Detroit evening times., 1945-04-13
BEHIND
THE NEWS
BY Paul
Mallon

W YOU pull the curtains be-
hind Senator Vandenberg. you
will find a Republican party
concealed in haze from which
there emanates varied-colored,
timid. bright lights.
The Michigan senator is
earnestly attempting To present
cooperative and constructive
improvements to the adminis-
tration world peace program.
The prominence he has attained
doing il, has elevated him TO
the pedestal of front page
spokesman of the minority
party on this subject.
But the news behind the news
of it is, he is not. There has
been no agreement among the
party leaders on course of
action.
For example, the points of
the Vandenberg program of
amendments are similar TO two
of the seven points made by
eX-PreSident Hoover. But my
information insists Vandenberg
did not get them from Hoover,
who indeed wants 10 go much
further and create a regional
subdivision OF the new world
order.
CENATOR TAFT is an old
- League of Nations man
who appears not greatly im-
pressed by anything that is now
happening in the postwar peace
line.
Ex-Gov. StaSsen, who is being
groomed for the next Republi-
can presidential candidacy by
the New Dealers at least has
talked with some of the other
Republican big mon, but he left
them with the impression that
he has an ideal rather than
program.
Indeed. his career has not put
him into close contact with
foreign affairs developments.
Dewey is keeping As aHiet as
a hidden cat in a field of mice.
His man John Foster Dulles. re-
fused or failed 10 60 TO San
Francisco as Nandenberg's as
siStant, but is now going on his
own as an observer. Dulles sees
Nandenberg frequently. but 1 do
not believe there is agreement
between them on a program or
a party position.
THE Vandenberg leadership,
Il therefore. only reflects his
own skilled initiative toward the
establishment of a position for
party.
Frankly great many Re-
publicanS think the Roosevelt
project is in the shoals already,
will have to be changed, or may
run aground. Sagely they are
awaiting a clearer opportunity
10 commit themselves. They
have heard, for instance, that
Stains direct quotes repeatedly
offered at the Llvadla confer
ence were:
II am not going to consult
Albania and Ecuador" about
what is to be done or have them
interfere with Russian purposes.
Also they have heard rumors
that Manchurla was given to
Stain at Livadia personally l
do not believe this to be true.
but the rumors have created
clamor in Chungking).
As A RESULT most Republic
"A can spokesmen are now
rising TO defend the American
position in favor of the rights OF
small powers, and searching TO
ascertain if there are any more
secret understandings. such as
the agreement to give Russia
three votes in the assembly TO
one each for the smaller powers.
Most of the top Republicans
are internationallst, yet there
are a few isolationist senators
left. TOO, are biding their time,
expecting that developing events
will say what they would like
TO say now on the administra-
tlon program.
But-they- are-net yet certain
whether they will vote against
a treaty coming out of San
Francisco, and are inclined 10
resolve all doubts in favor of IT,
if possible.
WHEREFORE. 1t may be said,
Il the administration is practi-
cally without opposition on the
peace matter as it was in the
war. Any domestic politics in
volved is purely longsighted.
and not in any way an impede
ment TO Mr.. Roosevelt.
He has won a victory over all
opposition on the matter of in
ternational cooperation, but the
question now is what can he do
with il.
This search into the politics
behind foreign affairs and into
the Republican position GER
tainly has developed further
evidence. urging the administra-
tion to delay further peace ac-