Evening star., 1953-02-11
Soviet Wedge-Driving

In its first open comment on President
Eisenhowers FormoSa decision, the Kremlin-
speaking through Pravda editorial-has given
voice to mixed sentiments suggesting that 1t Is
not entirely displeased with the development
Thus, while assailing the decision as move
by "the ruling clique Of the United States" to
prevent a Korean peace settlement and to
expand the scale Of war action in the Far
East" the editorial notes-in what seems to be
a self-satisfied manner-that the Presidents
"deneutralizing" orders to the 7th Fleet have
stirred up considerable criticism in Britain,
France, India and other countries in the nom
Soviet world AS Pravda sees 1t, this initial
hostile reaction proves the soundness Of the
thesis set forth last october by Generalissimo
Stalin-namely, that our relations with our
principal allies are going to become increasingly
unfriendly and that armed conflict among the
capitalist countries is inevitable because the
British French Germans, ETC., will eventually
try to break out of American bondage" and
slavery"
Absurd as this thesis may be- there can
be no doubt that strains exist between the
United States and its allies and that these
StrainS-though not now basic-can grow In
seriousness unless all parties concerned make
a special effort to avoid the divisive effects OF
misunderstanding over such issues as the
Formosa decision, possible blockade of Red
China and similar measures aimed at ending
the military stalemate in Korea. Needless to
say, of course, the Kremlin is watching and
waiting to exploit every kind of rift, no matter
how small, among the free nations currently
engaged in building up common defensive
front against the ever-present threat Of Red
aggression. Certainly, in Europe and Asia alike,
the Russians have made 1t abundantly clear
not once but many timeS-that they are out to
do all that they can to profit from what Pravda
calls new aggravations of disagreement In the
camp Of the Anglo-American bloc"
At present the area of this disagreement is
much smaller than the area Of agreement
within the free world. Nevertheless, as the
Formosa ruckus has indicated, large segments
of public opinion in non-Soviet countries abroad
public opinion Of sort that influences the
course of politically sensitive governments
less than perfect confidence in all aspects Of our
leadership and tend at times to be fearful that
our country may resort to dangerously rash and
impulsive acts in dealing with problems like
the one in Korea. Regardless Of how ILL
founded it may be, this is frame Of mind
that must be reckoned with. It Is what the
Krenlin is always seeking to exploit, now more
so than ever, in a ceaseless attempt to drive
wedges between us and our friends and thus
weaken and undermine the collective security
being organized against aggressive communism.
In the circumstances, few things could be
more important than that the United States
and like-minded nations join in promoting the
fullest possible mutual understanding of each
others motives and detectives This may not be
easy to accomplish, but 1t needs to be accom-
plished If the Soviet wedge-drivers are to be
prevented from doing real harm to the common
allied cause.