Evening star., 1951-05-20

ing for the men in the Kremlin.
After these many years of in
tense propaganda and subversions
in all strata of Americas society
the American people are still
patriotic-in the old meaning Of
the word-and ready for any
test.
INATO but a Blueprint
This unquestionably is a far
more important factor in the re-
ported decision of Russia to strike
this year. The Kremlin knows
that for the time being NATO is
no more than a blueprint. It has
failed to do anything constructive
for the creation of a real army.
! France and Britain are in the
throes of a domestic political
crises. Even if we remove from
the picture the important factor
! OF Communist domination or in
filtration in British and French
social life, the people of both these
European pillars of the NATO are
war-weary and afraid that an
other war would doom them.
Maybe Russia does not possess
the Stockpile of atom bombs with
which to wage a destructive
atomic bombardment of the
United States. Maybe she does
not have all the planes she needs
for offensive operations. Maybe
she does not have all the neces-
sary amounts of high-octane gas
and Oil for a continued operation.
But in relation to the state of
unpreparedness of Western Euro
pean nations. she has more than
enough to Jump the gun and still
get to the channel within a few
weeks after her massed forces
have started moving.
The few American divisions on
the way to Germany may cause a
delay of few days or even two
weeks. But they alone. with the
meager support of the NATO
forces, will not be able to stop the
Reds, particularly if the operations
in Europe take place simultane-
ouSly with an extension of pres
ient military actions in the Far
East.
i The real reason for Frances and
Britain's absolute opposition to
inclusion in Western defense of
all nations with strong military
potential Germany, Spain,
Greece, Turkey, etc. - is not so
much the fear or dislike of these
people, but the fear that such an
action might invite Russian
|, ATTACK.
Hope for Delay
/ They know that so long as the
rearmament program proceeds
slowly Russia. which is well in
formed of the real situation.
might mark time in the hope Of
picking Western Europe like a
ripe plum after the United States
defeat in the Far East is COM
plete.
:. But the new trend among the
. American people to resist Russian
aggression wherever and when
ever it develops may have impor-
tant repercussions on the rest Of
the free world. Under the impact
of public opinion the Allied gov
ernments may be forced to trans
late their present slow defense
measures into actual efforts.
Moreover, there is an even strong
, er possibility that before the sum-
mer is over the United States gov
!, ernment, under the impact of pub
lie opinion, may begin to provide
the Spaniards, the Turks, the
Greeks and the Germans with the
proper equipment for their armed
forces, which far exceed those of
the other Allies in numbers and
training.
, AT present. however, these fac
tors are only "potentials," which
Russia can disrupt by a direct
+ action which would disturb what
ever strong defense Europe and
America may organize in the fu-
, ture. For the time being Western
Europe is in a political turmoil
with various political parties
Jockeying for power. The military
, forces of the NATO are smaller
than they were year ago, because
France had to reduce her nine
combat divisions by three, which
had to be sent to North Africa and
Indo-China.
~. S. Not Ready
For the time being also the
INATO's veto on the inclusion of
real European military powers
Spain, Turkey and Greece-still
stands and will not be immedi-
/ ately overruled by the United
) States. Moreover, in this country.
5 Gen. Bradley. chairman of the
Joint Chiefs of Staff, testified be-
. fore the Senate Armed Services
/ and Foreign Relations Committees
, last Tuesday that America is not
= ready for a showdown with Rus
/ sia and should not risk a world
conflict by adopting Gen. Mac
Arthur's war proposals"
This declaration is factual as
,, far as our immediate preparedness
is concerned. 1t is also we'll
;, known to Moscow. where in the
past our most intimate military,
/. scientific and diplomatic secrets
have been no secret at all. But
this situation existed also in 1941,
before Pearl Harbor. Yet as soon
; as the Oriental branch of the Axis
committed an aggression, the
: American people resolutely went
) Ito war.