PROPAGANDA AT CONFERENCE

Press, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 26510, 27 August 1951, Page 7

PROPAGANDA AT CONFERENCE

U.S. Prepares Counter To Soviet (Rec. 10.30 p.m.) NEW YORK, Aug. 25. Russia’s decision to attend the Japanese Peace Treaty conference would turn San Francisco into a propaganda battleground, says James Reston, diplomatic correspondent of the “New York Times.” The conference can no longer be regarded as an easy “junket” for weary officials. The world, particularly Asia, will be watching it now. In Asia’s present mood, the treaty will have to be explained and arguments for it carefully marshalled. Washington officials are concentrating on Mr Gromyko, leader of the Soviet delegation “striding forth with his monkey-wrench upraised.” There is no reason, however, to believe that the treaty is in danger. What is in danger is a propaganda victory. The Russians already are telling the Japanese that the treaftr is too harsh, that Americans are planning to stay in their territory indefinitely, and that Japan is being cut off from Communist China’s iron, coal, and cotton. The Russians are also crying to the Asians that all the historic “robbers” of Asia—the Japanese warlords, Britain, France, the Netherlands —and other colonial Powers, are finally all in the same boat fighting against the development of Asia for the Asians. The West must guard against a temptation to “railroad" the treaty through without bothering too much about Soviet arguments. It would bo better propaganda to at least let Mr Gromyko demonstrate that he wants to wreck the conference and block peace, rather than promote it.