i
See Internal Crisis
Affecting Russ Policies
Report Army Looms as New Power as Factions
Clash Over Broad Participation in
Postwar World Affairs.
By BAUKHAGE
Nmct Anmlytt and Commmimor.
WNU Service, 1116 Eye Street, N.W.,
Washington, D. C.
What'i happening inside RusslaT
Where there's smoke, there's fire.
Vehement denials of the death of
Marsha] Stalin were followed final
ly by admission that the man who
had more power than any czar could
boast of was weary. That he was
well, but that he was shedding some
of his responsibilities.
It is interesting to note the reac
tion in this country. The wishful
thinking of those who first an
nounced the death rumor over , the
air and in print was not reflected in
official Washington.
The very day before the first story
appeared a high government official
expressed the opinion in my hearing
that the hope for understanding be
tween the United States and Russia
depended largely on Stalin. This was
after the long series of disagree
ments beginning with the breakup
ot the Foreign Ministers' meeting in
London, the refusal at Russia to take
active part in the United Nations
Food organization meeting in Que
bec, the objections to various moves
made by the members of the United
Nations Executive Council. Every
where "Russia objects" seemed to
be the one answer which Russia's
representatives had to offer to the
suggestions made by the American
and other governments.
When the real history of the in
ternational conferences, beginning
with the Moscow conference which
Secretary of State Hull attended,
through Yalta and Potsdam, Is writ
ten, I think it can be shown that
Stalin, frequently against the advice
of hia councillors, was the one who
broke the deadlocks and proposed or
accepted compromises which were
made necessary by his own col
leagues' stubbornness.
ft will be recalled that when the
invitations to the meeting at San
Francisco went out it was announced
that Russia would not send her for
eign minister as head of the delega
tion, but would leave that post to
Ambassador Gromyko in Washing
ton. This made a bad impression,
for it looked as if Stalin were damn
ing the affair with faint support.
However, after the American news
papers sounded off on the subject,
Stalin had a change of heart?or per
haps the death of Roosevelt, which
occurred in the interim, affected his
course. Molotov was duly assigned
to the job.
Molotov proved no simple prim
rose and more than once, it is re
ported, Stalin's intervention had to
be sought to grease the wheels.
There was another occasion?)ust
which one is not revealed?when the
work was completely stymied and
Anally the President made a direct
appeal to Stalin to accept the sug
creatinna of th? malftrihr ah * Mint
that appeared to have hopelessly
deadlocked the meeting. This time,
against the counsel of his advisors,
who were holding out, Stalin put his
O.K. on the request.
Inflationist*
Bloc Grows
There is reason to believe that
this "no vote" attitude of a number
of the Soviet leaders who opposed
what many have considered too
deep entanglement in international
affairs, which has been in evidence
for a long time, finally wrecked the
Foreign Ministers' conference.
As early as the time of the San
Francisco meeting there were hints
of a growing "isolationist" opposi
tion inside Russia. Word reached
certain members of the conference
by a roundabout way, but from a
thoroughly reliable source, concern
ing the status of former Foreign
Minister Litvtnov, Russia's crack
diplomat, who negotiated the re
sumption of relations with the Unit
ed States after the long hiatus fol
lowing World War I. At one time it
was reported that Litvinov had been
purged. This was not so. But what
had happened was that the "Russia
objects" element had managed to
shelve him because of his more lib
eral views.
This apparently was the beginning
of what many called a "palace revo
lution," end which some people be
lieve is now flaring up into full
flame.
The story of the events which led
'up to the Litvinov affair has never
'been confirmed, but it is reasonable
to iwime that it ia true. In brief,
there was a split in the all-powerful
"Polit-Bureau" of the Soviets. The
Political Bureau is a small body
chosen from the central committee
of the Communist party, which is the
government's policy-forming entity.
This body is composed of powerful
Soviet leaders and it exerts a great
deal of influence.
According to the reports touching
on Litvinov's position, the Polit-Bu
reau was sharply divided into "iaola
tionlsts" and those who looked upon
the rest of the world with a less
jaundiced view. At that time Stalin
was said to be walking a tight-rope
between the two and choosing care
fully toward which side he would
lean. Litvinov, who believed that
Russia could not live by herself and
who had always encouraged a sym
pathetic attitude toward the outside
world, had been completely shelved
for his ideas.
Little more was heard of these
rumblings until after the end of the
war, when the Red army became
the symbol of Russian salvation.
Then it appeared that the isolation
ist Russia, the big-army Russia, the
Russia which wouldn't take anything
off anybody, had a new and power
ful backer?the officers (and per
haps some of the rank and file as
well) of the Red army.
In any case, we know that the high
officers of the army received all
sorts of perquisites, rewards and
privileges, which only the highest of
the high receive.
