Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-08-07
West Surprised to Find
Trade Block Hurts Reds

largely secret because England.
France. Norway. Belgium and
the Netherlands made 1t a con-
dition that the degree Of their
compliance with the United
States embargo-blockade be
kept from their own people.
In the field of nonmilitary
trade, compliance by the Allies
has been mixture Of zeal and
slackness. In items Of high
military value, the embargo,
despite hot arguments over
technical definition, was and
is rigid.
The last Of the administra-
tors of the act, Harold E.
Stassen, settled much Of the
controversy on strategic goods
last year. He agreed with off,
Gals Of other Nations that the
list Of things to be denied
Russia and satellites be re-
duced To 2l7 categories, but
that prohibitions on these
should be rigidly enforced.
The blockade Of China re-
mains rigid and ali-inclusive.
1t covers a wide list Of COM
nlodities nonmilitary as well
as military. @
The summing up on the ef-
fectiveneSs OF this vast, COM
plicated. international opera
ton was always good FOR an
argument before Geneva. Ger
tain Senators chose to en-
phasize the leaks, gaps and
laxities. Others insisted that
the amount Of world co-opera-
ton In blacklisting the Com
munist world was remarkable.
When Soviet Marshal Bulganin
raised the embargo-blockade
issue to the level of such East
West issues as Germany and
disarmament, he gave it a new
stature in the United States.
Russion Reasons
Why does Russia want the
embargo lifted? There are at
least three reasons.
. The embargo. while limited
Al It's application to Russia,
lovers a wide list for China
and is SO rigidly enforced as to
be almost Gripping. In de-
manding an end of boycott
blockades. Bulganin hopes for
such relaxation as will rescue
not only China but the Soviet
Union, which must help its
ally over the rough spots.
. What was formerly sur
missed is now taken as con-
firmed: United States intel
ligence services guessed right
when they compiled the stra-
tegic list of chemicals, ma
chimes. tools and precision
equipment and materials basic
to Russia's industrial military
buildup. Clearly. Russia needs
these strategic items.
. BY It's very existence, and
irrespective of it's effectiveness.
a world lineup of so nations
against the Soviet bloc is as
damaging a humiliation to So
Wet prestige as any that Russia
could name. Just as NATO is a
statement by Is nations pro-
claiming to the world that I'VE
don't trust the Soviet Union"
a 50-nation trade boycott
stands as a condemnation of
the USSR.
Whether the embargo is
lifted depends on the National
Security Council, State De-
partmept and Congress. par
ticularly Congress. The huge
international organization that
operates the anti-Russian en-
barge and anti China block
ade is a congressional creature.
The Battle Act was a strategic
notion evolved on the Hill.
Congress will be slow to kill
1t, particularly now when it
seems to have put Russia in a
mood to conciliate.
The Nub
In the minds of Congress-
men. this is the heart of the
matter: What can the Kremlin
offer as a concession to per-
suade Congress to kill the en-
udFBO-DlOckaQeG
At this point the answer can
be given only in the most gen.
eral terms. Certainly no sweet
talk will satisfy Our legislators.
The Soviet Union will have to
make concrete concessions,
probably Of the scope of roll
ing up the Iron Curtain or
genuinely cutting its arms
budgets before Congress skep-
ticism can be overcome. Even
then. 1t seems likely that 1t
will take years before Capitol
Hill can build up confidence
In the Kremlin.