Evening star., 1950-04-19
J.. ). Note 10 Russia
Could Bring on Crisis
Leading 10 War
KremIin Must Swallow
Pride and Acknowledge
BIunder Made by Flyers
By David Laurence

Blunder Made BY Flyers
By David Laurence
Note-writing between two pow
erful governments can prove to
be the precursor of a crisis that
leads to war. For when notes
are written the element of pride
enters 50 strongly into the con-
troversy that retreat by one or
the other becomes in itself a prob
lem.
The United States has written
20 Russia in the historic Ian
Euage Of serious diplomacy. The
American Government has ac-
cused the Soviet flyers of firing
on an unarmed plane. causing the
death Of ten American citizens.
Just thirty-five years ago this
spring, the United States sent a
similar note to the German gov
ernment accusing the commander
Of q German submarine of firing
on helpless American citizens
travelling on an unarmed ship,
the "Lusitania." War for America
eventually came in the end.
Same Demand on Japan.
The same kind of demand was
made of Japan when the Ameri-
can vessel "Panay" was sunk in
Chinese inland waters upon the
orders Of q japanese naval COM
mander. War eventually came in
the end.
The customary course is to ask
for punishment of those who have
offended and to demand steps
be taken to prevent repetition,
and that there be an expression OF
regret or apology and an appropri-
ate indemnity.
What is most significant is that
the United States Government
chose to make identical demands
OF Russia. There has been no soft
ening of words or phrases. The
exact language is important to ex-
anime. The note says:
1.-The Ambassador of the United
States has been instructed to pro-
test In the most solemn manner
against this violation of interna-
tional law and of the most ele-
mentary rules of peaceful conduct
between nations. The United
States Government demands that
the Soviet government institute a
prompt and thorough investiga-
ton of this matter in order that
the facts set forth above may be
confirmed to IT'S satisfaction. The
United States Government further
demands that the most strict and
categorical instructions be issued
to the Soviet air force that there
be no repetition. under whatever
pretext, of incidents of this kind
which are so clearly calculated to
magnify the difficulties Of main
tanning peaceful and correct inter-
national relationships.
THE United States Government
confidently expects that, when its
investigation is completed, the
Soviet government will express its
regret for the unlawful and pro-
vocatiye behavior Of its aviators,
will see to It that those responsible
for this action are promptly and
severely punished and will, in ac-
cordance with established custom
among peace-loving nations. pay
appropriate indemnity for the un-
provoked. destruction of American
lives and property"
u. 8. Pride Interjected.
This means that If Russia does
not show a willingness to compose
the affair. relations will become
strained much further than they
have been, in the cold war and
that the American people will
have far more cause to be inflamed
against the Russian government
than they have ever had before
Many of the complex matters of
the. cold war are not widely under
stood. but the shooting down of an
unarmed American plane is thor
oughly understood. American pride
is interiected-for if Russia spurns
the American note and does not
show a conciliartory spirit toward
settlement, the temptation will
arise to take retaliatory steps
This might mean the sending OF
armed air forces to patrol the bor-
ders between the Russian occupied
areas and those Of the United
States and allied countries. with
orders to shoot down any Russian
planes that may venture across
the line.
When matters get to that sort
Of stage. anything can happen
The Russian foreign office. there.
fore. has been poorly advised Il
accuse the American aviators o.
flying over their territory and o.
firing on Russian fighter planes
It would have been so much
simpler and easier for all con
cerned II the Russians had ad
mitted the error of their aviator
and expressed regret. There woult
have been no serious consequences
The American people will no
believe the charges that tn,
United States Navy plane wa
armed. They will believe that j
was unarmed. So the Russian
will not be able by further charge
10 change American public opin
ion. The, Soviet government
confronted. therefore. today will
the most serious decision it ma.
have to make in all its postwa
relations with the United States
q decision that can lead to wa
As incident after incident arise
to inflame the people of the Unite'
States or one that can lead t.
peace and a better understandin
between the two governments
The United States does not sem
O note of such firm language an,
then forget about it. There is
AIirnaY ronainr and the r,ead Of fh