LETTERS
letters The Problem of Giantism From LISTON M. OAK To the Editor:: BORIS SOUVARINE warm against the new specter that haunts the world, that of gigantism, in your issue of December 25. It is a...
...moreover, this weakening of western Germany became a source of satisfaction for Moscow, despite hypocritical Soviet attacks on the "imperialists...
...New York...
...But while I believe that I understand the nature of Communist "indignation", I "feel yours to be tasteless if not dangerous...
...But certainly that will not be possible if there is en atomic war—not even for Switzerland and certainly not for the Scandinavian countries and France, Belgium* the Netherlands, etc...
...In view of the Soviet danger the choice would not be easy...
...Contrast this with Poland, also a small nation, that has been a center of culture in Eastern Europe...
...Western European nations would confront the Red Army with far greater resistance than can be coldly calculated by militarists, and there would be revolts in countries behind the iron curtain — underground resistance threatening Russia's communication lines...
...So time ago Mrs...
...This is at least a recognition of the possibility of such a scheme—there isn't even that hope to gladden the hearts of the opposition in Eastern Europe...
...And if they do not choose sides nou>, they are doomed to the same fate that has befallen the small states of Eastern Europe...
...The recent conflict about the Ruhr serves as a case in point...
...A federated Western Europe is the main French solution of the problem...
...and civilize them...
...In this opinion, I am in agreement with what Souvarine seems to be saying, though his-meaning is not clear...
...Now is the time for the powerful political and economic forces within Spain to depose the man who, more than any other, is responsible for Spain's misery...
...When we advocate American encouragement of and support for an internal evolution or revolution in Spain and refuse to consider measures for Eastern Europe, we simply acknowledge that Franco is weaker than Stalin and his puppets, and that, consequently, we had better "pick on the smaller fellow"—why bully someone we can't, handle...
...What about the recently published documents on Nazi-Soviet relations, the Nazi-Soviet pact...
...The German Diet Fro* GERALD CARTER To the Editor: AlLOW me to disagree with one point of your editorial "No German Reconstruction Without Food" in the issue of May 29, without dealing with the article ai a whole...
...BUT HE evidently thinks that it there is a war between these giants, the small nations of Western Europe should remain neutral while resisting aggression I One might wish that were possible, that like Switzerland in both world wars, there were several nattcns above the battle to preserve islands of sanity and civilization...
...This created a conflict immediately...
...They will be compelled to choose sides, and without the help of the U.S., this other giant, they will be lost...
...Nor even under circumstances prevailing during World War II...
...This is just a plea for a frank recognition of our own Pharisaical hypocrisy...
...Or could Greece put up a fight against Russia and her satellites comparable to Greek resistance to Fascist Italy in the last war...
...Gerhard Eisler protested indignantly that "she felt almost as badly treated by this country as by the Nazis...
...Starvation of the Germans is indeed no solution of their problem...
...who else can menace France...
...Does anyone imagine that—in the event of World War IllFinland, or Norway, or Sweden, or France could likewise resist for three months and then win a compromise peace...
...No definite course has been elaborated so "far by the RPF...
...I agree with Souvarine that Soviet Russia's gigantism has inherent weaknesses and that most "experts" vastly overestimate Soviet strength...
...Toronto, Ontario...
...I am not one of those who believe that Soviet armies could conquer all of Western Europe, including Spain, in a few weeks if war breaks out...
...circumstances may place the Anglo-Saxon countries face-to-face with an absurd choice: De Gaullist France or a democratic western Germany...
...De-Gaullism (Continued from Page Two) the present government of the so-called "Third Force...
...someone asks whose attention is limited to Western Europe...
...Poland had to fight, and so will all the nations of Western Europe if Soviet Russia attacks...
...Well, we may try without Britain, if necessary...
...to De Gaulle, it means a federation under French guidance...
...He does not specifically say so, but he implies that in this struggle of giants, the pygmy nations should follow the example of Switzerland and the Scandinavian countries and be neutral, to save their souls and to preserve small but influential centers of civilisation when atomic war ruins the rest of the world...
...The Communist regimes sprawled over Europe have not simply a "fascist aspect"— they are the very embodiments of totalitarianism...
...Eisenhower...
...has more reason to be isolationist than has France...
...We are given in Berlin a "thrust from the rear" and we return, only with more concessions...
...Nor do we live in the first quarter of the nineteenth century...
...Under strong pressure from the De Gaullist side (incidentally supported by the Communists) the French government demanded from the two other powers revision of the Ruhr policy and proposed a system of permanent control of the Ruhr industries...
...Certainly no* German skeletons are walking the German .streets such as we discovered at the time we entered Dachau, Buchenwald and other German Kulturstatte...
...I wonder whether history has really witnessed greater stupidity, greater hypocrisy...
