PROTECTING DEMOCRACY FROM FIFTH COLUMN
STOUT, JONATHAN
Protecting Democracy Ffom Fifth Columns ly JONATHAN STOUT *<ar j ASHINUTON, D. C. -Concurrently with the alow and hesitant ititfening in official circlet aggression in Manchuria, B*wdehewhere, and...
...But of criticism of ihem there is no sign...
...He is on firm ground io his exposition of the probable effect of a firm Anglo-American slsnd on the Soviet Government...
...Box SCORE for Skeptics: Twenty-one press releases istued by OPA were received thlt week by the Waahington Bureau of The New Leader...
...W. Avetill lliiii iinaii, who quit in disgust his post as Ambassador to Russia^ spoke shsrply to the same effect...
...This is only the beginning of a clear stand for the principles of the Atlantic and UNO Charters...
...and that awareness of this W&T from Communist bunds is now dawning on the ¦mean people with the Canadian espionage revelaIThe imiiif-cli.ii,- f'oiiil point of tin- di.-M ussions is Verncd with the large numbers of Communist...
...There has been a tremendous influx of Communists and fellow-travelers into th* Statu Department since the retirement of former Secretary of State Corded Hull...
...We do not want to stumble into situations where no power intends war, but no power is able to avert war...
...and flpw-traveler* in important government positions...
...The time for standing on the sidelines as referee has ended, the President and the State Department are striking out vigorously both at the residuary pockets of Fascism and at the mounting threat of Communist dictatorship...
...John Foster Dulles and Senator Vandeiiberg joitted iu sharp criticism of the behavior of the Russians...
...Dnring the past week the prophesy of Crawford has been fulfilled and the demand of Cideonse has, partially, been met...
...There are legitimate complaints in this country that they have been over-long delayed...
...Thia is what they dealt with: Announcing new price increases—IS...
...The internal struggle in the State Department bath son the new and eld elements ha* been going on at fever pitch for aboat a year...
...And unless we eland up for principle*, the United Nations Organization will become, as did the league of Nations, a wirrdy cave of discussion...
...and by that token extremely dangerous to men in the department who are lest complaisant about violations of the principles supported by the American people and enunciated by President Roosevelt in the Atlantic Charter and the Poor Freedoms, and reiterated by Tram...
...M is pointed out that the American people became (Wli of this danger from the Nazi bunds in this ptntry and supported protective measures against pir fifth column activities...
...we all want peace, including the Russians...
...Rankin's definition, Of Communism and Communists is1 On a par with Moscow's definition of democracy and Democrats...
...The chief danger lies in the pos-pNlity that Rankin may sometime be in favor of aome-Muj good...
...To get a balanced view of American policy, however, it is necessary to bear in mind that it is two-pronged...
...Anyone who cslls attention to the coercion exercited In I • Mm ii or Peron cannot be called a war-monger...
...The position taken, therefore, is PTBntil the danger of war can be said not to exist MHc officials charged with responsibility for the ••Be safety would be derelict in their duty to expose MlttPpIe of the Unted States to danger from an M*mal fifth column...
...To data, the advantage baa been entirely with the now elements, supported and aided as they have been by the State Department's Dean of Appeasement, Undersecretary Dean Acheaon, Acheson's role in th* Stat* Department ha* bean all the more effective because, as the chief administrative officer of the department, he has been the most efficient administrator the department hat known in a score of years...
...If we make it clear that we will fight if necessary for the liberty of threatened peoples, there is a strong probability that wsr .an be avoided...
...General explanatory releases—6...
...He latter type is represented by the activities of such MMBights as (Congressman Rankin...
...On March 2 we gave first place to an article in which Harry D. Gidconse railed for a posi-tive democratic policy...
...Announcing suspension of pries controls—1...
...Thus far the new Americsn policy hss been expressed almost exclusively in words...
...The danger of another wax hangs over us...
...He said as clearly as any diplomat can say that we have won the wsr but hsve not won the peace...
...If we continue to give wsy—as we have done—there will certainty be war...
