Evening star., 1950-05-27
Cold War PROVING
To Be Struggle With
Lines Not Frozen
Russions Seen Worried
Titoism May Spread
To Other Satellites
By Dorothy Thompson

By Dorothy Thompson
The struggle between Russia
and the West, so odiously called
"the cold war;" Is proving itself to
be a struggle in which the lines
are not frozen. There are struggles
behind them, and on both sides.
The most sensational rift in the
Russian front is Yugoslavia. and
that rift is potential everywhere
in Eastern Europe if. and, or
when circumstances are favorable
to it.
Because the Russians know it,
and also know that, in purely ideo-
logical Comintern theology, Mar
shall Tito has powerful case. the
detection of Yugoslavia worries
them more than any other Euro
pean problem.
But Tito has not Joined the
West. Like India, in the East, he
has adopted a position of neu-
trality between the two Titans. He
Is willing Qike India) to be sup
ported and protected by the eco
nomic and military power of the
United States. He Is glad that the
menace of that power restrains
the Russians from the invasion OF
Yugoslavia that would otherwise
certainly have occurred. But what
he wants is protected neutrality
There are elements of this phase
of Titoism in the minds of most
Europeans. Behind the Western
lines is an apprehension of the
tragic European position in two
power world, binding together
everybody from Copenhagen to
Bordeaux-binding together even
those eternal enemies, the Ger
mans and the French.
Accounts for French Move.
1t accounts for the sensational
French move to create a European
coal-steel pool - and for the
launching of it as a fait accompli
This represents simple recognition
that things cannot go on as they
are, with Western Europe living
as an economic satellite of the
United States, and as an expend-
able pawn in a hot war, should
such occur.
Again Western Europe, like
Yugoslavia, welcomes American
economic aid and military sup
port. Western Europeans are con-
vinced that only the American
commitment to defend Europe has
saved it from absorption by Rus
sia. But this condition. arising
from the vacuum of power which
the war and postwar policies
created between the Elbe and the
Atlantic. is not desirable fol
Europe. In the long run it il
intolerable.
1t also Is menacing to peace
And although the whole worlc
longs for peace. none long more
than the countries which would
become the backgrounds o1
another war. The statesman tt
say this most forthrightly has
been Chancellor Konrad Ade-
nauer of West Germany, who, an
nouncing at Frankfurt last Sum
day that the federal republic will
make "all the efforts in our power
to put into effect the coal-steel
plan of Robert Schuman, called
for "the formation of a united
Europe as q third power strong
enough to decide m favor OF
peace"
Would Be Strong.
A united Europe strong enough
10 decide in favor Of peace means
q Europe strong enough to exer.
else an effective diplomacy visa.
Wis both the United States anc
Russia: strong enough to suppor'
itself economically, and compet'
effectively against both the United
States and the Soviet Union II
world markets: and although /
will never be strong enough mill
tarily to challenge either Rus
sia or the United States, 1t will
in the long run, be strong enough
to exercise O restraining tnflu
snce on both.
For those Americans who dream
of the United States as the benevo
lent arbiter and policeman Of tn
world-and there are some-an'
for the Stalinists who dream o
Russia in the same role, this re
volt of Europe is not attractive.
But for those who hope for al
eventual detente in the cold wal
1t is promising. For peace vii
always be promoted by those VIII
have most to lose from war, pro
vided they have power and in
dependence enough to promote il
The United States and Russi'
have much to lose from war. Blu
either or both would probabl,
survive it. Europe, however, woul,
perish beyond hope Of revival, n,
matter which side won.
And France, Germany, Italy
and the whole of Western Europ
are beginning to move to protec
themselves from that fate.
Released By the Bell Syndicate, Ine.)