Show Marquis Childs Chi Stalin's Stalin IS Offer Stirs Naive U. U S. S Reaction v WASHINGTON ASHINGTON There is something comic about the reaction reaction reaction tion in this country to the answers answers answers an an- that Marshal Stalin sent to a newspaperman's inquiries about whether Russia wants peace Even behind the grim closel closely guarded walls of the Kremlin in Moscow it must cause some laughter The headlines the speculation specula specula- tion the statements and the denials denials denials de de- de- de nials go 10 on and on and all over an old routine repeated several times in the past At least twice before Stalin has given almost identical answers to similar simBar similar sim sim- ilar Bar questions The soft answers previously given have not brought any change in the harsh conduct of the cold war against the west est carried out under Stalin's direction tion All this seems to be forgotten forgotten for for- forgotten gotten in the current furor Consider the Iron Irony In my opinion the press or a section of it has a great dealto dealto deal dealto to answer for in this tion Consider the irony of it The questions were submitted to Stalin b by Kingsbury Smith general manager in Europe of the International News Service That means he is the chief representative representative representative rep rep- in Europe of William Randolph Hearst Thus it is thanks in the first instance to the Hearst press that Stalin's propaganda is given circulation throughout the world At the the same time the Hearst press along with the Mc r- r Patterson mick mick newspapers and other allies is pouncing on the new secretary of state Dean Acheson for the slightest suspicion suspicion suspicion sus sus- of appeasement of Rus Rus- sia And if nothing suspicious can be found It t is not beyond some sone to invent suspicions Garbled Account That happened the other day when a garbled and distorted account of remarks not by Secretary Secretary Sec Sec- Acheson but by his brother Prof Edward Acheson Acheson Acheson Ache- Ache son were made public Professor sor Ach Acheson son who has a distinguished distinguished distinguished distin distin- reputation in his own right as an authority on international international international inter inter- national finance was talking at ata a private the record meeting meeting meet meet- In ing of his college alumni When he saw the distorted version of what he said Professor Professor Professor Pro Pro- fessor Acheson issued a denial But this did not prevent Sen Styles Bridges of New Hampshire Hampshire Hampshire Hamp Hamp- shire from getting up in the senate to say that if Edward Acheson said such things then they must in some manner reflect re reflect reflect re- re the thinking of Dean Acheson Quite apart from the obvious unfairness of such mch an insinuation the irresponsibility of the performance speaks for itself LE Let t Loose c Hounds The same press that starts the rabbit of the Russian peace propaganda immediately sets the dogs onto anyone who proposes proposes proposes pro pro- poses to consider its merits The mere suggestion that Stalin's answers might be more than propaganda is enough to bring down the awful denunciation of appeaser At his press conference Secretary Secretary Secretary Sec Sec- Acheson analyzed Stalin's Stalin's Stalin's Stal Stal- ins in's replies and reduced them to proper proportions There are as Mr Acheson pointed out legitimate channels to explore the possibilities of peace and end the frictions of the cold war Too often ignored in the past the instrument for peace above all others is the United Nations The time may come and it may be closer than we think when Moscow puts out a real peace feeler This could comein come comein comein in a half dozen different ways such as a serious proposal to end the Impasse in Berlin Should Bo Be Free When that happens Secretary Secretary Secretary Secre Secre- tary Acheson should be free to togo togo togo go as far as he deems necessary to work out a practical agreement agreement agreement agree agree- ment for peace Those who know believe that such an agreement agreement agreement agree agree- ment is possible The secretary of state should not have hav to be concerned with dark suspicions of appeasement in anything that has to do with Soviet relations Ve We have a right to demand of those who raise the shrill cr cry of appeasement at every ery opportunity what they are seek seek- ing If it is war with the Soviet Union then let them say so The They give every indication of or believing that war is the only choice This is a strange phenomenon n. n For these same shrill voices profess to come from the true defenders of a free enterprise society Yet anyone who looks at reality must realize that a third world war would end all aU allour allour our freedoms and reduce us to total regimentation The only hope for freedom is the hope of preserving preserving- a peace however uneasy in the next few years in the expectation that present tensions will subside The fanatics and the hysterics who denounce every effort to come to practical terms with Russia seem deliberately to wish the end of our world Theirs is a tragic sickness which must not be allowed to infect American policy I Copyright 1949 United Features Syndicate |