The War for the Preservation of Oasis
ALDANOV, MARK
The War for the Preservation of Oasis By Mark Aldanov "ABm ftrtunm, mm vweL — or—U." ("I am ready fer Deetiny, whatever it holds.")—Dante. Mr. A.: Qladstoa* lihsd to t*fj the anasdsto shout a...
...Their solemn funerals a la Rathenau, with wreaths from the Allied Command and from The New Leader, would be no consolation to me...
...I am afraid that should the pressure on Moscow be too strong, she would turn for technical aid to conquered Germany...
...I love Russia and I know that the Russians are not only very gifted: they are also an "easy-to-live-wlth" people...
...Other committees propose the occupation of Germany by Allied armies for a period of from 10 to 60 years...
...Mask tmnm9+m**mmmm+mmm**+ Bmr-in seiiae-a) aad I stubs...
...K.: Didn't I just hear you say that Germany will be able to render technical aid to Russia...
...The War for the Preservation of Oasis By Mark Aldanov "ABm ftrtunm, mm vweL — or—U...
...Afr...
...Experience has shown that from the economic point of view the coexistence of a capitalistic and a "cim-munistic" world (with or without quotes) is possible— ask Mr...
...Why dont you say so...
...It was recently discussed in higher circles how best to nam* th* present war...
...The United States and England In alliance represent the greatest military and industrial power in the world...
...In the same way, were oar present war to end in an idyllic aftermath, it would be contrary to all laws of art, moral* and especially politics...
...B.\ You remind me of Virginia Woolfe...
...A.: I should prefer'a more homongeneous world...
...Then he Will restore the Russian Empire within the 1913 frontiers, minus Warsaw and Lodz, plus Lwow and th* Bucovina...
...In my opinion, this was the first and till now the only civilised century in history...
...Next to him Chiang Kai-shek...
...A.: Of tolerable life—yes...
...What is the second...
...he will leave Germany to her destiny and will ask America for economic aid...
...Without being sure, I am willing to admit that a coexistence of two ideological worlds, that of Gladstone-Lincoln and that of Lenin-Stalin, is possible too, though rather difficult...
...it is a feeling of measure and an intuitive understanding af history...
...The trouble is that the American and British soldiers will not wait 60 yeara for their demobilization...
...Everybody knows that the place where optimism most flourishes is the lunatic asylum...
...many of them will find themselves unemployed...
...In very optimistic moments I add to them, withcut any guarantee: France and Italy...
...Life has taught ms that it la wise to precede every politics] prediction with two probabliti, three perhipeet snd four may bet...
...On* rather cynical British writer said: "God, when He was young, had a liking for the Jews...
...Apparently you want to say that the rest of the world will be a "desert...
...This might have a certain influence on the success of reeducation...
...As to giving the power to German democrats—I sincerely hop* that Bruening, Thomas Mann and Grsesinski will spend the reat of their days in America...
...Afr...
...A country with concentration camps and aa enslaved press ia no "oasis" even* if around these concentration campa are built marvelous factories, excellent theatres and astounding workers' reat homes...
...Were the young generations of both parties to engage in a peaceful contest, I as a believer in the ideas of the 19th century would have no doubts that the oases will spread at the expense of the "desert," snd not the "desert" at th* expense cf the oases...
...But probably you are referring to technical and industrial aid...
...A.: Qladstoa* lihsd to t*fj the anasdsto shout a gsatlamas from Maaea]ashir wha having road Masest* for the A rat Udm sathoslsatissJljr exciakaed: "I call thst s food writer 1 I dost think there are twenty men hi Maaohaetss' today who could hare written that book...
...A.: I could not positively say that Stalin probably will emerge as the greatest victor of this war...
...A.: The majority of the 777 committees seem to advocate just this course...
...But Russia can do without the American loan, and the United States will not perish if the Communist "Association" again calls itself th* Communist Party...
...It is not necessary to be a great psychologist in order to understand that the people who under protection of foreign b^oneta will reeducate the German nation will immediately become objects of the greatest hatred and contempt to their "pupils...
...Of course, the United States csn either give or refuse a loan to Moscow, and Moscow can renew or not renew th* work of the Comintern...
...I think that the future foreign policy of the world will consist cf 60 per cent of good principles and 60 per cent of fear, bluff and appeasement But being now the only man not to have a good solution of the German question, I am also the only man in America who does not know what Stalin really wants...
...B.: Then I say "amen...
...A.: And I am faithful to the principles of mg century...
...B.: Will it give us from 10 to 20 year* of quiet Hfe...
...Eric Johnson...
...But you are mistaken: I do not consider myself a pessimist...
...And I . . . Mr...
...Such a war is psychologically impossible...
...So I think there are some absolute vslaes which no men hea a right to change or to give up...
...Many names were suggested, I should like to suggest mine: The ever /or th* preccrvatton of oases...
...Besides, Hitler's campaign, which started under conditions mott...
...You cannot help anything by pessimism and you cannot surprise anybody by it...
...This is neither optimism nor pessimism...
...A.: Besides, the Anglo-Saxon world in general cannot endure pessimism...
...A.: I just whisper "amen," too: I hate tragedies...
...A new generation, two hew generations will decide the destiny of the world...
...B.: To me the only sensible solution is to let genuine democrats come to power in Germany, and to reeducate the German people...
...After the common victory over Hitler you fon see a collision between the demccratic "oases" and the "desert" of totalitarian Russia...
...B.: I don't want to be the devil's advocate, bat many anti-Communist* hope to exercise economic pros-aura or sanctions against Rossis without any war...
