Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-09-02
BY EARL H. voss

1t is by now pretty well known
that George F. Kennan, the pre-
maturely retired diplomat who
Specializes in Soviet affairs, sub
scribes to the theory that the
human element is probably the
predominant factor in shaping
world history.
Individual preferences, small
deeds by small men suddenly made
key manipulators at crucial mo-
ments, even the smell of rooms
where decisions. are taken-all
these are among the myriad I'M
eataloged influences that have a
profound bearing on history, in Mr..
Remnants view.
In his new book, Russia Leaves
the War" princeton: $3.50, Mr..
KEENAN, uses recent history very
convincingly to illustrate his theory.
His comments are especially in
tereSting since he, as principal
architect of our postwar policy
of containment toward Soviet COM
munism, has had a great influence
on the course of United States
diplomacy. Also, the possibility
that he would return to high gov
eminent position if the Democrats
should regain control of the White
House enhances the Importance of
the book.
At first glance, Mr.. KEENAN, has
written a narrative history of the
turbulent days in Russia during
World War I, from the Bolshevik
seizure of power in November, 1917,
until RuSsia's withdrawal from the
war in March 1918. At second
glance, his work is a textbook for
foreign service officers and Secre-
tarieS of State, a Monday morning
quarterbacking job, SO to speak.
A Reflective Mon q
The author is by nature a highly
reflective man. In the preface to
this work, which he completed at
that scholars paradise, the In
stitute of Advance Studies in
Princeton, N. j.. the former State
Department policy planning chief
and former Ambassador to the So
Wet Union expounds this theory
of history and statecraft:
THE more ! saw Of these records Of
the doines Of on official generation
slightly older than my own. the more it
was borne in upon me that the genuine
imose Of the diplomatic process is hord-
" TO be reeoptured in historical norro-
tive unless the lens through which it
is viewed is q sharp one and the humun
texture Of which II consists becomes Wis
IDLE in considerable detoil The octs and
decisions Of craftsmanship will seldom
be found entirely ineligible IL viewed
aport from the immediate context Of
time and circumstance as
sociotes, pressures, prejudiees, impulses,
and momentory neeessities-in which
they occur.
.. II is my hope thot this work.
will at leost serve os further Illustration
Of the woy the diplomacy Of our century
really vorks--of the moUeIous monner
in which purpose, personality, coincidence,
communication, and the endless COM
pIexity Of the modern world combine to
form q process beyond the full vision or
comprehension OF onY single contempt
rory"
Coincidence Stressed
Mr. Remnants careful research
has turned UP striking evidence to
support his theories. To support
his contention that coincidence"
is q vital factor in diplomacy he
reports in one cryptic sentence that
"the Bolshevik capture of the Win
ter Palace their decisive move to
power in Leningrad on November
8. 1910 occurred because there was
much disunity and vacillation
among It's defenders. and someone
had inadvertently left the back
door open"
He has dredged UP ponderous
quantities Of evidence to prove that
the American performance in Len
ingrad ct the time Of the Bolshevik
revolution was short Of brilliant.
He suggests that the United States
actually hastened the fall OF the
moderate Kerensky government by
insisting that disinterested Russia
continue in World War I. Any
eursory observation e Tia RuasiAn