Red Armv
Strong Factor
The assumption on the part of
some observers is that with the as
cendancy of the Red army element,
not only the isolationists, but the
Communist party as a whole, lost
influence. There has always been
jealousy between the two, though, of
course, their membership overlaps
in many cases. You will recall that
at the beginning of the war civilian
commissars were attached to army
units and they censored all orders
issued by the officers. This proved
to be not only highly unpopular
with the military, but also impracti
cal. The civilian commissars were
then withdrawn and only those with
military training were appointed.
Their authority, in effect at least,
became merged with that of the
military.
Now the high army officers are
recognized as occupying virtually
the same plane as the high party
officials.
Just where Stalin stands as a re
sult of this change in the fabric of
Russian national policy it is impos
sible to say. It has been rumored
that he has relinquished his function
as commander-in-chief. It has also
oaan rumored mat na is ready to
drop out of the picture completely
and choose a tucceaaor. In that con
nection it was hinted that General
Zhukov, Russia's Eisenhower, was
afflicted with a "diplomatic Illness"
when he suddenly gave up a widely
advertised trip to the United States,
which it was said he had looked for
ward to with considerable seat
This might have been a signal that
Russia was drawing further within
herself.
Some believe that it indicated that
Zhukov was the chosen successor of
Stalin and that, until a new regime
was firmly established, the Soviets
would maintain a negative policy in
foreign relations.
In any case, it is clear that the
"Russia objects" policy was inaugu
rated for some reason and naturally,
since in the past Stalin had always
been the one who was able to play
ball with the Allies, at least to tl?
point where progress seemed to be
made toward working agreements,
Washington is by no means anxious
to see him fade from the picture.
Meanwhile, the one hopeful view
which is being taken of the Russian
situation is that it may be that there
is some kind of a change taking
place within Russia and that the
present policy of stalling means
nothing worse than a necessary
marking time on the part of the So
viet leaders until the outcome is
settled.
And then there is always another
reason which pops up as an explana
tion of almost anything these days?
the atomic bomb.
y| BARBS ? . . by Baukhag*
The Salvation army gava service
to 336,000,000 aerviccmen during tha
war fa> their cluba, hoatala and mo
bile uniU. But m bat they didn't
aurMMthaaa doughnut* they aerved
us hi War Id War I.
* ? *
frozen during the MWStalt.
The air transport command ra
cently took 14 queen baaa from
America to France. This la a record
for transporting royalty.
b the Sim burning up your crops*
Than are plaag of surplus bomb
mm good tee auyttjjy else which
ou? enough water to make olonds so
we're told.
Wireless Phones Tested in East
Shown atop the Now York telephone baliding mo the antennae need
during demonstration sf a secret army radar microwave relay system.
The demonstration, conducted by Bell telephone laboratories, included a
two-way voice transmission carried oat successfully ever links totaling
1.4M miles. It was aanooaced as entirely practical and successful.
Convalescent Soldiers Turn to Art
^?
Soldier-artists at Xorney General hospital, Palm Springs, Calif., enjoy
instructions from noted artist*. Pfe. Johann Kaesorak of Lorain, Ohio,
center, and Pfe. George Pearl of Menard, Texas, are sketching Joyce
Rosenberg, New York City artist, who Taries a period of teaching as she
poses for the tiro soldiers in a life class.
i
Tittle David,' World's Largest Gun
I
World's largest esnnon, a M-ineh mortar known as "Little David," I
was developed as a secret weapon bp the D. 8., and ready far aetiea when '
war aama to an and. Air photo shows mortar in Srinc perttiaa. It was 1
capable of kirih| 1.W? psnnd projectile. It was ssnrldered far mora dan- I
rarena than "Bif Bertha" in World War L osad by Germans against )
Every Day Fishing Day in Maine
^Ftttwui ?? admjra^heta cajlrii^akFather
Wants A-Bomb Secret
Soviet Foreign Commissar Mok>
tov, shown in air photograph as he
addressed the Soviet eonncU and an
aeon led that the Soviet "will have
atomic energy" and that the atom
bomb "mat net be kept secret."
The reqnest is not being met in C. S.
Said to Be Kidnaped
Three-year-old Dickie torn Snden,
now believed to have been kidnaped
from his borne near Dewnieville,
Calif. His parents, who are of
prominent mininc family, report
that they have been unable to con
tact kidnapers.
Prisoners Broadcast
la aa an usual broadcast within
Saa Qaeatta penitentiary, California,
tfca ailsaauiii shown beforo the
"mfcs" bare since been ezeeated.
Ire ethers an a pais program. The
program created considerable inter
est la (be state.
Joins Smith Pickets
Edward G. *-Hmm thowa h
??? tlM
?tan OmM L. K. SaUOi ni
"tatalU to apMk at mfm ? mltoi
BARUCH PREDICTS INTUmON
WASHINGTON. ? Elder Slates
man Bernle Baruch revealed some
interesting figures on inflation re
cently in an off-the-record session
with 14 younger congressmen at his
Shoreham hotel apartment Bawieh'S
prediction was that the nation was
hell-bent (or inflation?and soon.