...unfavorable to Russia, showed that it is impossible to take Moscow...
...A.: Just the contrary...
...Last year hie novel Tk* tilth fewi was a Booh-of-the-Meath Ctab choice aad a biet siBer...
...I was bcrn in the 19th cen-utry...
...But this power is only for the destruction of Germany snd Jfban (a fact we now happily can be sure of...
...I think 777 committees are now working on this question...
...A.: Such pressure is possible, but do not over, estimate its importance...
...The English, particularly, art convinced that everything will go all right...
...But it haa certain disadvantages...
...As we have already spoken of percentages, the approximate chemicsl formula of Stalin would be 25 per cent of Trotsky, 25 per cent of Peter the Great, and 50 per cent of the practical politician always feeling for the Jine of least resistance and greatest prestige...
...they will demand it aix weeks after the termination of the war...
...And I am not sure whether Stalin know* it himself...
...Was it not Swift who recommended that the best experts should minutely state their opinions and then the government, in the interest of the commonweal, should do the reverse...
...A.t The one idea dees net contradict th* other, the factories will work and at the "its people will cut each ether's throats...
...Afr...
...Unfortunately, the circumstances permitting, a free choice will not come very soon to one of the parties...
...Of coarse, the Russian Army is also absolutely usable to conquer the United States or Invade England...
...As a matter of fact, I do not think that the Soviet generals know it...
...So far as food Is concerned, it is clear that America cannot feed Russia...
...American and British scldierS would not willingly fight the Russians...
...B.\ But that would be excellent' Afr...
...Bat as MPeiaaOji ssmh a ooarao will not be taken...
...Machiavelli probably would have suggested the division of Germany and the establishment, by force, of different political regimes in three different parts: the dynasty of the Wittelsbachs in Bsvsria, Communism in Saxonia, and the democratic Republic, say, in Weimar...
...Didn't ah* assert that human nature changed in 19107 Mr...
...Me hi the setae* af several histories* anwets...
...A.: I am just opposing extremes...
...Thus, a war between Russia and the Anglo-Saxon democracies, besides being the worst misfortune to befall the universe, would be military nonsense, too...
...He did not conclude Macbeth either with a merry ballet or with an idyll, though that was popular la hit Urns...
...But when He was Sid, He had a senile weakness for the English...
...So this is my first thesis: after the common victory the Anglo-Saxon democracies would find it very hard to exercise effective pressure on Rusaia, and vice versa...
...Many persons, as you know, ore even prophesying a third war...
...r, B.: Your first thesis dees not appear terrific at all...
...Very much depends on circumstances, on age, on health, on moods and even on pertonal relationships...
...I am nearly certain that it is possible to preserve beautiful oases in the world: the United States, England, the Scandinavian countries, Switzerland...
...B.: Permit m* to say that this idea now is just aa banal aa the ideas of those who are idyllieally inclined...
...Even were it possible, the Soviet Government's hinterland still would exceed several times the area of Europe...
...He ia eery closer, tali fellow ahakeapearer Mr...
...Socialism" in one country, democracy in five or six, and chaos in eight or ten do not seem to guarantee any sort cf Utopia...
...In politics, everything is not determined by plans worked out in advance the way ths invssioa of Normsndy wss planned...
...Afr...
...A.: I wanted to say that the Manchester gentle-man was sbaolutely right...
...To mo the asoat terrible of sins ia to exchange liberty for military glory, for social revolution, or for anything else...
...A.: The second is that there Is no good solution to the problem of Germany...
...This would be a serious obstacle in the unficaticn j$ psjsaffi mh>: !¦ ¦ lla>|Ml I It sam no ha-the , lasmyieW q_,eatma^ sheer -^s|p9|Viamaa)W •sWa*naT,^s»fcsf *# effete}** humane solution, aa the Oeraaen Cemsaenista could escape tab* tiaiaai esad bat On man monarchists late Bavaria...
...A great part of German industry presumably will escape destruction, as will German engineers, chemists and technicians...
...But nevertheless I salute the still far-off decision of the Supreme Court of Present Youth...
...The first of them ia freedom—If only as a key to other values...
...I am sorry to sag that I foresee nothing bat long chaos few Osrmsaj aad far the to sailed satellite esantrim...
...Already not less than ten books have been written describing tke future peace in anything but rosy colors...
...Admit thst I hsve slrcady laid down this smoke screen, and I Will say that there will be no third war—as far aa this euphemism means a war between Russia and the Anglo-Saxon democracies...
...Remember that the United States until new has been sending lew than One-tenth of her food products to Europe and already there are scarcities in this country...
...I doubt if thst is discussed in the Politburo...
...B, t Then Stalin certainly will get Germany...
...It is quite poasible that in Stalin the last 75 per cent will take the upper hand...
...Do you remember the end of Macbeth' The new King Malcolm rewards all participant* in the Aght against "this dead butcher," permits political emigrants to return to their country and promises to do something frr the country, "in measure, time and place...
...Mr B.: Now at least I understand what you are driving at...
...What haa that snecdou to do with the destinies of the world aad the war aims me are arguing about...
...This is just as amusing as the fact that you do not consider this outlook pessimistic...
...Thia fellow Shakespeare wai really vary clever...
...I know, these ere prejudices of the 19th century, bat If yea do net share them, It ia nonsense to go on arguing in the absence of s common system of values...
...Not only do I not foresee such a collision but I consider it impossible...
Vol. 27 • July 1944 • No. 30
