MR. STALIN AND MR. WALLACE

Wanganui Chronicle, 25 May 1948, Page 4

MR. STALIN AND MR. WALLACE

jY|R. STALIN, of Russia, has graciously replied to Mr. Wallace, of the United States of America. Mr. Wallace’s Open Letter to Mr. Stalin says the latter is the most important of political documents of recent times which have as their aim the consolidation of peace. Mr. Wallace’s contention is that America and Russia should end the “cold war” and ensure “a century of peace.” The first step in this objective of Mr. Wallace is the reduction of armaments and the outlawing of all methods of mass destruction. The consideration of this first objective reveals that this is not the policy which America has to adopt; she Las already adopted it. The reduction of armaments, however, is a step which cannot be taken by one country alone: that country must be satisfied that the opposite number to itself is willing to take the same simultaneous action. Russia, during the May Day celebrations, listened to counsel from its own statesmen for the Red Army to stand at the alert. There was evidence that it had been sustained at a high level of efficiency and that its personnel is very numerous. This is the Power that at one time appealed to the League of Nations for its members to adopt immediate disarmament. At that time, however, the Soviet authorities would not, include the gendarmerie in the armed forces and as Russia had a large armed police it meant that to adopt her proposal then would be to place the rest of Europe at the mercy of Russia’s armed and political police. Experience of that body in recent years by several European countries does not make the proposal any more attractive today than it was then.

Mass destruction is a line of action in war that America desires to outlaw; but it is Russia that will not meet on any ground common to permit of that end being achieved. Russia wil’ not agree to the supervision necessarily accompanying any disarmament programme nor will it agree to submit herself to that investigation necessary to permit of the atomic bomb being outlawed.

Why Mr. Stalin is willing to reply so favourably 1o a private citizen in the United States while his Government, uf which he is the head, is unwilling to make a single move in the direction which he claims to be so desirable? It is not to be assumed that Stalin, as the chief personality in the Soviet world hierarchy, is unmindful of what is done under his direction. He cannot be regarded as disagreeing with himself. Mr. Wallace should be able to realise by now that in replying, Stalin is pursuing the same end that Mr. Molotov pursues in conference, namely the weakening of the power of negotiation at present enjoyed by the Government of the United States.