Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-06-23
More Open-Minded'


that he himself largely contributed
to isolating the two zones from
each other.
According to the discussion which
followed the Twentieth Party Con-
gress In Moscow, Stalinism's main
axiom was that the East-West
breach would continue to widen,
and that. therefore, the class
struggle would take on added Inn
petus on both the national and
the international planes. One more
step and war would have been con-
sidered as being inevitable. But
Stain always refused Ia take that
extra step. even though he--was
reluctant to sacrifice 9 single one
Of his trump cards to the cause of
appeasement.
NOpetheless. he declaredly be-
lieved that relations would I'M
prove. He himself told me 80 when
! met with him in 1851. ~
Successors Are ReoIists
Now. Is regards appeasement,
Stains successors showed them
selves to be considerably more
open minded than was their prede-
cessor. The year 1855 brought proof
Of their desire and ability to adj
Just themselves to reality. Il was
the year Of the Tapprochemsnt
with Yugoslavia, and Of the Aus
trian peace treaty. which brought
the withdrawal Of Soviet troops.
In recent years. Soviet policy has
Alternated between what we might
call the smiling offensive and the
offensive Of the frown, depending
upon momentary reactions to real
or imaginary dangers. Yet Dulles
policy Of calculated risks" Is far
more daring and more dangerous
than are the frank and often
needless words Of Khrushchev.
Il is an undeniahle fact that, up
until the Hungarian crisis. Moscow
kept the door open for appease-
ment. And now. only few months
after that crisis. she is again try
ing to create the psychological and
political prerequisite for detente.
Both in itself and because Of the
form It assumed. Soviet interview
ton in Hungary was q serious blow
not only to the cause Of peoples
rights, but also to that of appease-
ment. Personally. consider it to
be the gravest blunder that the
USSR has ever committed.
The tension which followed the
Hungarian tragedy, coinciding as it
did with the Franco British ag-
erosion in Egypt. caused Europe
and the world at large to pass
through moments Of dire anxiety.
Furthermore, the previous two
years progress toward appease-
ment was largely neutralized.
The danger has now apparently
been averted. But detente win be
short-lived and superficial so long
as it is but q mere preservation or
freezing" Of the present status-QHo.
Cooperation Neeoeo
Smiles. though must admit that
I prefer them to frowns. are no real
contribution to appeasement. Only
by solving the actual problems on
which the peace depends can we
really serve the cause Of detente.
And. whether we like Il or not.
there Is not q single problem today.
In Europe or In the world ct large,
which can be solved without agree
ment and cooperation between the
West and the East. between WASH
ington and Moscow. This holds true
not only for disarmament. but also
for the Middle East, the German
question. and the European "neu-
trality belt" which, according to
Bevan. should constitute a zone of
peace and calm between the two
great blocs.
Such questions hold the key to the
fate Of Europe. perhaps to the fate
Of the world. But we can answer
none Of them unless the West
reaches an understanding with the
Soviet Union. and with China IS
well.
viii the Soviet leaders consent TO
sacrifice their winning cards-and
the occupation Of Eastern Germany
in particular? On the other hand.
viii the West be willing to renounce
such trumps as air and naval bases
and potential df not always willing)
African, Asiatic and European allies
in the race toward rearmament and
toward enlightenment Of the enemy?
The road to peace will be a long
and arduous one. but a departure,
inspired by concrete and tangible
facts. must now be effected without
further delay.
Let US deal with facts. and facts
alone. They In themselves will con-
stitute O difilcult testing ground, for
East and West alike.
And let US beware Of the poison
Gus effects Of suspicion. for whoever
closes the door to coexistence and
mutual agreement Is opening the
door to war--to the most CHASTITY