366
PARTISAN REVIEW
to get a comparatively free poli–
tical hand in Europe. But here too
it can readily change once more.
Are there signs of preparations
for such a change, even while the
Communist Party (by unanimous
vote, of course) is transformed
into a polite educational society?
There are such signs. Among
them are a few quibbles that have
crept into
Pravda
recently (as on
the occasion of the meeting of the
Bank for International Settle–
ments), objecting to bankers and
especially international bankers.
Then there was, in early May, the
mutiny led by the communist
directed Elam in the Greek army
and navy-an armed and bloody
clash, in substance, between Great
Britain and the Soviet Union.
More weighted are omens in the
East. Early this year, the Soviet
Union concluded a treaty with
Japan. Today, Japanese troops,
the best of them by all reports
drawn from Manchuria, are en–
gaged in large-scale and success–
ful campaigns in China. In March
there began to appear all through
the American press a swarm of
articles buzzing about corruption,
tyranny, collusion and anti-West–
ern agitation in Chiang Kai-shek
China. Why all at once so many?
And reporters began to insist on
visiting Communist China. Why
just at the same time?
Suppose that, with his European
affairs more or less in order, Stalin
does not think the total defeat of
Japan such .a good notion as a
weakened Japan left as a buffer,
and joint expansion with Japan
into China? What then will the
communist policy in the United
States be? It can all be-perhaps
has all been-mapped in advance.
The 7th, the new leftist period,
will have its made-to-order propa–
ganda, slogans and tactics. And
woe then to war-mongers! We
Want Our Boys Home Again!
Don't Let Our Daddies Die in
the Jungles! Remember Washing–
ton! No Yank Blood for British
Blood-suckers! A Cheer for Com–
rades Villard and Rankin!
JAMES BuRNHAM
