Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-11-06
lime of DANGER

Inc soviet Union, with free Hun
gary'S blood still fresh on It's hands. is
calling for armed Intervention to restore
peace in the Middle East.
We can reject at once the pretensions
to virtue which run through the Soviet
demands. But We cannot lightly dis
regard the grave threat of bigger war
with which we are now confronted.
Russia has moved on several diplo-
matte fronts. A note to President Eisen-
hover called for Joint Russian-U United
States military action in support of Egypt
under United Nations direction. The
White House has rejected this as sun
thinkable." Separate notes were sent by
Moscow to Britain, France and Israel.
These were grim and threatful in tone,
limiting at Russian action in the Middle
East without reference to the United Ma
lions. Finally, the Russians carried their
demand for joint Soviet-American inter-
vention to the Security Council, where it
was rejected by vote of to 3. We
should not overlook the fact, however,
that France and England joined in the
adverse vote. The only opposing nations
which are not lighting in Egypt were the
OHlCeu OIaCeS ana Australia.
The White House statement suggest
ed that this is propaganda maneuver
by the Russians, and specifically termed
the moves IAN obvious attempt to divert
world attention from the Hungarian
tragedy" This may be the case, but we
think the tone of the notes to France,
Britain and Israel must be causing deep
concern In official circles These notes
spoke of Russia as being vitality inter-
ested" in peace and calm in the Middle
East and warned that war may spread
to other countries and become a third
world war" The note to Britain con-
tanned this language:
We are fully determined to crush the
aggressors and restore peace in the East
through the use of force
We hope at this critical moment you will
display due prudence and draw the CORE
spending conclusions from this.
1t is hard to see how an official COM
munication from one government to an
other could be more ominouS in tone.
Perhaps 1t is bluff, calculated to cover the
trail of Russia's own criminal aggression
In Hungary. But we should not overlook
VIZ AoNV OAAaO oOIlC OUCGLNCIS
as result of the Eastern European de-
bacle the influence of the old Stain men
Is rising in Moscow. We should note that
Egypt has appealed to other nations for
help, including volunteers" Finally, we
should remember that the Middle East is
one OF the strategic crossroads of the
world. 1t would be unwise to assume
that the Russians would be Indifferent,
except for propaganda purposes, to the
re-establishment Of Western control Of
that area.
All of which brings us back to the
General Assembly'S plan, backed by the
United States, to send United Nations
police force into Egypt to stop the fight
Ing and restore peace. What is contem-
plated is force of some 10000 men,
made up of troops supplied by the smaller
nations. In view of the turn that events
have taken, one is compelled to ask
whether this proposal conforms to the
realities of the situation that confronts
us Are we on the road to peace, or is
the aggressive venture in the Middle East,
which France and Britain seem deter
mined to pursue, threatening the world
with war of undetermined duration and
unforeSeeable magnitude