Evening star., 1945-01-12
Vondenberg Program
Of Allied Unity Hailed
Swept Away All Idea of COP
Obstructionism, Says, Writer
By David Laurence

By David Laurence
Senator Vandenberg of Michigan has
made one of the greatest speeches Of
the war period. Not only has he pene-
trated the fog of misunderstanding that
has arisen recently in connection with
British, Russian and American policies
in interpreting the Atlantic Charter.
but he has outlined practical solution.
Mr.. Vandenberg not only contributed
something constructive in his proposals
for Allied unity, but he swept away
completely any idea that the Republican
party in the United States Senate is
to obstruct in any way the movement for
the establishment of an international
organization to assure world peace.
Not trace of partisanship or captious
criticism is to be found in Mr. Vanden-
berg's utterance, which gains prestige
because he is the chairman of the Re-
publican Conference of Senators and
because he also is one of the most
powerful members of the Senate Foreign
Relations Committee.
The address will be read abroad. It
should be taken to heart by Russia,
Britain and France, as we'll as the
smaller countries of Europe, because it
states unequivocally what is in the
hearts of vast number of people,
namely, that no sacrifice is too big to
make to assure American participation
in world organization to maintain
peace when this war is concluded.
Breath of Fresh Air.
Mr.. Vandenberg, to remarkable de-
gree, voiced the sentiments of Ameri-
cans, irrespective of party who. for the
last two or three weeks have been be-
wlldered and disheartened. 1t was like
breath of fresh air to have Republi-
can leader say forthrightly that the
United States is ready and willing to
lend its influence and power and indeed
its physical force to maintain peace in
Europe in future years. 1t was the
kind of speech which, if it had beer
made in 1919 and 1920 by the then lead
ers of the Republican party in the
Senate, would perhaps have prevented
this war
~'~~' 'N@AASA1eSA6 PtOPOo0i ID d slIllDlc
one. He says, in effect. that fear of the
rebirth of German aggression is the
heart of all the grasping for territory
In Poland, the Balkans and in the
Mediterranean. He Is exactly right,
because at the Paris Peace Conference
that was the principal thing that Wood
row Wilson encountered. No matter
what he said about the provisions of
the League of Nations looking toward
the enforcement of peace, the military
men and the so-called realists of that
day insisted that buffer states and all-
ances and agreements were necessary
in order to keep Germany from re-
arning,
| But when the time came and Allied
craftsmanship in Europe was called on
to prevent the rise of Hitlers power,
Britain, France and Russia did not take
the necessary steps. II the physical
force of the United States could have
been pledged at that time so that Hitler
would know and the other nations would
know that the United States was ready
and willing to play an active part in
preserving peace, Germany might never
have gone to war.
There will be, of course, some differ
ence of opinion as to the merits OF Mr..
Vandenberg's proposal to the effect that
the United States, Great Britain, France
and Russia should together agree to
demllitarize Germany and permit imme-
diate use Of force to assure such demili-
tarization.
Mr.. Vandenberg went so far as to say
that the Congress could constitutionally
delegate its power to the President to
act Immediately so that it would not be
necessary to ask for further authority
from Congress where Gebirth Of Ger
man aggression was concerned. This. to
be sure, would be a far-reaching COM
mitment. 1t has been made in analogous
fashion by the able Republican Senator
from Vermont, Warren Austin, who has
| worked SO hard in support of the Dunn
barton Oaks agreement. 1t has been
supported, of course, by prominent DEM
ocratic Senators.
Connally Makes Point.
The favorable comments on Mr.. VAN
denberg's speech made by the Demo-
cratic leader, Senator Connally = Of
Texas who is chairman of the Foreign
Relations Committee, is an indication
that both parties are working together in
| the United States Senate in a cosamon
! cause.
incidentally, Mr. Connally made a
point that was aimed at those super-
ficial critics of American foreign policy
who are enamored of European impe-
rialism and spheres Of influence, at those
critics who are constantly berating their
own country because it does not initiate
foreign countries, and at those critics
who forget that before the airplane
crossed the Atlantic or the Pacific there
was much less Of a belief in the need for
a worldwide organization than there is
today. Said Mr.. Connally:
I hear much talk about our foreign
policy. Orators thrust their hands in
their bosoms, columnists grasp their
fountain pens and put their typewriters
to work and say. The United States has
no foreign policy and they want to
know what our foreign policy is.
When they make such statements
and PROFOUND such inquiries they are
unconsciously comparing what they call
our foreign policy with the foreign
policy OF some foreign country. We have
no foreign policy in the sense that we
are all over the earth trying to grab
territnrias hore fbora ,rd >I.oz,L..