...This discussion is aimed at forcing the Communist Party and its satellite organisations in this country to do one of two things: Completely sever their ties with the Soviet Union and their propaganda activities on its behalf...
...The iron curtain still walls off the eastern Half of Europe...
...The UNO cannot prevent wit if it dne* dot defend international law...
...What was ssid in rolling Churchillian phrases has behind it international authority...
...German-American Bund was treated...
...Suspension of price controls—1...
...A sound report from the Wsshiugton scene (HfetfLfbe considered statement that Rankin is his ¦a antidote...
...It is fairly aafe to forecast, however, that if, as, and when discussion retches the stage of action, Rankin's definitions will have little or no influence on the results...
...Two diplomstie notes hsve been dispatched to Russia—one dealing with the failure of the USSR to remove its troops from Iran as provided by treaty and the other on the arbitration moves to rob and dominate Manchuria...
...This in due to lire Administration's own pttssyfooting in the past...
...Churchill performed a service by bracketing the Communist and neo-Fascist governments...
...Dulles pointed to the fact that they have refused to join iu economic, financial, and cultural projects looking toward cooperation...
...None announce price decreases...
...On March 1 Secretary Byrnea came through with a statement that put the State Department right in line with the ideas of Dulles and Vandenberg...
...We must not conduct a war of nerves to achieve strategic ends...
...Far the moment, the subject is still in the discussion late...
...The cloudy ferment has not yet been precipi-Mad into anv thing, that resembles a line of action...
...The ISA and USSR could, in his opinion, maintain peace if neither tried to dominate in the internal affairs of other nations...
...The moves against the fascistic regimes in Argentina and Spain have been long in preparation...
...Too long our newspapers have left the American public uninformed of the stark realities of power politics...
...Mil seems clearly Indicated as a development whose Hhrtancit cannot be exaggerated from many points if vie...
...Il strikes at tyranny whether Fascist or Communist...
...Pattern for a Positive Policy ON February 2 Kenneth G. Crawford foretold in The New Leader the end of the era of appeasement...
...They were, it was reported, uricomproniiting and difficult...
...Too long President Truman and Secretary Byrnes waited and watched hopefully for a break that would allow us comfortably to leave the world's troubles to the United Nations Organization...
...Millions of former allies in that trrritoty have been descried...
...W« must be prepared lo follow words with deeds...
...They escaped th* former rigorous screening practiced, by Stat* Department personnel directors by being hlaahsttl fat* the Department by tectlont...
...Advocating the maintenance of our military strength he remarked that the USA "cannot stand aloof if force is used contrary to the principles of the Charter...
...The way to avoid war with Russia, lie said...
...He criticised the State Department for not having a clear, firm, and consistent foreign policy...
...But at long aa tyranny holds tway over a large part of the world, peace is a mockery and War is not far off...
...In clear terms he outlined the cleavages which divide the world...
...Maintenance of present price levels—8...
...But the discussions in Washington go beyond the consideration of the Communists and fellow-travelers who have managed to get into important government posts...
...Oirl of the drowsiness induced by such propaganda the American public is now suddenly jolted by the stand which the Administration has taken...
...Fee internal espionage by Communists and fellow-¦Mer- in the Sfale Department was first publicly ••oscd in the case of the leakage of confidential ma-V>*| to the Communist magazine Amerasia, Although Protecting Democracy From The Fifth Column iiMUmtd frees Page (Jew) one of the oat tort of the magazine, Philip Jaffe, wet convicted in this rate, it has long been a matter of common report in Washington that the real extent of the espionage activities wss hushed up by powerful pro-Communist influences in th* State Department...
...Th* man it extremely able...
...But equally responsible for th* influx is th* transfer of whole sections ef the 0« and OW1 to the State Department...
...Im moment of tense international relations, il is ¦Wcu/sr/r disquieting to note that the highest ratio W&iomniunists and fellow-travelers in any govern' Jm department exists today in the Shite Department...
...Neither can ajiyone who simultaneously pilories the much much vaster and more dynamic tyranny of Stalin...
...It appears equally certain that the same influencet suppressed an American investigation as a companion to the espionage plot revealed by a Soviet Embassy attache in Ottawa...
