The Pittsburgh Press (February 7, 1946)
LaMoore: Red suspicion
By Parker LaMoore
LONDON – Russian suspicion is a bigger obstacle than Russian ideology to the effort of the other United Nations to understand and live on an amicable basis with the Soviet Union.
The Russians suspect everyone including themselves. Their top UNO delegate, Foreign Vice Commissar Vishinsky, is no more than a stooge who must consult Moscow before speaking.
Educated, soft-spoken and an able prosecutor, Mr. Vishinsky, if left to his own devices could acquit himself creditably and add to the prestige of his nation. But he is not a free agent. It was obvious when he delivered his formal indictment of Britain’s policy in Greece that his heart was not in it. His prepared speech read much better than it sounded.
Propaganda emanates from Moscow
Obviously, too, the speech had been hastily prepared, for its documentation was flimsy and for the most part based on events dated subsequent to the Russian demand for inquiry into the situation.
His second speech before the Security Council was even more labored and delivered with more heat than force. Its repetitious detail was a poor substitute for its absence of substance. But for insight into Russian thinking the text of Mr. Vishinsky’s second speech was extremely informative.
British Foreign Secretary Bevin, in his initial reply to the Russians’ charges concerning British activities in Greece, had assailed the world activities of international Communism. In particular he had denounced anti-British propaganda emanating directly from Moscow.
Mr. Vishinsky utterly ignored the fact that this propaganda is familiar to the world. He termed any talk of Moscow propaganda “an old song.” He added, with evidence of bitterness, “When here in the Security Council we heard these words spoken by the British delegate all Soviet delegates felt the cold breath of the unhappy past and we could not help thinking of the dark shadows which in the past have worked not for good but for evil between our two countries.”
Yet anti-British propaganda can be heard on the Moscow radio any day and the issue disturbing the British-Russian relations was introduced here not by Britain but by Russia. Certainly, too, Mr. Bevin made it clear how deeply the British were offended. He said Britain had been charged with “the most diabolical crime that any nation could be charged with – that of endangering the peace of the world.”
Reds difficult at many times
Yet the Russian mind could pass this over and voice regret that relations between the two nations should be disturbed by British objections to Moscow propaganda.
But it has not been only before the Security Council that the Russians have been difficult to live with. Their delegates have exasperated their associates on almost every committee by their uncompromising attitude. Apparently convention procedure, familiar to every American who has attended a club meeting or political convention, is foreign to Russian experience. Even the most routine recommendation from a committee or subcommittee is regarded with suspicion and sternly challenged by the Russian representatives.
It is evident that the Russians do not feel they are among friends. It would seem that they see the prestige of their nation at issue on every vote, however routine.