Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-02-14
Middle East and Russia

having eueCLlVely Increased tension
in the Middle East by its intrigueS and
by such direct measures as arranging
for fear-breeding arms shipments to
Egypt, the Soviet Union now has issued
a high-powered propaganda blast aimed
at Sabotaging Western efforts to promote
peace in the area.
These efforts, besides involving be-
hind the-sceneS moves to bring about
-and-let-live understanding between
the Arabs and Israelis, include Anglo
French-American consultations. The con-
situations are being held in keeping with
the May, 1850, declaration pledging the
three Western powers to take peace
preserving action together, both inside
and outside the United Nations, Gin the
event Of the use of force or threat Of
force or of preparations to violate the
frontier or armiStice lines"
The sole objective of all this, as
affirmed by President Eisenhower and
Prime Minister Eden at their recent
meeting here, is to mitigate the risk Of
war. And to that end, among other things,
favorable consideration is being given
to the idea of strengthening the U. N
truce supervisory organization. AS for
additional measures-Such as economic
sanctions, naval blockade or conceivably
even the use of troops-there is nothing
imminent about them, and this is espe-
cially true as regards troops, whose dis
patch would seem to be altogether i'm
probable except in the case Of an extreme
emergency affecting Western security.
Nevertheless, in the statement issued
yesterday through its Foreign Ministry,
the Kremlin-with typical mixture Of
half-truths, gross distortions and down.
right heS-has spread the impression that
the Western powers are on the very verge
of sending ground forces to the Middle
East. According to the statement, they
are about to do this in order to encroach
upon the independence and sovereignty
of the Arab countries and exploit the oil
wealth there for their own enrichment
at the expense Of the peoples Of the area
And the statement goes on to warn that
Moscow has legitimate interest in that
part of the world and that any action to
preserve peace in the region cannot be
taken without the sanction Of the U. N
Security Council, where the Soviet veto
Is operable.
In other words, the Kremlin has
taken a position that would enable 1t to
block any concerted pacifying action, and
1t has done this in way that is meant
to appeal particularly to the Arabs. Fur
ther, in setting forth their views, the
Russians have ringingly asserted that
they will continue to defend the cause
of peace, freedom and non-interference
in the internal affairs Of the Middle
Eastern countries, and they have made
a strong point-and not an implauSible
one-in declaring that their interests
must be reckoned with in efforts to bring
peace to the area
From the standpoint Of propaganda
in the Middle East, it would be mistake
to underestimate the potential attrac-
tiveness of this line. The West must
counter it with something more than
mere indignation, and one must hope
that the Arabs will not forget how For
eign Minister Molotov sought to claim
most of the region as part Of the Com
munist empire during the Soviet-Nazi
wartime alliance. Actually, despite their
piouS proteStationS, there is every reason
to believe that the Russians are as intent
as ever upon winning domination over
the area and nothing could better suit
their purposes than continued turmoil
there.