The Daily Alaska empire. [volume] (Juneau, Alaska) 1926-1964, 1950-07-17

HISTORIAN Sees
KOREA AS FEINT IN
RUSS EXPANSION

Is the Korean incident" only
that, or is it like a boil on the
body that is symptom of a greater
disease?
The smile was put by DIR. Ken
meth o. Bjork, professor of history
and chairman of the social sciences
at st. Olaf College. Mortified,
Mimi, in his talk this noon to the
Lions Club, in the Baranof Gold
Room.
DR.. Bjork believes that military
uncertainty as to the extent of COM
mitments for Korea is based on a
very real understanding of the en-
tire situation.
Military leaders," he said, "are
not sure that the Korean incident
is more than a feint. with Russia
ready to throw her weight around
in other places such as Germany
Turkey, the Balkans, India and the
hope to expand in other places.
Russia" he went on. has never
stopped the consistent process of
expansion that began in the 18th
Century. 1t was very important in
European diplomacy in the 10Th
Century 1t was interrupted by the
1917 revolution and we were lulled
to sleep thinking Stain was trying
to make socialism work in Russia
alone
Nov it is very serious-the old.
old thing in a different form. The
places are the same. Persia may be
called Iran, but the oil there is just
as desirable.
ITO large extent" he said, "the
United States and the United Ma
lions have inherited the British pol
icy of containment We hope to
contain the Russians. to block them
from moving in on that rich oil"
DR.. Bjork pointed out that, now,
Russian expansionism is backed up
by the theology of Lenin and Stain
to fit the tradition.
Behind the logic, or lack of it,
of Marx is expansionism," he said.
"All of Stains speeches for the
last 20 years show that showdown
between Russia and the United
States-the last bulwark of capi-
talism-is implied, suggested or even
taken for granted.
"On the brighter side is the fact
that, with all their talk, the Rus
slams are quick to stop when they
are met by stronger force and
greater technology"
The speaker urged the need for a
mature approach to the serious Sit
uation, land the united spirit shown
in other crisis" especially as the
United States is not prepared by
centuries of experience as was
Great Britain.
He mentioned having given a
comparable summary, of conditions
in 1884 to another Lions Club, and
pointed out that, 16 years ago, the
world was generally indifferent to
the dangers of Hitlarism. However
today there is great interest and
awareness of conditions throughout
the world.
DR.. Bjork was introduced by DR..
Joseph o. Rude. who had invited
him to speak today.
AL Ransome, program chairman,
was in charge of the clubs presen-
tation of a handsome red leather
suitcase to Salvation Army Capt.
Henry Lorenzen in appreciation OF
his services to the club and the
community. Lorenzen's luncheon
guests were his wife and their three
misunderstanding, Martha and Ma
RE. The two boys have preceded the
rest of the family, to attend a music
camp outside.
Other guests were Tom Howell,
assistant postmaster of Seward and
president of the Seward Lions Club,
and Paul Irwin, a member of the
same club.
Reports were given by Bob Faux
ner for the Fourth of July float
committee, and Bob Scott on the
Mitchell Cain shows last week.