Evening star., 1950-01-22

outside the Government are highly
received from the Chinese Red
leaders, also have strengthened
Russian prestige in the Far East.
But since that enhancement Of
Soviet prestige was not considered
sufficient for Moscows plans to
take over the countries of the
South Pacific and Indian Ocean
areas by force or internal uprising,
a further diplomatic" humilia-
tion was devised. The American,
French and Dutch consular Offices
we're invaded and taken over by
Chinese Communist authorities.
For centuries foreign diplomatic
missions have been considered in
violable by common agreement
between nationS-even the back
ward. In the Far East, and espe-
cially in China, these were a
symbol of strength.
The war growing out of the
Boxer rebellion was fought by all
the Western powers and Japan
because the German minister was
assassinated by irresponsible Chi
nese rebels. at the instigation, it
was suspected, Of the Empress of
China herself. The Chinese were
defeated by small European and.
japanese contingents, and ever
since that time foreign diplo-
matte missions had the right to
maintain their own military
guards and the inviolability Of
their compounds was assured.
The Far East reverberated with
the news of the defeat of the En-
press forces and the reassertion
of the right of foreign diplomatic
missions to remain unmolested in
China, regardless of conditions
which might prevail there. The
Chinese Red governments gesture
more than a week ago when it
took over the property of the
American, French and Dutch gov
ernments was arranged in Mos
COW, where Mao Tze-tung now is
consulting, and was calculated to
tear down even further what re-
mains of Western prestige in that
part Of the world.
Gifts, whether they are toys
gathered by the people of the
United States or large sums doled
out by the Government to improve
economic standards in undeveloped
countries, are regarded equally by
Orienta!s as indications of weak
ness.
Say We Use Bribery
Bribery is endemic in those
countries and our present gestures
are considered by the rank and file
of millions of Asiatics as nothing
more than bribes offered by weak
lings who are ready to part with
gold and goods to gain the friend
ship of the strong. We, it is said,
have become so weak that we are
willing to pay tribute to keep out
of trouble. In underworld Ian
guage. this is called protection
money. That is how our honest
gestures toward peaceful solution
of world problems are interpreted
by those who know and respect
only force.
Secretary of State Acheson stat
ed that any assistance given to
the Nationalist government on
Formosa would be interpreted by
the Chinese masses as a gesture Of
hostility against them and indica-
ton of our imperialism. The
truth is that our stubborn refusal
to help those who are still fighting
on Chinese territory is another in
dication of weakness and fear Of
the military consequences because
the Russians might become an
cry"
Thus, the gestures which we'll
intentioned men and women in the
United States are making to gain
the friendship of the Russian
masses and those they dominate
are not going to change the Krem-
Inns present aggressiveness. Nor
is it likely that natural end to
Stalin's domination of the Polit-
buro will change the situation.
The Poiitburo is like a very eX-
elusive club. The II or IA men
who compose it are intent on con-
tinuing themselves in power.
There is no question that in the
event of Stalin's death there will
be a struggle for power. But it
will involve quiet purges over a
period of time, just as happened
after Lenin's death when Stain
tossed out the more popular and
much better known Leon Trotsky.
Molotov Has Rival
There are at least two factions
within the Politburo. One headed
by A. I. Mikoyan and the other
Wy v. IMs N1OlOtOFs A11db UL1CJ
will be struggling for power after
Stain has been placed next to
Lenin in Red Square is very
probable. But all this conflict will
occur underground and quietly
and will interfere in no way with
the major policies of the Polit-
buro, which is unanimous in it's
desire for Russia to dominate the
world. AS far as the U. S. S. r.,
it's satellites and the rest of the
world is concerned there will be
united front in the Kremlin. al
though either one or the other
faction leaders may disappear be-
cause of some grave illness"
Those who watch with fear the
transition of the U. S. S. r. from
a weak to a strong military power
and have given a good deal Of
thought to the threats which this
semi-Asiatic empire presented to
the world are convinced that
nothing hI,t q displav of strength