Western Democracies Must Stand Together

Chronicle (Levin), 7 March 1946, Page 5

Western Democracies Must Stand Together

Press Assn.

MR. CHURCHILL SEES MENACE IN RUSSIAN EXPANSION Communist Fifth Column's Growiii# Challen^e

M By Telegraph

-Covvriaht

1 Receiyed Wednesday, 9.20 p.m. "tui, x, /. o. * „ NEvV YORK, March. 6. Air iile shadowJias scenes so lately ligiitened by the i N°b0?y knoWs what Russ™ totends to do in the lmmediaie future or wnat are the limits, if any, of her expansive, proselytamg tendencies,'' said Mr. Churchill in his speech at the University of Missoun. I have a strong admiratioii and regard for the valiant Russian people and my wartime comrade, Marshal Stalm. Ihere is sympathy and goodwill in Britain and doufotless here also towards Russia, and resolve to persevere through rnanv dinerences and rebuffs in establishing lasting friendships. We undertand the Russian need for security on her Western frontiers from all renewal of German aggression. We welcome her to her rig'htful place among the leaciing nations of the world. Above all, we welcome the constant, frequent and growing contacts between the Eussian people and our own people on both sicles of the Atlantic. It is my duty, however, to place before you certain facts about the present position in Europe.

"From Stettin to Trieste an iron curtain has descended across the Continent. Behind that line " lie all the capitals of the ancient States oi Central and Eastern Enrope — Warsaw, Berlin, Prague, Vienna, « Buclapest, Belgracle, , Bucharest and Sofia. All these famous cities lie in the Soviet pLere, All are subject to Soviet inliaencs and to a very high and increasing measure of control from Moscow. Atuens aione, with its immortal glories, is free to decide its future at an election under British, American and Prench observation. "The Russian-dominated Polish G-ov-ernment has heen encouraged to make enormous, wrongfnl inroads upon Germany and the mad expuision of miliions of Germa.ns on a grievous, undreamettof scale is now taking place. The Communist parties, which are very smali in all these eastern States, have heen raised to a pre-eminence in power far beyond their memhers and are seeking everywitere to obtain totaiitarian control. Police Governments are prevailing in nearly every case, and excepting Czechoslovakia, there is no true democracy. Turkey and Persia an both profoimdly alarmed and disturbed at the claims made upon them and the pressure being exerted by Moscow. The Rnssians in Berlin are attempting tc build up a qnasi-C ommunist Paity in their zoiie of Occupied Germany hy showing special favours to Left-wing German leaders. If the Soviet bniJds up a pro-Communist Germany in their area, it will cause new and serious dif- . ficulties in the British and American , Zones and give the defeated Gerrnans ' the power of putting themsexaes iq. ioi ] auction between the Soviet and tn-o ■ Western democracies. { ' 'Whatever conclusions may he drawn ' therefrom, this certainly is not the ■ liherated Europe we fought to build up, ] nor is it one which contains tne essen ^ tials of permanent peacc. '

OTHER CAUSE S FOR ANXIETY. ' 'In front of the iron curtam across Europe, there are other causes for anxiety. In Italy the Communist Party is seriously hampered hy having to sup port Marshal Tito's claims to former Italian territory at the head of tiie Adriatic. Nevertheless, the future of Italy hangs in the balance. ' ' Again, one cannot imagine a re generated Europe without a strong Prance. All my life I have vorked foi a strong France and have never lost faith in her destiny, even in the dancest hours. I won't lose faith no "However, in a great number oi countries far from the Russian frontiers, Communist fifth columns are estat.ishea and are at work in cpmplete unity and absolute obedience to directions xeceived from the Communist centre. Except in the British Commonwealth and the United States, where Communism is in its infancy, Communist Parties or fifth columns constitute a growing chailenge and peril to Christian civilisation. The agreement made at Yalta was exmem t.j favourable to Russia, but it was made at a time when none could say that the German war might not extend to the autumn of 194.5 and when the Japanese war was expected to last a further 18 mor.ths after the end oi' the german war.

NEW WAR NOT INEVITABIE. "I repulse the idea that a new war is incvitable, still more that it is immuient. It is because I am so sure that oui ioiLia.es are in our own hands, and that Wc noid the power to a safe future, that I ieei it my duty to speak out now. x doii 't believe the Soviet desires war. What tney desire is the fruits of war a.iu nidefinite expansion of their power and doctrines, but what we have to consider while the time remains, is the uent prevention of wai aud tim f jfefl)slnnent of conditions of Ireedom. ^Ytf- the Western democracies stanc. togecner in strict adherence to Ihe prxncipiCs of United Nations' Charter, their infiuence will he immense and 110 oue is likely to molest them. If they become divided or falter in their duty, and these all important years are allowed to slip away, then indeed catastroplie may overwhelm us all. East time I saw it coming. I cried aloud, but no oue paid any attention. Up to 1933, even 1936, Germany might have heen savea from her awful fate. There never was a war easier to prevent by the timely action of democracy as rapidly as possible. ' ' Everywhere our difficulties and dangers will not be renloved by closing our eyes thereto or waiting to see what will happen by appeasement. What is necded is settlement, and the longer this is delayed the more difficult it will be and the greater our dangers v/ill become. "I am convinced that there i.s nothing the Bussians admire'so xnuch as

strength and that there is nothing they nave iess respect for tlian military weakness. for that reason, the oid docLiiiie oi the ^.ixiaict; 01 power is tuisound. We cannot alford to work oh narrow liiargiiis oilenng teinptatiohs iike the one wxiicn nas just desolated great areas of the giobe. It could have Deen prevented vitiiout firing a sirxgle shot, but no onj would listen and one by one we were all sucked into an awful whirlpool. We surely must not let that happen again. * ' This can be aehieved only by reaching a good understanding now on all points with Russia under the general authority of United M ations and the xiiaini.ei.ance tnereof through many peaceful years. Let no man underrate the abiding power of the Eritish Empire and Commonwealth because you see x6, OCO, 000 in our island harassed about food suppiy or fcho difliculty of restarting industries and export trade after six years of passionate war effort. Bon't suppose that we shan't conie through these dark years of privation as we came through the glorious years oi agony, or that 50 years hence you won't see 70,000,000 or 80,000,000 of Britons spreads about the world, united in defence of our traditions, way of iife and fche world causes we and you espouse. "If the population of tho Englishspeaking Commonwealth be added to that of the United States with all sucii cooperation impiied in sea, air, science and industry, there will be no quiverihg, precarious balance of power to : ofi'er its temptrtion to ambition or ad- ; venture. On the contrary. there will bc an overwhelming aosurance of security if we adhere faithfuily to the Charter r,f United Nations and walk -."orward 'n sedate sober strergth, seekmg 110 one's land 01- treasure or arbitrary control of men's thoughts. If all the Pnt'-h T->oral and ma^or'p.i for-es and eonvictions are joined with vour own '11 fraternal association, the high roads if the futui'e will be clear, not only for r'"o fnr all, not only f'or our ;ime but also f or- a century to come. ' '