Browning chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1941-1953, 1952-02-01
BY FARNHAM F. DUDGEON
Editor, WNU
Second in a Series

Second In a Series
Europeans today are having an
extremely difficult time trying to
face in two opposite directions at
the same time. There is, of course,
the ever present Soviet threat Of
military invasion.
Europe Is Concerned
But, as the United States enters
into crucial election year in which
the fate Of European military and
economic aid will be determined in
congressional debate in next No.
vember's election, these people are
extremely concerned with political
events in the United States.
American taxpayers can feel fair.
ly sure on one important aspect of
this situation. Their representatives
from both houses of Congress have
poured into Europe in good num-
bers to observe first-hand the po-
litical and military situation as it
exists.
When the great debates start. both
in the halls of Congress and on the
campaign platforms of Americas
home towns, there will be store of
first-hand observations, which will
enable the American voters to ask
direct questions ard be reasonably
sure of getting well-founded replies
with regard to the stake we have in
Europe.
Both American officials and the
officials of other countries told us
that these congressman and sena-
tors, who visited them, took a good
look and should be able to present
clear picture. We noticed that
both political parties were we'll rep
resented in these congressional in
spection teams.
No Backing Down
If economic and military aid from
the United States were to be with
drawn, or seriously curtailed, it
would be difficult to speculate on
the outcome of such action. These
countries certainly would not inn
mediately back down, or Ego over
to the other side".
Countries like Turkey, Greece and
Yugoslavia have no choice but to
stand as firmly as they can against
the Soviet Union. In Turkey we were
told, for example, that the world
would not be in such a sorry s-ate
today if other countries had taken
as firm position against Russia as
have the Turks.
In Yugoslavia there is great con-
Germ on the part of many observers,
as to whether or not the people of
the United States are completely
convinced that the Tito detection
from the Kremlin has been complete
and unqualified. Our representatives
in Europe voice the general opinion
that Yugoslavia has, indeed, cast
her lot with the West.
In countries like Italy and France,
there are thousands of people who
still vote as Communists" How
ever, the general appraisal of these
voters by American officials seems
to be that only a small percentage
are real "hard-core" Communists.
They ally themselves with Commu-
nists and vote for Communist can
didates as a protest against the
other political parties which cur
rently govern these nations.
II the cold war turned to a hot
one. these people would undoubtedly
fight against the Russian Commu-
nists. There would be some local
sabotage, of course, but the MAORI
ty would support the west.
A subject of continuing specula-
ton by thinking men in Europe to-
day is this problem of the will to
fight. Europe is tired. Its economy
has been shattered by almost nom
ending wars through the first half Of
this century. Its people bear physi-