To the Editor of the Crimson:

If more than forty per cent of Harvard undergraduate have not heard of Churchill's "Empire Speech," probably less than ten per cent have heard of Victor Alter and Henrich Erlich. Yet the execution of these two Polish Jewish labor leaders by the Russian government is perhaps more important than any other event this year. That the Russian government, our allies, have found it impossible to forget the age-old Socialist-Communist enmity, even in the face of fascism that both are fighting, is a significant and provocative lesson.

The case is far from clear, but unless much that we know of these men is false, there is only, one conclusion that can be made. Both men were militant anti-Nazi, who helped in Warsaw's futile, heroic resistance. It scarcely seems possible that they were guilty of "subversive activity and espionage." Was it their only crime that they were Socialists, and Poles?

It would be a great mistake to become violently anti-Russian because of the Erlich-Alter murders, but it would be just as had to ignore them entirely. Russia is our ally, doing many times her share of the fighting. But we are not only fighting against fascism, we are also fighting this war for the four freedoms, and we did not put our ideals to one side when Stalin became our partner. Liberals should realize both the merits and demerits of the Soviet, for if we keep our eyes open, and do not become blind to here faults when we praise her many exploits, we stand a much better chance of being able to make a better world with all nations after this war is won. The executions of Erlich and Alter should show us the necessity of keeping our eyes clear of the rosy dust caused when we wave the flags of the United Nations. L.Magruder Passano, III