Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1949-01-16


mated at about $1,000 900 900, 20
w.li.h must be aided about $780,
100000 for the shipment Of war ma
terials across the AtlGn il.
The expenditure for veterans-a
byrroouct of World War lis esti-
mated to cost the taxpayers 10 celts
of the tax dollar, while the interest
on the enormous debt amassed since
1889 amounts to another Is cents.
1t is true that part of the ma
tional debt was incurred before we
decided to take an active part in
World War II. but only a small
proportion of the tax dollar would
have been needed had We not bur-
dened ourselves with almost third
of trillion dollars in national debt
during and after World War IL
News for Krcmlin
This news is mamma from heaven
for the Kremlin. Whether acci-
dentally or Intentionally, the Polit-
buro started what we now call the
cold war with the view to destroying
Americas life. The Politburo has
made no secret of the fact that it
is looking for a major economic
crisis in the United States before
it can really achieve its objective
of dominating the world and chang
ing the United States to systet
of government which, by necessity.
would accept Soviet doctrines and
dogma.
The U. S. S. R., sWashbuckling and
rafting the sword, has managed to
keep that part of Europe outside the
iron curtain in such turmoil that
the billions spert by the American
people for European recovery so far
have had but temporary effect.
Strikes such as have taken place
in, France have retarded the ex-
pected recovery of Frances indus
trial, political and economic life.
The fear of an invasion by Red
nordes poised within striking dis
lance of the Rhine has helped as
much as the activities of thousands
of Communist agents throughout
Europe to bring about sentiment
of fear among the people. And with
the fear of another invasion al
ways present in the minds of these
peoples, there is little incentive to
work for economic stability. What
is the good of working hard" say
the men in factories and fields,
when swarms of planes tomorrow
may destroy our labor?"
Strategy Works
Since a democracy like ours never
takes the first step to cut the Cor
dian knot by direct military action,
we feel compelled to pour into for
eign countries the one thing which
in our minds can be helpful-billions
of dollars worth of Americas sub
stance.
The Russians enjoy seeing their
cold war strategy working better
than they had anticipated. BY
merely refusing to enter into a de-
cent and honest deal with us in
Berlin, for instance, they have upset
the applicant as far as Germany
Is concerned.
Not only do they compel us-in
order to save face in Europe-to
spend about $1O,0OO,00O a week on
the airlift which provides mere sub
sistence for the 100000 Germans
in Western Berlin, but they prove
that there is nothing we can do to
change the minds of the Kremlin
leaders.
All the Western nations, and the
Germans themselves, had hoped
only 10 months ago that by the end
of 1948 a peace treaty would have
been completed for Germany and
that the present chaotic economic
situation would be ended. Instead,
they see today no chance Of any
change in the status of the Reich.
There was a time when our mill
tary fully expected to see the Rus
slams force the Western powers out
of Germany, Austria and Trieste by
direct action This expectation now
has been modified and the prospects
of cold war continuing in Europe
until we approach economic and
financial exhaustion are very great,
indeed.
Nothing to Lose
All the Russians have to do is sit
tight with about 40 fully equipped
divisions along the iron curtain bor-
der and simply turn down any OF
our suggestions or proposals-short
of complete surrender-for the set
tlement of the European crisis. 1t
costs Russia less to keep some 10000
men in that area than to keep them
at home.
The Russians are aware that we
now feel obligated to do everything
in our power to keep Western Eu-
rope from going Communist. They
know that this can be temporarily
avoided by our pouring billions into
Europe. At the same time, they
know that, because of their hostile
attitude, we cannot take the chance
of reducing our heavy spending on
the military establishment.
A country whose system of gov
eminent is based on free enterprise
cannot afford to indulge in such ex-
penditures indefinitely. Nor is 1t
likely that republic based on DEM
ocratic principles will start shoot
ing war simply because it fears coll
lapse under the strain of relatively \