DAILY THREAT TO PEACE

Chronicle (Levin), 12 March 1949, Page 5

DAILY THREAT TO PEACE

(N.Z.P.A.

— Reuter,

Russian Tactics Ronndiy Condemned

Copyright)

- Received Friday, 7 p.m. WASHINGTON, March 10. ' The Army Seeretary? Air. Royall, said today that the Berlin blockade was a day-to-day threat to the peaee of the ■world. He made the statement in tht annual report on the status of the Arai) Department. Ile said-: — "From the beginning of the blockade to the present time, the .situation iii Berlin has been tense. During all this period an effort has been made to stanu flrmly for Ameriean rights without being truculent. Often deeisions have been close ones wliere an error on either side was entirely possible. 'Up to this time war has been avoided and Ameriean 's position maintained. "It has been apparent that the Soviet authorities have had no intention either of respecting past agreements or of eomposing growing difference.s. On the contrary, it has been their manifest purpose to eause all possible confusion and eontlict short of war, 111 an effort to drive us from Berlin and diminish Ameriean influence in Lurope and the world. "The future of the Berlin situation, as of other situations involving the Soviet Union, is hard to prophesy. !t is difficult tq deal with a nation which has no compunction against the use or. threats of force and oppression to attain its desire." Air. Royall accused Russia of duplieity and falsification. He reviewed what he ealled Soviet hitransigeance and listed attempts since 1945 to reae.h an agreement with Russia. Air. Roya' said : ' We eannot and will' not surrendelour rights or prineiples. We will continue to do everything possible to avoid war. The seriousness of world conditions in early 1948 indieated the need for increasing our armed forees it America was to support the responsilnlities and leadership to wliieh it is irrevoeably eonnnitted. Even with about half of our army committed overseas, the maintenunee of order an 1 stabilitv in the war toru eountries of Europe," greatlv overburdens these rela tively small forces assigned to occupation duties."' Air. Royall diselosed an effort to build up the armv's intelligence system. "The purpose of these aetivities is to keep the armed forces and the United States informed of the intentions and capabilities of potentially hostile f-or-eign eountries. The army also gather ed information concerning" aetivities and eonditions within the l nited States whieh might threaten internal security to the extent that troops would be needed to protect Federal property. Army intelligence aetivities would be intensilied in the coming year. T.ie arai v will direct elt'orts towai ds pic viding, on a vvorld-wide basis, militaiv intelligence that will enable the aim\ to formulate its plans for helpmg to carry out our national policy." ■r. — — r-