Lamont Bares Russian Aims

"American public opinion has been wrong about the Soviet Union in everything. To successfully cooperate with Russia in winning the war and winning the peace, we must evaluate prejudices accumulated over the past generation." These words summed up the message of Corliss Lamont '24, whose speech climaxed the discussion held at the New Lecture Hall last evening on "The Peace of Russia in the Post-War World."

Opening with the warning that today the war is far from won, he asserted that Britain and America will have to take the war more seriously. "The strain on the Russian line is tremendous; the need for a second front is daily growing more acute. To date, the guerrilla armies of Jugoslavia are doing more to divert the military strength of the Axis than the United States and Britain."

Russians Can Hold

"However, I believe the Russians are now fighting with all their strength," he said, "and can keep on fighting until the Nazis are crushed." He stated that, contrary to the popular conception of an "enigmatic" Russian position after the war, it is easy to make sound and accurate predictions about their post-war policy.

"The first Russian aim after the war will be international peace through collective security. . ., the fight for which the Soviets have carried on ever since the American people, misled by politicians, reputed America's participation in international affairs."

World Disarmament

The second aim, he said, is general, worldwide disarmament. "Russia does not want war, but peace to keep on building its socialism and to put through reconstruction of its devastated territory."

"National international trade is the third aim of post-war Russia. The So- viets will need American goods and machinery. We will be wise to trade with Russia, for even the most conservative business man recognizes the good business in close economic cooperation, especially in view of the two or three billions in American lend-lease money which will be in Russia by the end of the war."

Lamont added that we could not conceal the fact that Russia does want world socialism, that it has a missionary spirit. However, he continued, "the Soviet Union does not want to embark on a military adventure.