Evening star., 1951-08-08
The Same Old Line

in groove and wheeling out the same old line
over and over again, the Kremlin has done no
more than repeat itself in most uresome
fashion in its latest peace" proposal to the
United States AS addressed to President Tru-
man by his fgurehead counterpart in Moscow,
the proposal-accompanied by resolution of
the "Presidium of the Supreme Soyiet'-is just
about as fresh as last months bread and as
truthful as Baron Munchausen. Looked at from
any angle, it turns the realities upside down and
offers nothing new-nothing whatever--in the
form of suggestions designed to ease inter-
national tensions.
Thus, in this message to Mr. Truman, the
Kremln has taken occasion once again-for the
thousandth time-to tell the fairy tale of how
the Soviet Union is the most peace-loving and
friendliest of nations how it threatens nobody,
how its doors are wide open to free contact
among all peoples and how its only interest in
life is to build hydroelectric dams and make
humanity happy everywhere. Unfortunately,
however in some states"-meaning particularly
the United States-there are certain Circles"
villainously plotting to unleash" war in order
to line their pockets with billions Of dollars in
profits These circles" are responsible, "aS is
known" for the nefarious Atlantic Pact, for the
development of u. S. bases overseas, for "gi-
gantic" American rearmament and for other
measures aimed at attacking and destroying the
U. S. S. r.
But the U. S. S. R., ever the white -plumed
knight in shining armor, and still devoted to
the good-hearted, constructive task of spreading
happiness and freedom by building dams and
irrigation systems, is determined to keep on
leading the fight for beautiful world liberated
from the fear of war. Accordingly, with great
fanfare, 1t has come forward again with its old,
old request that all parties concerned adopt its
plan for disarmament, for the prohibition of
atomic weapons and for big conference of the
United States Britain, France, Communist China
and the Soviet Union to conclude fve-power
pact "for the strengthening of peace" The only
thing wrong with this plan, of course, is that
the United Nations has long since overwhelm-
ingly rejected it as completely phony-mere
propaganda designed, among other things, to
circumvent the U. N. (whose principles the
Kremlin has steadily Violated, promote a slow
down in the Vests rearmament effort, split up
the common defensive front being organized by
the free nations, and in general make the way
easier for dominance seeking Red aggression.
The nature of this propaganda may best be
understood when measured against such ques-
tions as the following: What country, in fragrant
violation Of the United Nations Charter and
solemn pledges made at Yalta and elsewhere,
has subverted almost dozen independent
lands in Europe? Who has persistently frus-
trated the will Of the overwhelming majority of
the u N. in matters like establishing genuinely
effective atomic control? While the free world
dsarmed to the point of virtual defenselessness,
which land maintained-and still maintains
tremendous armed forces? What government
has set up the Iron Curtain to cut off hundreds
Of millions Of oppressed people from the truth?
Who has been openly threatening Yugoslavia?
Who has been the inspirer of the aggression in
Korea? What power is ceaselessly engaged in
an unprecedented propaganda campaign of hate
melting lies against the countries it says 1t
wants to be friends with?
These questions-which could be added to
almost without end-are enough to explain why
the Soviet proposal to President Truman must
be regarded as a piece of hackneyed fakery
Actually there can be no true meeting of minds
here until the men of the Kremlin show will
ingnesS to abide by what So members of the
United Nations have adopted as the essentials
of peace"-essentials that include commitments
by every land % to refrain from using or
threatening to use force in violation of the
U. N. Charter, (2) to honor the independence of
its neighhorS, 90 to live up to its treaty pledges,
~ to remove barriers-the Iron Curtain-to the
free exchange of information, (5) to uphold
fundamental human rights, and (6) to join in
real atomic control. Certainly as long as Red
Russia continues to do violence to these and
similar principles, any olive branch it extends
will be meaningless, and our world will have to
build up the strength it must have to guard ITSELF