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Nos3s for December 24 gal TH!) SLOVAK CRISIS. j had Most alarming news have reached us Írom our Slovak observerse From which ever part of the country they report, the conclusions reached are the same. it is the identical and most pressing warning, that far reaching developments are being preparejdZ under expressive orders md direct control from Moscow. fhe strategic position. At several previous occasions, we have reported on the Carpatho-Unkrainian tragedy. This small, but essential key position on the Carpath defenses, had been secretely promised by President Benes” to Staline, aS counterpart for Russia's help in restoring Checho= Slovakia after the war. The pledge was fulfilled and the Carpatho— ~— Ukraine annected by the Soviet Union. ‘ince then, t e country was entirely re-organized: th e opposition was broken, the Church wiped out by brutal force, eventually the population dpported in large groups and replaced by Asiatic families; simultaneously huge straegic lines - especially the important East-West railfoads — were constructedj troops were concentrated in the area. 5. It is evident however that these measures alone cannot fully _ satasfy Soviet planning. Moscow knows too well the importance of the." Carpath mountain line. Whoever dominates this natural fortification +e controls the plains that extend at its feet: on the one side the low= lands of Foland, Ukrania, Moldava, Romania with the way opened to the East; on the other side the Danube Basin opening on the West. The Soviet Union therefore has to establish an absolute stronghold on the entire Carpath momtain belt. “uch goal is guarantee only to the power that controls the central key position, the knee of the Carpaths.e. Geographically speaking however, this area goes farther than Carpatho-Ukrania alone. It also involves the neighboring Kastern Slovakia: the regions of Sobrance (Szobranc) and of Kosice (Kassa). All indications received from Slovakia point towards a : thoroughly preparfing Soviet plane Now that Moscow entirely dowitates © the Carpatho-Ukrania, it sees the time fit to expand its direct hold in that vital area. 3 Such Russian move vould mean a double threat. Xíxíszy On the om side, it would greatly strengthen the most vital basis from which a possible armed advance towards the West could be prepared and could start. On the other hand, it would be the strongest Soviet spearhead menacing and controling simultameuusly all four sat@liites: Romania, Hungary, Czecho=Slovakia and Poland. Cut off from each other and dominated by this Russian mountain fortification, they would have lost their last chances of ever opposing any of the wishes d&étated by Moscow ee §.
