Evening star., 1950-12-17

are far superior to those in Europ
lead those masses, which for cent
another of dictatorship-either
Western or native. These masses
far greater in numbers than the
whole of Europe and America
could be made easier tools in the
hands of their new masters than
the unreliable" peoples behind
the iron curtain in Europe.
The subjects of the Kremlin in
Europe once were all free and in
dependent. They accept Moscow's
domination because they could not
do otherwise. But Russia knows
that if Western Europe were to de-
velop real military strengh-and
there is nothing but a remote hope
it will do so-the Europeans who
now have a Moscow-imposed die
tatorship could not be relied on to
fight on Russia's side.
The situation in Asia is COM
pletely different. Whatever po-
litical ideologies exist on that con-
tinent are shared only by a few
top leaders, who are still resentful
Of the Western European colonial
powers. The vast mass of more
than a billion persons are inter-
ested only in food and shelter and,
by centuries-old habit, obey what
ever rulers are imposed on them.
The majority of the present sub
versive leaders in China, Indo-
China, Burma. India and Malaga
are Russian trained. While many
OF them are genuine Communist
1deologists. many others are in
terested principally in what ad-
vantage they can derive personally
from siding with one or another Of
the antagonists. And so long as
Russia shows herself as the
strongest military power in the
world and demonstrates that she
can defeat the slow-moving
United States this handful of men
will play along with the Soviets.
Neither the point-four program
nor actual economic help can in
fiuence these people. They are
not interested in the welfare OF
the masses. They are interested
IN their own self-promotion and
their position in the new order
They are overawed by physical
strength. which Russia has dem
onstrated she possesses, while we
demonstrate the contrary.
Emphasis on Europe
These are the basic elements
which lead many military and
civilian observers in the United
States to the conclusion that the
U. S. S. r. will merely "hold the
line" in Europe. while pressing
her main effort to cause American
collapse in the Far East.
Our Government does not seem
to share this point of view. The
most important decision reached
during the f1ve-day conference be-
tween President Truman and
Prime Minister Attlee was that
We should consider Europe as the
theater of decision in the now
open conflict with the Kremlin.
This means that henceforth what
ever military forces become avail
able after general mobilization has
been ordered will be sent across
the Atlantic.
Washington already has an
nounced that no more reinforce
ments can be sent across the
Pacific. Moreover, our diplomats
are still reluctant to enlist the
support of the only country which
can offer trained manpower in
the Far East: The forces of Ma
tionalist China on Formosa sup
ported by at least 1.3 million ac-
tive guerrillas commanded by
Nationalist officers.
This hesitation is difficult to
understand, in the face of the
open war which 100000 Chinese
Communist troops have been
vaging for the last 3 weeks against
our armed forces. One explana-
tion is that we are bound by the
whims of other members of the
United Nations, even in the midst
OF active warfare directed at the
security Of our country.
Russia is not so bound. She
h q United Nations" unto her
self. capable of flouting the will
Of the international organization
at Lake Success because Of her
greater military strength. We are
seriously cooperating with the
United Nations. Russia is merely
using 1t as a sounding board for