Evening star., 1947-09-27
Foreign Policy Speech
Should Spike isolation
Charge, Taft Believes
Senator'S \Prewor Stund
AIienuted Powerful
g. O. P. Forces in Eust
By Doris Fleeson

TACOMA, Wash, Sept. 27.-Sen-
ators Robert A. Taft believes his
foreign policy speech here effectively
disposes of the charge that he is an
tsolationist.
Lingering suspicion of Senator
Tstt's foreign policy stems, of course
from his vigorous isolationist leader
ship prior to the war. 1t alienated
powerful Republican information
alists of the East who are still un-
reconciled to his candidacy. They
. have kept Harold E. Stassen in the
field; they are currently veering to
Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower
Their die-hard opposition in 194S
would handicap Senator Taft since
he already bears, however unjust,
one difficult brand-antilabor. Sen
ator Taft says the Republicans have
written off labor for 1913; they could
hardly write off their information
aiists
Retracts Nothing on War.
About the war he retracts nothing
1--WE could have had only one justi-
fcation for entering the war. That
was because we believed that Ger
man success ultimately would
threaten our own freedom. The guild.
ing principle of any foreign policy
should be the maintenance of peace
80 long as conditions do not threaten
the freedom of the people of the
United States. In my opinion, that
has not been the guiding principle
of our foreign policy in the last Is
years"
But from then on, the speech is
studded with pledges, direct and
implied, of cooperation in the inter-
national field plus outright praise
for the United Nations, Inter Amer
lean treaty and Japanese occupation
The White House will enjoy Sen
ator. Taft's declaration that in for.
eign' policy Congress should not
except with great provocation, give
foreign countries picture of g
divided America" Senator Arthur
Vandenberg, who had some bac
moments last winter when various
Taft mutterings reached him, will
welcome the tributes that imply Mr.
Taft still accepts his leadership ir
foreign policy.
Senator Taft's attacks on New
Dealers indicate that he will still
fight their appointment to any jot
as he did David Lilienthal's. Mr.
Taft said he knew Mr.. Lilientha
was not a Communist but he wa!
a Mr.. Fixit New Dealer of the kline
we ought to get rid of.
Aid to Vandenberg.
Senator Vandenberg has reason
to be grateful to Senator Taft fol
boldly making complaint Mr.. Van
denberg has hesitated to discuss fol
fear of impairing bipartisan policy
It is that Republicans are not con
suited sufficiently in advance but ar
presented with well-advertised plans
The effect, Mr.. Vandenberg feels, il
to put the COP in the position
of signing on the dotted line O.
risking accusations that they ar,
''wrecking" foreign policy. MAN.
Democrats reply bitterly that Presi
dent Harry S. Truman has swallowed
so completely the Vandenberg -Johr
Foster Dulles point of view, it's 1
Republican program to start WITH
Senator Taft's people believe tina
his comprehensive statement of hi
position not only answers his critics
but represents challenge to Gov
Thomas E. Dewey to state the Dewe.
brand of foreign policy. Gov. Dewe.
tells visitors privately that what MI
Dulles does shows where Gov. Dewe.
stands.
Other considerations apart, hi
party can again be grateful to Sen
ator Taft for his renewed statemen
of their case against Democratic
policy. In that part at least the.
are all agreed.
(Released by the Bell Syndicate. 1nc)