MORE ZIGZAGS OR CONSISTENCY?

DALLIN, DAVID J.

More Zigzags or Consistency? The Need for a Dynamic Policy for America By David J. Dallin Associate Editor of The New Leader JrUlESlDENT TRUMAN'S programmatic stalefiiK-iit on US policy...

...In its dealing with the world, the Soviet Government has been the least scrupulous...
...but the United States points to its strength for those who understand only the language of force...
...And the United States will probably have to acquiesce in this defeat and accept the fact that any nation, big or small, will go unpunished for any crime, for any threat to peace, if it belongs to the Soviet bloc...
...1 Nations had to lie by-passed...
...The Communist groups in these, as in other nations, certainly want the best possible relation* with Russia but their plan provides for a reduction of France, Britain, Germany and, in the long run...
...It is already fairly certain, however, that neither Britain nor Greece, nor the United States, will be able to achieve anything along these lines in the UN...
...The United States strives to assiims leadership and invites the other nation...
...Truman'* statement.as well as of the new American foreign policy...
...This is the caae of the satellite nations and puppet politicians at the head of "friendly governsstnts...
...Ibis is the intrinsic meaning of Mr...
...at the same lime, it fosters and kindles Tito's and Dimitrov's activities against Creece and ilself menaces Turkey...
...The I niled Nations has therefore become a brake on all resistance lo Soviet expansion...
...In the international relations of the postwar world, neither Britain nor France, nor any small power, can develop tendencies jeopardizing the security or interests of the I niled Stales...
...Second—at the other extreme—when the other nation is an overwhelmingly great power, obviously superior to the Soviet Union in force as well as in dynamism...
...The US Navy will take some of its carriers and bombers to the Mediterranean to convince the world that it means business...
...This was, for instance, true of the relations between Moscow and Berlin in I'i'.'MI This , wis also true a decade earlier in Soviet^ elation* with Japan, when the latter, having become the strongest JpSwer in the Far East, was preparing to embark on it* great drive in Manchuria and China...
...The USA will acquiesce—but it is already drawing the obvious conclusions for its future activities inside and outside the UN...
...Unlike Hitler and Tanaka, Truman enunciated a Policy which is not based upon plans for imperialist roomiest...
...It would seem tnat the three governments should lit at least censured by the internalional nig mi/alinn, if not sentenced lo pay compensation for damagea...
...It will of course take a certain lime until this confusion over foreign policy evaporates—a confusion which not so long ago pervaded far beyond the proSoviet circles in this country...
...When the Soviet Government joined the new world organization under the condition that it would enjoy the privilege of the veto, it was acting in a more realistic manner than many another government...
...Even Stalin's relations with • wis war-time allies can hardly be termed "friendly," in the light of the conclusive evidence brought up in recently published documents and memoirs...
...Kemal used to hang Turkish Communists and to rule by means which, under other circumstances, Moscow would hasten to call "Fascist...
...This turn in American foreign policy was long overdue, and no serious perKM could he in doubt that it was Imminent...
...The nervousness with which this country awaited and received the Soviet reaction to th* new foreign policy, and, in general, ths sensitivity to criticism by Pravda and Ixrentia serve as further proof to Moscow that the supposed change in American policy is just a shrewd zigzag, a maneuver, that everything will remain as it lias been, and that the threat of force is just an empty gesture...
...The needle of the political compass of America points only to the Soviet Union...
...And no infoimed person can any longer doubt that Yugoslavia...
...Opposition lo American activities abroad invariably becomes the chief substance of American foreign policy, while [or the time being any other considerations, among them the improvement and adjustment of internal affairs in oilier nations, necessarily recede to a second place, » • • There yvas no choice: the i mi...
...Britain and Ae United States have to choose'one-or the other way...
...England and Greece have presented their complaints against three Balkan nations, and two commissions appointed by the UN are at present investigating the charges...
...Whatever our attitude Inward the present Greek regime, it is a childish notion that a nation can afford the luxury of selecting its allies in according with their philosophies and domestic policies...
...the inclination to Compromise and yield has been perennial, and the jgjjBre of consistently pro-Soviet personalities and groupings has been so loud, that (be historically and pgically inevitable turn in American policy, when it was announced, sounded sensational...
...Far away from Athens and Ankara, Secretary of State Marshall, seconded by Bevin, finds arguments to dispell the "democratic'' fog which Molotov has—not so unsuccessfully been spreading over Central E uropc...
