Evening star., 1953-03-06
West Europe Reacts
With Uncertainty
To Stains S Death
BY the Assoeiatsd Press

LONOON, Mar. 6.-WeSCern
Europe reacted with fear and
uncertainty to the news today
that Stain is dead.
Except for loyal Communists
there was no shedding of tears
Most Europeans took the news
grimly. with only a few express
sions Of hope for a letup in the
cold war.
The biggest worry expressed
everywhere was that the new
ruler-or rulers-of Russia might
scrap Stalin's wary cold war pol
icies and possibly plunge the
world into a shooting conflict.
Few Clues to Successor.
Western diplomats studying
the official death announce
ment found scant clues to who
takes over now.
But the announcement. signed
by the central committee of the
Communist Party. the U. S. S. r
Council of Ministers and the
Presidium of the Supreme Sow
iet-Russia's three most power
full bodies-made it clear there
is no new bid for friendship with
the West.
The announcement promised
a continued buildup of the
Soviet army. navy and intelli-
gence services to deal "a decisive
rebuff to any aggressor." It
added pledges of friendship with
China and other Communist
satellites and with workers of
capitalist and colonial countries.
Some Western observers saw
signs of a possible crack in Com
muniSt unity in Moscow in the
announcements call for an all
out struggle against internal
and external foes" But many
feared any such disunity might
heighten the danger Of war
rather than lessen it.
West Germany Fearful.
The announcement of Stains
death carried with it cold fore
boding.
A report from Bonn said West
Germany received the news with
new fear. Millions of Germans
hated Stain, but they counted on
his shrewdness and patience to
avoid a hot war in Europe. His
passing deepened the political
split in West Germany over
whether to rearm now in the
European Defense Community.
Italy's anti Communist Pre-
mier Alcide de Gasperi said, 1.-THE
unknown for tomorrow remains
grave" He said if it is true that
Stains influence has kept Russia
from unleashing a new war. then
We must hope his successors will
accept this as a wise rule"
Scandinavians Polite.
Government leaders in Scan
dinavia, mindful perhaps of the
nearness of the Russian bear. de-
livered public statements politely
praising Stain.
q French politicians wondered
and worried aloud if a new So
Wet leader might bring war
nearer. - n
Comment by British newspa-
pers ranged from fears of greater
tension to hopes for agreement
between Russia and the West
with Yugoslavia President Tito
sitting in. perhaps. as a medi-
ator.
Commentaries beamed to the
east by privately operated Free
Europe transmitters in Germany
and Portugal cautioned that the
dictator's exit does not mean
immediate liberation, and that
premature resistance would be
suppressed r1ercilessly.
Diplomatic representatives of
most countries presented formal
eulogies to Stain and offered
their sympathy to the Russian
people.
1ndia's Prime Minister Java
harlal Nehru messaged Moscow
that Stalin's services to his
people in peace and war brought
him unique renown and his
death removed from the con-
temporary world a personality of
exceptional gifts and great
achievement"
But in Tel Aviy, the capital of
Israel, official sources said no
condolences would go from their
government to Moscow. The
Soviet Union severed relations
with Israel last month.