Evening star., 1950-04-24
War Called Possibility
II Reds Make Issue Of
Berlin Youth March
Vests Decision to Use
Guns IF Necessary to Bon
Move Held Momentous
Bv David Laurence

the American Government CnaC II
the proposed youth demonstration
of Communists invadeS West Ber-
lin, there will be resistance
first by ordinary police measures
such as tear gas and then. II nee
essary, by machine-gun fire.
This is the first time since the
"cold war" began that the public
has learned Of any explicit warn
ing that the armed forces of this
country and her Allies will be
used to ward off what will be
considered an organized act Of ag-
gression.
Coming, as the warning does
on top Of Russia's recent attack
on an unarmed American plane
1t means that the United States
and her Allies will not allow any
episode to occur similar to that
which happened in November
1896, when Hitler. testing out the
nerves and will to fight of Great
Britain and France. sent his
troops into the Rhineland with
two kinds of orders-as has since
been learned-to push = ahead II
no resistance was offered and to
retreat if there was opposition.
M0mentous Decision.
Ever since then the diplomats
of the world have debated
whether Hitler could have been
curbed effectively in the Rhine
land if the Allies had been reso-
lutte. There will be no such debate
this time if similar testing tactics
are tried by Moscow.
For it can be stated on the
highest authority that the United
States Government has reached
a momentous decision. It is that
there are times when an an
nouncement Of intended resist
ance becomes necessary so all may
know: If the challenge is offered
1t will be accepted even though
serious consequences may ensue.
Russia made a dangerous deci-
sion in answering the American
note of protest last week. She de-
MED responsibility for the attack
on American citizens engaged in
a peaceful journey over the Baltic
Sea. Russia had a chance to pro-
pose a further investigation per-
haps by some international tri.
bunal which could examine the
facts and testimony and thus
move the issue out of an immedi-
ate crisis. But she cast the die
the other way and now she has
aroused the entire American
Government including the lead
ers in Congress.
No better example of war
mongering" has been given the
world than Russia's clear avoid
ance of historic methods of
handling a serious dispute. It's
mistake in judgment may help to
set the stage for another mistake
in connection with the Berlin
demonStration-and then actual
hoStilities might result. It is Rus
sia's. choice now whether we shall
have war or peace.
High Drama Here.
The firm American policy to-
ward Russia has been revealed at
a time when the Department Of
State has been undergoing bitter
attacks in internal politics. The
seriousness of the international
situation will tend to cause the
Senate to vote to send the Nc
Carthy charges to a bipartisan
commission for careful examina-
ton and study away from the
Klieg lights and the acrimony of
open hearings and speeches at
this time.
For there was high drama in
Washington last week. There
occurred perhaps the greatest jury
trial the National Capital has ever
witnessed. Louis Budenz, former
Communist, testified Thursday at
the Senate and that same night
Senator Mccarthy spoke to sew
eral hundred editors at the annual
meeting Of the American Society
of Newspaper Editors. They piled
him with searching questions and
when he finished there was ar
outburst of loud approval in con-
trast with the scattered hand
clapping when he began. He hao
made the typical impassioneo
speech of a prosecuting attorney
and it seemed as if the defendant
was in trouble.
Then on Saturday night, when
Dean Acheson with his long train
ing as skillful lawyer talked to
the same editors and their guests
including the Wisconsin Senator
himself, he made a masterfuI
speech summing up the case fol
the defense-for the Department
of State as an institution and fol
its top personnel as efficient anc
loyal Americans.
Government Support Urged.
Judging by the applause, which
was thunderouS, the audience wa.
ready for the most part to render
a verdict of acquittal. Still other
in the audience, present on botl
nights, wondered if the two prin'
cipals had been talking about tn,
same thing as there have beer
disloyalty cases and Communis
troubles in the Department o.
State at different times. Mr.. Ache.
son has cleaned them up now ane
much of the debate is over Incl.
dents that occurred before he be.
came Secretary of State. Any.
way the charges would be SifteC
carefully by an impartial com.
mission, as proposed by Senate,
Lodge. Republican, of Massachu.
sets.
In the meantime, the American
people will be rightly urged or
every side to get behind the Gov.
ernment in all its branches SC
that if the Russians believe this
is the time to find out whether
the United States will resis,
- ILL