Evening star., 1945-11-24


new role-Gen. Dwight D. Eisen-
hover. No person can challenge the
competence of these spokesmen nor
their devotion to the democratic
way of life. No one can question
their understanding of what it takes
to provide an effective army when
such an army is needed.
And yet Congress demurs. De-
spite the polls of public opinion
which thus far have shown a major
ity to be in favor of a peacetime
training program, Congressman ap-
pear to rely on their own intuitive
understanding of what their con-
stituents are thinking. They obvi-
ously believe that the country is not
yet ready for the training program.
They are therefore postponing their
decision.
So the argument will continue.
That probably will mean that on
both sides of the issue things will
be said that might better be left
unsaid.
One Argument Offered.
For example, one widely read and
highly respected publicist offers this
argument: Nothing is more COM
mon to say, or more true, than that
the success of the United Nations
depends on agreement between the
two largest powers in it. Agreement
Is far less likely if one nation is
patiently superior to the other in
strength. We do not propose
universal military training in order
to be stronger than any other ma
ton. We propose it in order that
no other nation be so uniquely
strong that it might dominate the
United Nations"
Where does that reasoning lead
us? 1t leads us straight into an
armament race between the two
strongest nations in the world. 1t
says that we must not permit any
other nation ever to be stronger
than our own. This might be fair
enough, except for certain charac-
teristics which We possess as human
beings.
One is that we never could con-
vince ourselves that we were as
strong as the possible enemy country
unless we knew that we were actu-
ally stronger. Another is our natural
disposition to suspect the worst con-
corning any potential enemy and
to believe any rumors we may hear
concerning his nefarious plans. And
citizens of the potential enemy coun-
try would entertain exactly the same
notions with regard to ourselves.
No system of inspection could be
set up, under the United Nations
Organization or any other auspices,
that would keep two such nervous
nations convinced that their armed
strength was evenly balanced. If one
decided it was necessary to build a
big battleship the other would deem
1t necessary to build a bigger one.
If one developed new big gun, the
other would seek to develop new
bigger gun. If one strengthened an
outpost here, the other would
strengthen two outposts there.
Demogogues' Opportunity.
Ana the demagogueS IN both coun-
tries would have happy time. In
the name of patriotism they would
eventually have their two countries
at each others throats.
Arguments there are in favor OF
peacetime training, but don't let's
take this one. Don't let's think that
this is the way to build a workable
United Nations Organization, the
way to achieve one world.
If the theory quoted above is any
good we should apply it to that other
strong nation as we'll as to our own
We should insist that it engage in q
training program as complete and as
efficient as ours.
And we shouldn't stop there. We
should carry our proposal to its logi.