...Churchill spoke out of bitter experience when lie ^-unclaimed that appeasement of expanding tyranny is the mad to war...
...he enjoys no respect in anv responsive quarter, and is barely on,friendly speaking terms Ha-store than half a dozen colleagues in the House Pppprasentatives...
...Announcing thst present price levels will be maintained —7...
...Although Rankin has no importance, it is nevertheless pertinent to note that his contribution to*such discussions in Washington has been of the stupid nature expected of him...
...Churchill wss introduced by Trumsn snd doubtles* the President bad given his approval...
...This it largely due to the mixed character of ¦HKuaaona, pitta some confusion of motivation -MP Of it (fortunately rather inconsequental in its IflttaaiJIfipsnce) of a highly undesirable character...
...Note to Chester Bowles: Attaboy, Chester, hold that line...
...Persuasive voices spread the notion that if only we would be nice to Soviet Russia all would be well...
...It is impossible to shake this off, as some have sought to do, at the expression of a private citizen of Britain...
...The .hope for peace, he said, depends Upon Russia* acceptance of (be idea of "collective security through the United Nations Organization/' rather than through unilateral teizure of territory and an expanding sphere of influence...
...The first signs of change followed close upon the return of our delegates from the UNO meeting in London...
...Srrrall wonder that there are signs of bewilderment...
...am convinced there is nothing our Russian friends admire so much as strength, and there is nothing for which they have less respect than for weakness...
...He sees "two gaunt marauders—war and tyranny," Visioning the plain people all over the world yearning for some, degree of liberty and aerurily, he sees them threatened by these twin monatera...
...or be treated precisely as the...
...Including last week's totals, therefore, the recapitulation of OPA prest releases thowt: Price increases—24...
...Our diplomacy," he said "must not be negative and inert . . . it must be marked by creative ideas, constructive proposals, practical and forward-looking suggestions...
...Protecting Democracy Ffom Fifth Columns ly JONATHAN STOUT *<ar j ASHINUTON, D. C. -Concurrently with the alow and hesitant ititfening in official circlet aggression in Manchuria, B*wdehewhere, and spsrked by the startling jRfcss- revelations of espionage north of the border sal in the United States by Soviet spies assisted by Mb* Communists and fellow-travelers, there is a new ¦f serious-minded revival here of discussions con-Hpf joaeaaures (or aelf-protection against saboteurs, pts and fifth-columniats...
...On this account they attract less attention than the opposition to Soviet aggression...
...The emerging positive stand with regard the ruthless Soviet policy of expansion, however, finds many Americans unprepared for understanding and support...
...yM 4 basis for the various discussions going on in Bcial quarters in Washington, there is this common psiiion: that the danger of a third world war cannot Maid not to exist as long as the Soviet Union persists p unilateral actiona in defiance of its former allies ¦i of its treaty obligations, and pertiats in hostile bt and attitudes towards the United States, Britain, in, Iran, Poland, and the other small states whirlt i* her neighbors...
...Partly this has been the result of th* lesser political competence of hit successors, their greater pliability en matters of principle, their greater readiness to substitute appeasement for policy...
...What is notable about this address is the stesdiness with which the former Prime M hosier maintained the focus of his attention...
...There is a tendency in tome quarters to exaggerate the influence tlftankin...
...the danger being that a majority of his Weagues would aulomaticallv oppose it on that ¦Hid alone...
...Some of the discussions sre weighing the advisability of passing legislation to outlaw the existence in this country of foreign agents in the guise of political parties, cosnmittoes or civic or fraternal organizations...
...is lo "remain phyaically and spiritually strong...
...It so happens that these sec-ions were heavily weighted by Communists and sympathisers...
...We enter now upon a period of positive effort to interpret our military victory iir terms of world peace and world freedom...
...Ami then, on March 5, came the catalytic address of Winston Churchill...
...They have, he said, built harriers between the Soviet Union and other nations...
...o one who read* his statement from lieginning to end can represent him at a warmonger or as an anti-Soviet fanatic...
Vol. 29 • March 1946 • No. 10
