Evening star., 1951-06-17

SAAAVS0 0t0VCo.
What has the year meant to
war? Have the years developme
or made it more remote?
Those questions were put to AS.
sociated Press correspondents ir
10 key spots--men thorough,
familiar with basic trends and thu
underlying views of things come
With some "ifs," the consensu.
is that the worlo of today is far.
ther from general war than it wa.
a year ago. The Vests strength
is growing steadily. It has dem.
onstrated, in deeds as well a,
words, its will to resist aggression
Those are some of the factors thai
raise Western hopes that the fret
peoples fire departments are ir
better shape to control the sparks
that might set off World War II
than they were in June, 1850.
Against those factors must be
weighed the possibility that the
Soviet Union thinks it must act
soon if at all. Following are the
A. P. correspondents reports ir
detail.
Washington
JOHN M. HIGHTOWER -
Events of the past year have
strengthened the long range
prospects for avoiding a third
world war, but have made the i'm
mediate future more dangerous
The process of building strength
has been greatly accelerated by
the practical proof of the dangers
Of war which Korea provided.
A real counterbalance to Soviet
forces, however, will take two OF
three years to accomplish. Thi:
means that for another two year.
or so, the Soviet Union will con-
tinue to have an advantage ovel
the western bloc as far as tota
power is concerned.
The world is now in period oi
maximum danger. This is char.
acterized by the theory that il
the Russians are ever to strike
they will do so before the West.
strength has reached the pro.
hibitive level-and after their owr
atomic strength has reached the
necessary minimum.
Overall, official Washington
seems to believe there is good
chance the Russians will not
strike. and that the world will pass
through this maximum danger
period into more stabilized time
United Nations
MAX HARRELSON-UnitedNa Ma
tions diplomats mostly agree that
the outlook for peace is a little
better now than a year ago. No
one is extremely optimistic. But
there is a feeling that the firm at
titude of non-Communist coun-
tries may have served as a brake
on any aggressive plans the Reds
had.
Chief United States Delegate
Warren r. Austin recently de-
clared, "World War III can be
prevented if we maintain our
strength. unity and cooperation. F"
It is the U. N. view that the free
worlds onstrations of
strength, unity and cooperation
in the past year already have
tipped the scales slightly on the
side Of peace.
London
ARTHUR GAVSHON-The Ko-
rean campaign has in some ways
increased, in other ways reduced,
the chances of World War III. 1t
touched off the sort of arms race
which, in the past, has ended in
wars. With atom bombs and guns
piling up, the overall outlook has
become graver, in London'S view.
Yet the Korean War alerted
peoples and governments to the
dangers ahead and so helped the
influences for peace.
The official view is that U. N.
action in resisting aggression
strengthened peace by showing
the Communists that wars don't
pay. But British split-minded edness
shows in every analysis. Officials
who help shape Government
policy say Korea too easily can
spark a bigger war-and may
well do SO if it is not ended soon.
Poris
PRESTON GROVER - Both
French and American officials
here feel developments of the
last year have made a third war
more remote. In recent months
there has been some reaction be-
cause of delay ia settling the Ko-
rean issue. But the net result is
that France and other European
countries have taken stronger
steps toward rearmament thar
could have been expected other
wise.
For a time, Frenchmen were ex-
pressing fear that Gen. Mac
Arthur's policies, as understood
here, were going to precipitate q
general war. His recall restored
some confidence in U. S. foreign
policy.
Frankfurt
DANIEL DE LUCE-Allied Of
ficials in Germany share the view
that Korea touched off develop
ments which have done more tc
postpone a third war than to ad-
vance it. They concede war is ex.
tremely difficult to avoid. but are
continuing to work on the posi-
bility it can be avoided. Initial
Western defense measures are be.
lieved to have increased sizably
TIA KravSaIiy,Sc NO I0yaIafod 1.iSE 1,