Berlin Seen As Constant Threat To World Peace

Greymouth Evening Star, 12 March 1949, Page 6

Berlin Seen As Constant Threat To World Peace

WASHINGTON, March 10. The United States Secretary of the Army (Mr. Kenneth Royall) said today that the Berlin blockade was. a day-to-day threat to the peace of the world. Mr Royall made his statement in his annual report on the Arm’y Department. He said: “From the beginning of the blockade to the present time the' situation in Berlin has been tense. During all this period an effort has been made to stand firmly for American rights without being truculent. Often the decisions have been close ones, wherri error on either side was entirely possible. “Up to this time war has been avoided arid America’s position maintained. It has been apparent that the Soviet authorities have had no intention either of respecting past agreements or of composing the growing differences. On the contrary, it has been their manifest purpose to cause all possible confusion arid conflict short of war in an effort to drive us from Berlin and diminish American influence in Europe and the world. “Future In Doubt “The future of the Berlin situation, like the future of other situations .involving the Soviet Union, is hard to prophesv. It is difficult to deal with a nation which has no compunction against the use of threats of force and oppression to attain its desire.’ Mr Royall accused Russia of duplicity and falsification. He reviewed what he called “Soviet intransigence and listed 1 American attempts since 1945 to reach agreement with RusMr Royall said: “We cannot and will not surrender our rights or principles. We will continue to do everything possible to avoid war “The seriousness of world conditions early in 1948 indicated the need for increasing our armed forces if America was to support the responsibilities and leadership to which it was irrevocably committed. Even with about half of our Army committed overseas, the maintenance oi order and stability in the war-torn countries of Europe greatly overburdens those relatively small forces assigned to ocupation duties.” Intensive Intelligence Mr Royall referred to an effort to build up the Army's intelligence system “The purpose of these activities’is to keep the armed forces and the United States informed of. the intentions and capabilities of potentially hostile foreign countries. Ihe Army has also gathered imormation concerning activities and conditions within the United States which might threaten internal security to the"’ extent that troops would be needed to protect Federal “Army intelligence activities will be intensified in the coming year. The Army will direct its efforts towards providing on a world-wide basis military intelligence that will enable the Army io formulate * plans for helping to carry out our national policy.”