davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1947-01-13
Special Committee Issue

Those Who thought the Congress
sional Reorganization Act meant the
doom of special investigating COM
mittees will be surprised to learn
that the question is still a very live
one. In fact, resolutions already
have been introduced in the Senate
to authorize two special inquiries
one of them an extension of the war
investigating committees powers.
AS the preliminary debate on the
two resolutions brought out last
week, the intent of the committee
which recommended the reorganiza-
ton legislation was to do away with
the practice of appointing special
committees independent of the
standing committee setup. The
Senate committee in its report advo-
Gated giving regular standing COM
mittees" supervision of all special
inquiries and recommended special
committees be abolished. The Sen
ate approved this recommendation,
but when the bill came up in the
House, the provision against special
committees was eliminated. AS
finally adopted, the act left the way
open for any special investigations
which Congress might authorize.
While the suggestion was injected
into the recent debate that political
motives might animate opponents
of a continuation of the deep prob
ing Senate war investigating group,
there is considerable to be said on
the side of those who object to a
return to the special committee sys-
tenn of the past. One of the prime
purposes of congressional reorgan-
lzation was to so overhaul and
simplify the committee structure as
to eliminate the exasperating con-
f1ict and confusion resulting from
overlapping or, outright duplication
of committee work.
It is conceivable that situations
may arise in which a special COM
mittee, authorized to cut across
committee lines, could cover ground
ordinarily within the scope of sew
eral regular committees and thus do
the job more efficiently and more
thoroughly than any of the standing
committee could do it. The ma
jority of inquiries fall within the
province of regular committees,
however, and good business practice
would require that they conduct
them, through their own subcom-
mittees. Unless some reasonable
curb is placed on the practice of ap-
Pointing special investigating groups,
the good start made toward stream
lining the committee organization
of Congress will be completely
nullified.
Evening star., 1947-01-13
This Changing World
RY Gonsfanfins RrosCn

submission to Parliament Of an agree
ment granting Russia more or less what
she desires.
Norway obtained sovereignty of ths
Spitsbergen archipelago by treaty In
1920. The United States, as well as Brit
ain and her doninions, France, the
Netherlands, Denmark and Sweden, is 9
signatory to the treaty, which did not
come into effect until 1925 when Russia
also adhered. Essentially 1t forbids mill
tary or naval installations on the island.
This perhaps is the reason why both
Russia and Norway consider It neces-
sary to obtain the consent OF all the
signatories texcept italy and JAPAN to
any extension Of Russia's present privi-
leges in the island, which are concerned
chiefly with coal mining. II Russia's in
tentions were strictly economic, no such
waivers would be necessary.
Spitsbergen's principal importance lies
in the possibility of its use as an air
base, but it also has potential naval
significance because 1t is completely ice
bound only for short time each year
and warships would find it an adequate
base for operations in large part Of the
North Atlantic. To that extent any sub
stantial Russian naval installations
might become challenge to American
naval supremacy in the Atlantic, partic-
ularly ii Russia accomplishes her pur-
pose of breaking out through the Darda-
nelles into the Mediterranean and finally
through the Straits Of Gibraltar into the
middle Atlantic.
Russia has no navy now to speak OF.
Being continental power, she has never
gone in for great sea power. Even under
the Czars the Russian navy was not
much. What the Soviets will do with
naval power in the next Is years is any
ones guess. 1t is probability to be
surely reckoned with that Russia, inter-
ested in the most advanced forms Of mill
itary science, will not neglect naval
power, for her one hope OF becoming
truly world power lies in the possession
of naval strength.
Moscow will have difficult task con-
vincing the American Government and
the American people that its purpose
in acquiring special status In Spits-
bergen is in no way aggressive. and 1t
lies within the power Of this Govern
ment to stymie the Russian effort. Any
disposition to agree to 1t will certainly
be conditioned on Russia's willingness
to accept the American viewpoint on
disarmament, particularly with respect
to international control Of atomic
energy.
Evening star., 1947-01-13
Schucht's Narrow Escape