...This is not a case for Franco...
...Note: This is the last article by Mr...
...Gigantism may be an evil, littleness of nations a virtue, but neither the little nation nor the little man can be above the battle between totalitarianism and democracy...
...Yet, with Pharisaical demeanor, we go about chastising Franco for his "association with Italy and Germany...
...and not the USSR that will save them...
...Britain would give the continent four or five divisions in the event Of war," the prospective De Gaullist for. eign minister told me, "and the defense of Europe would become Franc?* task...
...Nor in the eighteenth century when small nations could remain neutral...
...Her "almost" indeed represents the difference between a summons to the emigration office and the feeding of German ovens with human lives...
...It a miserable cabbage soup, a piece of bread and a cup of Ersatz coffee represents more than 1,000 calories, then I can assure you that (the German diet now is far above the required minimum, as demanded by Gen...
...He and his party are inclined to disregard France's own military weakness, the absence of a navy and of an effective air force...
...Italy is no danger any longer...
...and his regular column will be returned next week...
...Souvarine mentions several small nations that have defied the giants and remained independent, Including Spain and Argentina...
...Was it possible for Poland—or Czechoslovakia —to play the role of the Scandinavian neutrals, or of Switzerland...
...Yet with their blood-stained hands, with the blackest of criminal records, they are free to enter our halls of counsel, they pronounce judgment on criminals of their own calibre (e.g., Nuremberg), they deliberate with us, but only to facilitate obstruction of any constructive efforts, and to climax this farce, they are still being coaxed to participate in the Marshall Plan...
...and that of the USSR...
...However the attempt to identify this problem as one of food, is playing Into the hands of German apologists...
...No doubt, it is possible, however, that considerable trouble will arise from London and Washington it the impotence of the other "parties ends in the emergence of a strong, dynamic,*natlonalist government under De Gaulle...
...But he does not consider the very special circumstances which enabled these nations to remain sovereign, including geography, and the policy of bne of these giants the United States, not to intervene in their internal affairs...
...To avoid a rift with France, Washington and London agreed to revise their former decisions and to leave the Ruhr problem open...
...Dallin from Europe...
...If Franco is still persona non grata for his dictatorial policies, what iff heaven's name are Stalin and his henchmen doing in our midst...
...But France, like Boris Souvarine, must choose between a giant trying to conquer the world for totalitarianism, and one fumblingly trying to defend democracy—a giant who, with all his manifold faults, is offering aid to small nations without attempting dictation in domestic affairs Yes, gigantism is an evil, but unity of democratic nations is not...
...ha is en route to the U.S...
...Germany will be demilitarized...
...If the freedom of small nations is to be preserved, it is the U-S...
...It is the fascist aspect of the regime, the taint of its association with Italy and Germany, which makes it unacceptable in the post-war community of nations, as is made clear in the Tripartite Declaration...
...Nor in medieval times when wars were waged on a small' scale...
...It is a stimulating article, and Souvarine certainly is correct that gigantism is a danger, that small nations have made the greatest contribution to civilization, that they have often succeeded in defying the giant empires and remaining independent...
...Did we make those stipulations for the Eastern European countries apropos the Marshall Plan...
...Even today, the U.S...
...But what price peace...
...Its culture and its independence'have been wiped out, in (he struggle Between two other "giants" of the past century—Russia and Germany...
...WE DO NOT LIVE in ancient times when Greece could preserve culture against the Roman barbarian...
...Britain is reluctant to throw in her lot with this experiment...
...Postwar diet in Germany, as you write, has been below 1,000 calories "which is leu than in former Nazi concentration camps...
...In general, cooperation with the democratic parties of western Germany which is becoming an essential element of Anglo-American policy, may prove impossible if a De Gaullist France would take over leadership...
...Souvarine cites the fact that little Finland, when attacked by gigantic Russia, resisted for three months and then forced Russia to accept a compromise peace...
...with those parties of Germany whose cooperation is valuable for the West...
...the fact is that economically and militarily the Soviet Empire is fsr weaker than most observers think...
...We tell him that "Spain could not expect hope from the United States until she took measures to relax her present totalitarian set-up, both economic and political...
...but France's relations with Moscow might even improve as it would separate itself from Britain and the United States...
...Is Boris Souvarine justifying those American non-interventionists of 1939-45 who honestly argued that we should stay out of that European conflict to preserve and-improve our own democracy as a unique contribution to civilization...
...Franco's Spain From MARY A. NOWAK To the Editor: FRANKLY, I am at a loss to understand the logic of Argent-Viu and the host of others in the same camp...
...But Souvarine seems to come perilously close to making an equation between the gigantism of the U.S...
...Peace is wonderful...
...French Stalinists may have to suffer a heavy blow from a De Gaulle government...
Vol. 32 • January 1949 • No. 3
