Evening star., 1949-12-16
To Checkmute Russia

In MS dddreSS 10 CIle CleVeldHu Nou11eA
OF World Affairs, Paul G. Hoffman, chief
of the Economic Cooperation Admins
tration, has called attention to posi-
bility that can become a matter OF TACT
if the free West makes the most OF It's
present opportunities.
The possibility is simply this: That the
Soviet Union eventually will lose Its grip
on Eastern Europe and may itself cease
being q slave state. But Mr.. Holman,
though essentially optimistic about 1t, has
emphasized that such a happy develop
ment presupposes three major things:
% That Western Europe will hold onto
its liberty, prosper economically and grow
in all-around power, ca that the United
States will stay strong and prosperous,
and 81 that the free world as whole
will remain united.
Given the fulfllment of these conditions,
then the Kremlin, in Mr.. Hofman's judg-
ment, will not only be frustrated in its
plans for world domination, but will also
find Its satellites slipping away from its
control He believes this, he says, because
he cannot see> how the Soviet Union can
retain Its vastly expanded empire unless
1t can win and be the master Of Western
Europe's steel, coal and skilled manpower,
along with the oil OF the Middle East. AS
he sees the situation, the Russians, If
denied these resources, cannot succeed
even in consolidating their present po-
sition.
All this may seem to be little on the
wishful side Nevertheless, there is much
to be said for 1t. Certainly, the Soviet
Union, if confronted with a strong, pros
pering and united Western world, will be
extremely hard put to keep rein on the
satellite countries Of Eastern Europe and
Asia. "Titoism" which, as in Yugoslavia,
reflects natural desire to be Independent
of foreign domination-is q potentially
explosive force that can be expected to
express itself most dramatically II the
West stops the Kremlin from further ad-
vances. For it is true, as Mr. Holman
has reminded us, that the Russians have
taken over nations where small Com
munist minorities sit as puppet tyrannies
on top of overwhelming anti-Red matori-
ties, and these majorities-the great
masses-will grow more and more indi-
gestible and uncomfortable the longer
Russia is held in check. .,--
Indeed, Soviet power today rests on 10
much latent dynamite, and is so dependent
on continuing gains, that there is ample
reason to hope for an eventual blow-up
shattering the entire Red empire, just a.
Marshal Tito's detection has shattered at
least q corner of it. What needs to be
emphasized, however is that such blow
up will never take place unless the free
world does what is necessary to attain the
strength the economic health and the
unity which Mr.. Hoffman has cited as
essential.
Stated another way, II the Soviet threat
is to be countered effectively, projects like
the Atlantic Pact, our Military Assistance
Program and European integration In con-
nection with the Marshall Plan must be
carried out with the greatest possible
vision and vigor. In addition, there is
need for psychological and moral offen-
sive of the sort advocated by John Foster
Dulles and the National Committee for
Free European offensive aimed at win
ming mems minds over to the side OF
democracy.
Obviously Mr.. Hoffman has based his
own optimism on number Of big "ifs."
But those "ifs" do not constitute inpos-
sible conditions On the contrary, the
United States and the western Powers in
general are fully capable Of doing the
Job together. If they do not falter or
vacillate, the passage Of time Is likely to
make the Soviet Union much less Of
menace than it is now.