Piecemeal increases in wages,
profits and the cost of living have
been uneven, Baruch said, with
wages lagging behind. For that rea
son he no longer favored his prewar
idea of a freeze an both prices and
wages. Our only hope, said the el
der statesman, is that we can weath
er the next six to nine months with
out running into serious inflation. If
we do that, our chances of a Strong
recovery from the war boom are
good.
"The huge pent-up demand far
products which we win see dur
ing the next nine months is a
very serioas threat," said Ba
ruch, stressing the importance
of holding prices dowh.
He amazed his listeners by say
ing that he is completely opposed to
tax reduction of any nature at this
time. "Not only does the govern
"tani 1/tea nmA/lmsi rpvonup Kilt It 4* I
an unhealthy thing for our general
economy," argued Baruch.
Rep. Andy Biemiller of Milwaukee
asked what Baruch thought of the
statement by General Motors' pres
ident C. E. Wilson that if wages ere
raised 30 per cent, prices must go up
30 per cent. Baruch talked at some
length on the general question of rio
ing prices, but gave no direct an
swer. Finally, Biemiller repeated
his question. *
"I'm afraid I can't agree with Mr.
Wilson," Baruch said.
WAGE NOT PRICE INCREASE
"Isn't it true that industry can
give a 30 per cent wage increase
without having to raise prices more
than about 714 per cent?" Biemiller
persisted.
"You are approximately right,"
Baruch agreed. "I believe the fig
ure you may have heard is actually
8% per cent."
Baruch also told his guests
that he felt we were making a
mistake in speeding manpower
demobilisation. "With the world
in its present situation," he said,
"it seems to me it would bo
wiser to proceed slowly with de
mobilisation, In order that we
not weaken ourselves at a time
when power is apparently still
an important thing."
He agreed also with an idea pro
posed by one of his guests, Estes Ke
fauver of Chattanooga, to have cab
inet members and other high of
ficials appear on the floor of con
gress where they can be questioned
by congressmen. Such a practice
I would make for much greater co
operation between the executive and
legislative departments, Baruch
said.
Present in addition to Biemiller
and Kefauver were Representa
tives Albert Gore and Percy Priest
of Tennessee, John Sparkman of Al
abama, Mike Mansfield of Montana,
Henry Jackson of Washington, Jer
ry Voorhis and Chet Holifleld of Cal
ifornia, Bob Sikes of Florida, Mike
Monroney of Oklahoma, Bob Ram
speck of Georgia, and Jamie Whit
ten and Arthur Winstead of Missis
sippi.
? ? ?
CHURCHILL IN DEFEAT
Winston Churchill recently told
friends how he felt after his defeat
in the British elections. The first
few days after his defeat were ter
' rible, Churchill confessed. The very
! next morning he arose and fretted
because there were no diplomatic ca
bles to read. Through the war, his
first morning chore was to read the
top-secret military and diplomatic
cables from all over the empire; and
he paced up and down intermittent
ly for days, fretting because there
were no cables coming in and be
cause, though he felt things were
going wrong, there was no one to
whom he could send, cables to
straighten things out.
"Finally I went down to the south
of France," Churchill confessed.
"They treated me well there. I
painted several pictures and they
fed me some wonderful food. But
still I couldn't get over this idea of
no cables coming in and no cables
going out. Each morning I fretted
when I read the papers. But finally
one morning I felt better. It sud
denly dawned on ma that I wasn't
prime minister any mora and it
wasn't my worry, and I've felt bet
ter ever since."
Note ? CharehUTs health is
touch and go. Bis doctor has
ordered Urn to eet down so his
toad and drinking.
? ? ?
SENATE ELD EE STATESMEN
i Hera are toe ages of toe elder
statesmen of toe senate: Bankbead
of Alabama, 78; George of Georgia,
87; Thomas of Idaho, 71; Willis of
Indiana, 78; Capper of Kansas, 80;
Reed of Kansas, 74; Berkley of Ken
tucky. 88; White of Maine, 88; Walsh
of Massachusetts, 78; Bilbo of Mis
sissippi, 88; Murray of Montana, 88;
McCarran of Nevada, 88; Bailey of
| North Carolina, 73; Moore of Okla
| hotna, 74; Green of Rhode Island,
j 78; Austin of Vermont, 68 and Mo
' KaDar of Tennessee, 78.
Genu of Thought
TRUTH, justice, and reason
* lose all their force, and afi
their lustre, when they are not
accompanied with agTeeable
manners.?niomaon
lertity it e ipectmcle for the gads.?
?Semecm.
After a good dinner one can
forgive anybody, even one's
own relatives.?Wilde.
The great man is be whs dees
not lose his child's heart.
?Ceneiiu.
Everything has two handles?
one to be held by, the other not
?Epictetus.
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