Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-11-01
DR.. Edmund A. Walsh,
GU Russian Expert, Dies

Inc Rev. DR.. Edmund A. walsh
is. j.. II. vice president Of
Georgetown University and in
|ternationally known expert OF
Soviet Russia, died of a brair
Ihemorrhage yesterday at George.
town Hospital. He had been il
poor health since a stroke il
December, 1852.
Father Walsh's knowledge o.
world affairs came not only from
Learned studies but from first.
hand experience in many quar-.
tiers of the world. including Rus.
Isia, Europe and the Far East
He probably did as much as any
man of his time to awaken thu
free world to the dangers Of
lSoviet aggression.
I The militant churchman OTTER
called public attention to the
possibility of an atomic war. HI
did this while the Western ma.
tons were disafming hastily
after World War II in response
to popular demand.
! Father Walsh did not hesitate
to raise the question:
Can a democracy faced with
totalitarian enemies afford to sill
back and await a sneak attack
which undoubtedly would be
vastly more destructive than that
on Pearl Harbor?
1 Nor did he hesitate to give his
own answer. If this Nation hao
moral gertrude" that such ar
iattack was imminent, he wrote
in The Star on December "a
1850, we would be morally JUS
titled" in using the atomic bomt
to foreStall it.
The moral and emotional as
poets of this awesome question
aroused a controversy which
might have overwhelmed a man
of lesser stature.
Meets Critics
But Father Walsh was we'll
Equipped to meet his critics. Few
men in the United States knew
as much about Russia and the
Communist Party as he did. He
knew the origin and aims of the
Russians as scholar, historian
and practical observer.
Moreover, the Jesuit was con-
vinced he stood on moral ground
as solid as the natural right
tof self-defense. He believed
that Soviet refusal to disbano
ITS mighty armed forces after
World War II was clear warn
ing to all free men. He knew
1.-THE expansion of the Soviets had
gone far beyond the USSR's
security needs.
Father Walsh, had seen the
Wreckage of war and his prayers
for peace were as fervent as
those of less aggressive church.
men.
But Father Walsh rejected
the idea of peace at any price
His message to the free world
was that only armed force
backed by spiritual strength and
good government could halt the
expansion of Soviet power, with
its negation of religion, moral
standards and the dignity OF
man. He spread the message
with remarkable skill and
energy.
Father Walsh was a platform
orator whose knowledge OF
history and languages lent him
power and wide appeal. In re-
cent years, he delivered more
than 1900 lectures outside his
regular classroom engagements
| In addition, Father Walsh wa:
a writer whose records of the
great struggle between the East
and West already have become
valuable additions to world his
tory.
HOnOred in 1852
In November, 1852. Father
Walsh was honored by community
and national leaders of many
faiths upon the occasion Of the
50th anniversary of his entrance
into the Jesuit order.
At the golden jubilee celebra-
ton, the handsome, white haired
Ichurchman was praised for his
long service to church and coun-
try. More than so diplomats
Judges. clergymen, high military
officers and businessmen were
seated at the head table during
the testimonial dinner.
Speakers outlined some of the
high points of Father Walsh's
distinguished career. One of the
Iirst was his appointment by Pope
Plus I as director of the Papal
Relief Mission to Russia in 1922
This occurred while the church
man was member Of the Ameri-
can Relief Administration in Eu-
rope under former President
Hoover.
While in Russia, Father Walsh
supervised the feeding Of $4,000