers en- route;
new and old friends: converse
tions about public affairs; reac-
tionS and views-all these were
quieting. These people who. "in
whichever direction they look, face
America" are not as nervous as
those on the East Coast or the
West.
In the Middle West and South
west are expansive hospitality,
vitality, patriotism. confidence.
There is much less talk or fear
Of war. They are confident that
the United States would not start
a war, and find it inconceivable
that any nation would take on the
United States-or any country we
put our finger on-With its eyes
open. They worry less about in
f1ation or depression. They have
taken hard knocks in their time
and anticipate others, but dis
couragement is no part of their
nature. They believe in the United
States, wish the world well. and
feel-more. perhaps, than they
think-that this country will
weather any internal or interna-
tional storm.
This part of the country is, OF
course, very rich-especially Okla
homa, where "P" stands equally
for progress" and petroleum"
But it is open-handed wealth, ex-
pended generously for every civic
cause. People who have struck it
rich are still called by their first
names by those who haven't. And
wealth has been no reSpecter OF
persons. Lo, the poor Indian, has
come in for his share, with ap-
plause from the white population,
who feel it was high time.
The Middle West is conservative
in terms of the Eastern sea-
board-but its conservatism would
be radical in terms of European
conservatism. In fact, one needs
to 60 West to realize how pro-
foundly different this country is,
in every way, from Europe.
Great changes have occurred.
From the air I could not count
the dams and pools and water res,
eryoirs, large and small, on farms
and ranches; the great networks
of irrigation bitches; the contour
ploughed fields, left with un-
ploughed straw to hold the soil.
The Agriculture Department has
done a visible job of education
that. and bitter experience. Here
there is a feeling of youth and
power. One can't live in Tulsa, a
splendid city only so years old,
and think western civilization is
approaching its end; it Is just
beginning in Oklahoma!
The mind of the people has
changed. I found few isolation
lists. There is nostalgia for the
time when America could mind
her own business regardless of the
rest of the world. But the people
know that era is over, and that
power implies. responsibility.
Yes, I wish the Communist
visitors had seen more Of the
United States. and I am glad I
60 to Europe with so much OF
America fresh in my vision.
T~NA