Evening star., 1951-04-15
Russians Might ProIong
Cold War Indefinitely
Writer Wonders How Long US.
Con Stand Economic Struin
By, Fronk r. Kent

Despite the alarming statements of
Speaker Rayburn and the shock of the
Macarthur removal, q growing number
OF thoughtful and informed men not
only In the State Department but in
the Pentagon as well are swinging to
the view, previously noted in this space.
that the last thing the Soviet Union
intends is to precipitate an all-out war
with us and our anti Communist Allies.
There is general agreement about that.
The argument is that imperialistic die
tatorships attack only when they think
they can win; that the stronger we grow
land we are doing that daily the greater
the surety there will be no Soviet at
tack. This being so, 1t would seem to
justify an optimistic view of the future.
But that is not true at all. Even ruling
out the full-scale shooting war there
Is little In the situation to cheer. For
there appears nothing to prevent the
cold war" from continuing for good
many years. This, it is agreed, is q hor-
rible prospect but not at all an improb-
able one.
The idea, Of course. fits In with the
basic Russian strategy Of promoting our
destruction by undermining our domestic
economy. BY this means, it is held, the
eventual wreck Of the Nation can be
accomplished by our enemies just as
surely and far more cheaply than by a
successful war. BY this means we could
be made to ruin ourselves. Accordingly,
for more than decade, besides stealing
our state secrets and fomenting internal
dissenSion, the Communist effort has
been concentrated upon forcing us into
calamitouS national bankruptcy from
which chaos must ensue. This is so COM
pletely provable that 1t is not open to
debate.
Looking back over the past six years
what, in pursuit Of this policy, Russia
has done to us can be clearly seen. a.
She has blasted the hope Of international
peace by deliberately scuttling the United
Nations, rendering 1t feeble, futile and
foolish; co by her provocative and
aggressive acts she has forced us into
the Korean war, where we have suffered
more than $4,000 casualties and ex-
pended billions Of dollars. Clearly, the
Russians intend to keep the Korean
business going indefinitely, which means
we must sustain there very large armed
force. suffer more casualties and expend
more billions; CD by her hostile and
recalcitrant course In Europe she is COM
pelling us to build up a great American
Army over there and pour out our un-
counted billions to mobilize this country
and aid our Allies against the threatened
assault
Without precipitating war, this state
OF affairs, which over long period
would impose an almost intolerable
strain on Federal finances and subject
our people to almost unbearable taxation,
can be continued almost indefinitely by
the Soviets-at infinitely less strain and
cost to them than to us. And, il after
another year, as War Mobilizer wilson
asserts, we shall have become so strong
that Russia could not possibly win war.
still, we shall not be able to relax, reduce
or retreat. We must continue to pour
out the billions for maintenance of our
vast armed forces in Asia and Europe:
for the replacement of Sweapons which
rapidly become obsolete and for the
buttresSing Of our inescapable leadership
OF the free world. It will be no more
possible then to withdraw than it is
possible now. Our economic dislocation
is sure to become great and our whole
fiscal position fraught with peril.
II things work out In this way land
the only alternative seems to be a
general wary. the question arises as to
how long will the patience and the
fortitude Of the American people endure?
How long will our morale remain steady?
Can we outlast the Russians in this ''war
Of nerves?"