Why Not?

At 65, the crinkle-eyed pipe-smoker in the Kremlin appeared fit and trim as a new Stormovik. Tadeusz Romer, former Polish Ambassador to Moscow, now back again with Premier Mikolajczyk, had not seen Joseph Stalin since early 1943. Romer found Stalin looking "years younger." -L->e-hind the tobacco haze the old revolutionist could well shrug his shoulders, and utter his characteristic-rejoinder: "Pochemu niet?--Why not?"

For never before in history had Russia been such a potent force in the affairs of the world. Russian armies and Russian foreign policy were something to be reckoned with, from the Baltic to the Dardanelles. In Asia, if Russia so much as stirred, there were repercussions from Tokyo to Teheran. And why not?

Soon there might be peace with Finland (see col. 2). Finland would remain independent. For Finland, stripped of a strategic Petsamo and Hango, would be harmless, lying like a baby between the paws of a bear. Why not?

Soon there would be a new, independent Poland--a parliamentary democracy. The hard fact of the Polish question was that the Kremlin would now dominate Poland. The London Government in Exile would have to agree (see Poland) or it would be cast on the garbage heap of history. And why not?

Perhaps there would be another of those parliamentary democracies in Germany. Communists would be very strong in it, too, for only Russia had a realistic policy toward defeated Germany (see col. 3). The hard fact about the German question was that whoever dominated Germany, dominated Europe. And why not?

And presently there would be friendly governments in Bulgaria, Rumania, Yugoslavia, perhaps even in Greece. Why not?

What children most of the critics of Russia's policies were! As if Russia needed to set up Communist governments all over Europe. Stupid! First of all Russia needed peace--to bind up its wounds, to organize its resources into an impregnable, unconquerable socialist state. First of all Russia needed freedom from the fear of invasion, a cordon sanitaire, in reverse, on its western, frontiers. Henceforth, from the Arctic Ocean to the Adriatic Sea, there must be a chain of governments friendly to Russia. Why not?

That was the short-range goal. The long view? In ten, in 20 years--the powerful, prosperous U.S.S.R. might convert the whole world by its example. That was cheaper than revolution or conquest. Time and power would tell.

Well might Joseph Stalin puff his pipe, shrug his shoulders and say: Why not?

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