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UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN, LAWRENCE, KANSAS
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 3,1947
You're A Warmonger Dear Editor.
All editorials in the University Daily Kansan are written by the editor-in-chief unless otherwise indicated. So the editorial, "What's Russia Want, Anyway?" was written by me, Clarke Thomas. I wrote it because I happen to have drawn that set of conclusions from history and the news of recent years.
Editor's Reply
It is hard to know what someone else wants, but I think it's a fair assumption that neither the Russian nor the American people want war. Therefore, because almost every sentence of this editorial promotes distrust of Russia, I think that it can be considered an example of warmongering and as such merits an explanation.
If you don't mind publishing it, I would like to know the "who" and "why" of the editorial in Tuesday's Daily Kansan entitled "What's Russia Want, Anyway?" I'd like to know who wrote it and why it was written.
Daniel M. Kirkhuff, College junior.
I agree with you that the people of no country want war. I doubt if the Germans or the Japanese wanted war, either. But the world was forced into war because the leaders of certain nations placed aggressive aims above keeping the peace. In my editorial when I spoke of Russia, I meant the leaders of Russia (Stalin and the Politburo), because it is a well-known fact that in a totalitarian state the wishes of the leaders and not the people determine policy.
As for promoting distrust of Russia, I believe that little can be found with which to trust Russia. Why has practically every nation in the world, including our hemisphere neighbors (who by rights should distrust such a big neighbor), been on our side in the United Nations organization?
Why have both the Republican and Democrat leaders backed the Truman and Marshall plans? I say it is because Russia has given continual cause for distrust. If I'm wrong, I am in good company.
I grant that Russia has a "side." Certainly she has cause to fear the atomic bomb, or to consider the Marshall plan as a threat. But the atom bomb exists because of her refusal to follow any plan outlawing it. The Marshall plan has been put into effect because Russia has refused to co-operate in aiding Europe.
Is Russia's "side" always right? Is it mere coincidence that her "side" is always opposite the "side" of all the other nations? Is it always our fault that Russia's "side" is opposite ours?
I say, look at her record since May, 1945. Must we condone her blocking every move which everyone else thinks is a step toward world peace? Are we to pass over her annexation of territories, her "removal" of opposition leaders in countries in her sphere of influence, and her inspiration of revolt and trouble (through Communist organizations) in almost every European country?
Student Newspaper of the UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS
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I believe, and I wrote my editorial on that belief, that Russia is using this so-called "side" to further her aims. Because these seem to conflict with those of every other nation, she is upsetting the peace. It seems that to keep the peace, then, we must contain Russia.
tamed if we stay on our side and they stay on their side. And I think it is hardly fair to ask us to keep backing down, or to let Europe starve, simply because Russia has a "side."
Until an adequate international organization (one which limits national sovereignty to some degree) is formed, our security must depend on ourselves. Peace will be main-
I feel that my opinion that Russia's attitude endangers world peace hardly calls for the term "warmenger." As an infantryman in the past war, I can think of nothing more to be dreaded than another war. But I learned in combat that alertness did more to help keep me alive than wishful thinking.
These are my beliefs. And this is America where I am allowed to print them and you, sir, are allowed to call me "warmonger."
Clarke M. Thomas, Editor-in-chief
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