It would have made a huge difference. Stalin was the 'intellectual heir' of Marxism-Leninism which is the lodestone of liberals everywhere. The NYT was one of the principal cheerleaders for that murderous thug, btw.
Since the USSR was the 'birthplace' of socialism, it had to be defended from 'fascism', even though there isn't a dimes bit of difference between them.
L
Actually I heard from Chaim Ben Pesach that the NYT supported Hitler too. The guy who wrote the articles praising Hitler and Stalin won a Pulitzer prize for each article. Ironically the guy was a Jew
Well, the dimes worth of difference was that communists are INTERNATIONAL socialists, whereas facists are NATIONAL socialists (hence Nazi, which is short for National Socialist). International socialists export thier theology, but leave local governance in place, even if just as puppets. National socialists must absorb territory, and thereby dispell any fantasy that locals are allowed to have any say in thier own future.
The left wanted the mirage of self rule, while they envisioned themselves pulling the puppets strings (just as they do today ... little realizing that they too are merely puppets for an even greater master). When National Socialists threatened to dismantle the International Socialist beachhead, they chose to support the International Socialists because it was better for them in the long play.