...At the present time, friendship with Russia ie certainly the cornerstone of peace irrthe world...
...The inconsistency is obvious...
...Turkey under Kemal-Ataturk was a firm ally of Soviet Russia because of her determined opposition to Brit" ain in the 'twenties and 'thirties...
...Bulgaria, and Albania are engaged in warlike arlivlie* simed at the detachment of a sizable slice of territory from Creece...
...In ita foreign policy, every major nation at any given moment is obliged to recognise where the greatest danger lies and where it must therefore direct its attention and activities...
...No informed person in ibis .......in or abroad can doubt that the Briti«h complaints against Albania are well-founded and that Albania should by right bear the consequences...
...T», MAN'S speech contained certain reservations •gaiding Greece's internal affairs, and also a stale•*»ni ili.ii American aid to any country docs not neces•only mean that the US Government approves of the •baracin of that state...
...The loan to China, for instance, is as yet to be approved although it is needed for the same purpose as the Creek and Turkish (Governments need American assistance...
...They find comfort in the attitude .if a part of the American press and a segment of the American public...
...Rather incidental circumstances—such as changes in the Gov* •rnmrnr and especially in the State Department—-delayed the announcement of this course until March, The world it surprised because it has been used to considering vacillations, hesitation, and indecision as dominant feature* of American foreign policy...
...The record since the end of the war abounds in professions J§ "friendship toward Russia...
...In a few weeks, the impotence of the United Nations, as established in its present shape, will be con* clusively demonstrated—an impotence from which the League of Nations died long before it was dissolved...
...It needed, and sti^bsneeds, the new organization in order lo stem policies of olhei countries which it holds inimical to its own...
...In keep on friendly terms with Kussia...
...Today Turkey, apprehensive of Soviet aggression, turns to the United Stales for help—and suddenly the American Communists and their fellowtravelers discover Turkish "Fascism" and demand a denial of aid...
...The doctrine i* therefore treated not quite seriously, ami the other nations, in the East as well as in the West, Have not yet proceeded to remold their own policies in accordance with the new situation...
...It failed lo do anything effective in the Iranian affair a year ago, when Andiei Grwqyko dealt the first blow lo the prestige of the 1 V The second and third blows are in preparation...
...Close Anglo-American collaboration—of the "bloc," in Moscow parlance -will reach the form of a genuine alliance in Greece, where the military staffs of the two nations will have to cooperate closely...
...The policy of the USA has been to offer help only to a coalition government in China, in which Communists are represented...
...No decision will be made against the dissent of the Soviet delegate, although Molotov it better informed of the Albanian and Yugoslav intrigues than anyone else...
...the United Stales, to the level of Poland and Yugoslavia, to subordination to Moscow...
...This is the more important since the men in the Kremlin are not yet convinced that American policy has really changed...
...A* a matter of fact, President Truman merely drew '•^e necessary conclusions from his dealings with Rti«si...
...doubt, a considerable shift in American policy toward China is imminent too...
...to follow along its path...
...ThK new policy is still in its first stages, and everything depends on the firmness anil consistency with which it is carried out...
...This was necessary in view of •be widespread criticism of aid to Creek "Fascists monarchists...
...Today/nitiativs still rests In the hands of Stalin and Molotov...
...Consistency, dynamism, and s|m>edy response to adverse and inimical action will be needed if a real change In the international climate is te take place...
...N» other case of "friendly" relations lias ever existed between the Soviet Government and any other government in the world...
...Those in the Western world who reject this road to friendship can only choose the ¦her way—the way of power and firmness...
...It seems that similar doubts exist in Paris and London too...
...To wrest it from them is a difficult task...
...But tme experience of almost three decades of Soviet poli< \ has established the irrefutable fact that there can he only two forms of friendly relations between ||be Soviet Government *nd another state: '¦ i First, when the other nation is small, weak, and prepared to accept direction from the foreign office in Moscow...
...The first conclusion is the bypassing of the United Nations in its assistance to Greece and Turkey...
...The Need for a Dynamic Policy for America By David J. Dallin Associate Editor of The New Leader JrUlESlDENT TRUMAN'S programmatic stalefiiK-iit on US policy toward totalitarian govern¦ ments aroused much surprise and ex< ilement in frit country as well as abroad...
...they are still uncertain about the significance of the Truman speech...
...If this were true, Stalin certainly would have rejected any alliance with this country during the war, and vice versa...

Vol. 30 • March 1947 • No. 12


 
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