RUSSIANS IN AUSTRIA.

Evening Star, Issue 25700, 25 January 1946, Page 8

RUSSIANS IN AUSTRIA.

TO THIS KDITOB Sir, —1 am, sorry to have raised the dander of " 7138 H. M. Jacobs," but neither his military record nor my war service (" if any ")■ is relevant to the question at issue The anti-Russian propagandists were forced by public opinion to keep quiet during the height of the death struggle in Russia, but they are now again in full cry, and if a high-ranking officer like Colonel Barnett joins in that chorus he must expect adverse criticism, especially when his statements are directly refuted by the published reports of accredited investigators and observers. The British Empire and Russia have much to gain by friendship and mutual understanding, and this, I believe, will be amply proved during the deflationary crisis that is looming in the years ahead. Viewed from that angle, Colonel Barnett's statements are not only tactless, but positively harmful. The editorial footnote alleged that 1 had missed Colonel Barnett's point in reference to the Austrian elections, in that, although the Socialists polled well, the Communists were heavily defeated, the inference being that the (Russian occupation of the country had turned the Austrian people against Communism It is rather touching to see how the " glad eye " is now being given to the Socialists by many of those who, not so long ago, viewed Socialism as anathema. But Socialism and Communism are only different phases of the same thing. Both have the same objective—the public ownership of the means of life; and, like the geographical analogy of the Molyneus and the Clutha Rivers, Socialism will not be known as Communism until it has reached or very nearly reached its objective. So that when the citizens of Vienna went overwhelmingly Socialist they were not turning away from Communist Russia, but rather towards it.—l am, etc., * Latter-day Socialist. January 23.

[lleference to " propagandists " ts not " relevant to the question at issue," which was one of observation, not of opinion. As there was only one observer, so far as this correspondent is concerned, actually there is no question. It is obvious that a Communist d c eat is a Com mini ist defeat, and this writer's " glatf eye " is imaginary. The correspondence is now closed.— Ed. E.S.]