The Pittsburgh Press (February 9, 1946)
Simms: Russia snarls at olive branch as UNO fidgets
Reds ringing alarm to prod own people; want big army for peace table strength
By William Philip Simms, Scripps-Howard foreign editor
WASHINGTON – United Nations spokesmen are apprehensive over the Soviet drive to strengthen the Red Army at a time when the United States and Great Britain – the only other military powers – are rapidly disarming.
Russia’s charges that British troops in Greece and Indonesia are endangering world peace, and the synchronized radio outbursts from Moscow, Warsaw and Belgrade accusing Britain and America of fostering “anti-Soviet” forces in Europe, they say, are not a mere coincidence.
The Russian masses, it is pointed out, are as tired of war as are the people of America, Britain and other countries.
But. for reasons not yet clear, the Kremlin wishes to build up a still stronger army, navy and air force. So the ancient ruse of raising a war scare apparently is necessary to overcome the objections of Russia’s war-weary population.
Explains strange behavior
In no other way, these observers declare, can Soviet Vice Commissar Vishinsky’s strange behavior at London be accounted for. First, he asked the Security Council to declare that Britain was endangering the peace in Greece.
When he saw the Council’s reply would be an overwhelming “no,” he threatened to exercise Russia’s veto to prevent a vote. From that moment on, he fought a last-ditch battle to keep out of the UNO records anything that might imply the Russian charge was unfounded.
It was all right with him for council members to say so. They could be as categorical as they liked. But under no circumstances was their verdict to appear in the official minutes.
Moscow won its point
This attitude, it is remarked, could only mean one thing. As the Soviet press and radio are government-controlled it would be easy enough to prevent what council members said from getting back to the Russian people. But, having brought the charges against the British it would be embarrassing even for the government to omit a reference to the Security Council’s verdict as set forth in the official records.
And apparently the Kremlin wishes the original impression created throughout Russia to stand, namely that Britain is endangering world peace. And Moscow won its point.
So far as Russia’s 190 million people are concerned, Britain is guilty. But for the sake of unity, Russia obligingly refrained from pressing the issue.
Russians pour out propaganda
Simultaneously, Moscow’s propaganda machine continues to cry:
-
“Imperialist” non-Communist countries are engaged in “dangerous talk of a third world war.”
-
Under Anglo-American protection, “tens of thousands of Polish Fascists” and other “reactionaries” are conspiring against the Soviet bloc.
-
“Hundreds of thousands of the smashed Hitlerite army, under one form or another, are being kept together.” (For what? Foreign Commissar Molotov suggested rhetorically.)
Today, the United States is disarmed. So is Britain. France and China are helpless.
Only herself to blame
Alone of the Big Five, therefore, Russia is feverishly building up her military strength. So, informed diplomats are saying if there is talk of another war, as Russia alleges, she has only herself to blame. She alone is in any position, or would dare, to start another conflict.
The most hopeful explanation of Russia’s rearming – if “hopeful” is the word – may be that the peace settlements lie ahead.
Peace treaties for Europe, Asia and the Pacific have yet to be arranged. And Soviet reliance on might as diplomacy’s most potent weapon is notorious. Already she has used her strength to present her allies with one accomplished fact after another and make them like it.
The future of Europe, Asia and the Pacific depends on the peace with Germany and Japan. And history shows that it is usually the strongest power that comes out best at the peace table.