Evening star., 1951-07-22
Boruch PIon Still Not
Put Into Operation
Writer Says Russio Profits
From Inflotion Here
By Frank R. Kent

ny GFoHN N. NGut
Among thoughtful men the interna.
tional developments of the last few
weeks have greatly strengthened the
long-held view that Russia has no in
tention now of making military war on
us. This does not mean we should pro-
ceed on any other theory than that her
purposes are intensely hostile and
malignant, or that we can afford in
any way to relax our effort to become
militarily powerful.
It does mean that while we now ore
engaged in war with Russia it is an
economic war, and that unless precipi-
tated into it by unforeseen accident or
incident the Russians have no notion
whatever of making it general shoot
ing war. This is the conviction not only
of some of our ablest military men but
of some Of our most experienced diplo-.
mats. They base 1t on several reasons
chief Of which is that 1t would be ex-
tremely stupid for the Russians to per-
nit the present tensions to develop or
drift into a general war. While the
Kremlin leaders have been called
good many things. the charge of stu
pidity has not often been made. The
argument runs that they know. first,
that they could not win general war
against us and the rest of the free
world; second, they know they easily
might lose It, The risk Is much too
great. They would be insane to take 1t,
especially as their success in the eco
nomic war would be as devastating to
the United States as military success
and would bring to Russia all the fruits
of a military conquest without losing q
man.
On this subject, John T. Flynn, in
recent broadcast, declared: THE Soviet
objective is to make US commit suicide.
Her plan Is to keep us pouring out our
money for all sorts of things and in all
directions until we bankrupt ourselves.
And she can do just that. How long it
will take am not sure-at the rate we
are going a few years would be slf-
ficient. She could destroy the system
Of private enterprise in America with
out firing shot. And If she does that
she will have won the war" great
many persons. anything but isolationist
and who In the main are favorable to
the Truman foreign policies, neverthe-
less agree with Mr.. Flynn about the
possibilities Of Russia winning her eco
nonic war and of the catastrophe re-
suits thereof.
There isn't much argument about
what should be done. Few informed per-
sons want to curtail defense expendi-
lures or cripple the Marshall Plan. But
sensible men in both parties, not on the
Federal payroll, are, at least publicly,
in favor of controlling imitation. No man
HI; e. n,.oo
would dare take any other position. No
one disputes that control of imitation
is essential to the national health and
that without it our economic existence
is threatened. Under these conditions
it is almost incredible that no effective
move should have been made. Yet in
more than a year of acute crisis infla-
ton has steadily gained.
We have failed to grapple realistic
cally with the wage problem, with the
farm problem and with the tax prob
lem. More than year ago the Baruch
plan to prevent imitation was presented
and almost unanimously accepted as
sound. It was a f1ve-point program
high taxes, rigid economy, ceilings over
wages, food and rents. Mr. Baruch
again and again pointed out that this
program would not work If any part of
it were ignored All of it has been
ignored-and it is perfectly clear that
neither the President nor Congress has
the simple courage to grapple with the
big pressure groups who refuse to accept
controls. So clear is this that many
businessmen who strongly favored the
Baruch program as whole now oppose
the controls on the ground that under
present conditions they would create an
almost intolerable confusion.
Not many men conversant with the
facts can look on this situation without
shame and alarm. 1t is record Of
shocking inadequacy. 1t constitutes
terrific indictment of our system. The
brains and character to make it func-
ton seem lacking at the top in both
executive and legislative branches. We
know the things that should be done.
We know the peril involved in not doing
them. But we just do not do them.