Those who have criticized the
acquittal at the Nuremberg war
crimes trial of three of the twenty
two top-ranking Nazi defendants
will find some solace in the dis
closure that Hialmar Schacht, the
German financier, escaped convic-
tion by a very narrow margin. What
purports to be the inside story OF
the courts deliberations regarding
Schacht has just been published by
correspondent Of the New York
Herald Tribune.
According to this unqualified ver-
sion, Francis Biddle, the American
member of the tribunal, Joined with
the Soviet and French members in
wanting at the outset to convict
Schacht of war crime completely.
The Soviet member sought to have
the death penalty imposed, Mr..
Biddle favored life imprisonment
and~th French judge preferred a
short sentence. The British men,
ber, however, held out for acquittal
and eventually the French member
was persuaded to accept the British
er's view. This left the court divided
two-to-two. Since a three-fourths
vote was necessary to convict,
Schacht won his freedom-as did
also Franz Won Papen and Hans
Fritzsche.
The criticism of this verdict voiced
by the Soviet Judge, followed by the
regret" voiced by Prosecutor Robert
Jackson, left a widespread impress
sion that only the Soviet member
had voted to convict Schacht, who
was accused of guiding the financial
destinies of the Hitler regime. It
the published account of what actu-
ally happened is correct, Mr.. Biddle
was just as desirous OF convicting
Schacht as his Soviet colleague and,
moreover, would have been willing
to vote the death penalty for the
financier If the British and French
members could have been induced
to concur.
It would be interesting now to
learn what the vote was with respect
to the two other defendants who
were acquitted. There are many
persons who, lacking the information
available to the court, are inclined
to the view that the tribunal was too
"soft'-especially IN the case OF the
notorious Won Papen. - Additional
light on the acknowledgements
balloting would be helpful to the
historians. an....e. esne... ,ax.rs y. .
Evening star., 1947-01-13
On the Record
By Dorothy Thompson

Soviets occupied Manchuria in the last
week Of the Far Eastern war.
This strategy radically changed the
prewar power constellation of the globe.
It not only brought about the exit from
world power of Germany and Japan
the objective for which the war was
fought-but in the Far East 1t immensely
strengthened Russian power and influ-
ence in China, and the power and in
f1uence of the Chinese Communist Party;
it made not only Germany, but all Eu-
rope, power vacuum; 1t radically weak
ened the British Empire: and 1t left, de
facto, only two great powers on earth
the United States and the Soviet Union.
Ever since, our foreign policy has
been trying to achieve a permanent
equilibrium or balance of power between
the two major victors. The fact that
there are only two does not make
things easier; but harder. For, as this
column has steadily maintained, the
exit from history of strong states. or
states with independence of action,
always constitutes q temptation to ex-
pansion which few great powers have
been able to resist especially when con-
tinguous on land.
k** y X
Furthermore, it makes genuine sys-
tenn Of collective security practically out
Of the question. However many words
may be uttered about the sovereign
equality of all states" this equality is
a fiction in a world divided between
two titans. Each relatively weak state
looks, de facto, not to the United Ma
tions for protection, but to the United
States or Russia. And in this geography,
more than natural afflnities plays role.
AS result of the war, Europe has
become Eurasia east of the Elbe, and
the Russian armies, representing land
power directly contiguous to the rest OF
Europe, are in Europe; they are there
even If they theoretically withdraw, for.
with Europe weakened as 1t is. any part
of it is a few days motor-march from
Soviet controlled territory.
The implication of Gen. Marshal's
military strategy is that the United
States and the Soviet Union can reach
an agreement over Europe and China
which will not menace either OF the two
and result in permanent equilibrium.
This means, not one world, but two, with
mutual agreement on nonintervention
in each others areas. This column has
always doubted that possibility; on the
grounds Of historic experience, because
Of the nature and theology of the Soviet
regime, and because of the demonstrated
collapse, in the Goth century, OF the
concept of neutrality.
But, if anyone can make this concept
work, it ought to be Gen. Marshall, for
he must have foreseen the power pic
ture which would issue from the war
as it was fought.
fp.,.. ,sd nv ths Hell Syndicate Inc)
Evening star., 1947-01-13

the number of people inhabiting the
earth now.
Secretary Anderson uses the word
surplus" In limited sense. He
realizes that II living standards are
progressively improved everywhere
and purchasing power kept up, the
farmers of America and the world
can always have a good market.
Basically, II there is any problem in
the making here, 1t is a problem of
guarding against depressions that
force consumers to eat too little; in
the long view, in face of population
prospects, 1t is not a problem of
agriculture producing too much.
Evening star., 1947-01-13
Form Production

In his annual report to the Presi-
dent, Secretary of Agriculture An
derson has Just suggested that 1t
may not be long before the Nation
will have to worry again about farm
surpluses. During the war there was
no such problem. Instead. every
effort had to be made to increase
output to meet an extraordinary
demand. But in a year or so. as
other lands recover agriculturally,
this demand is likely to be much less
than it has been.
The outlook is complicated by the
factor of technology According to
Secretary Anderson. by large-scale
mechanization. greater use OF fer
tilizers, pest controls and similar
measures. the productive ability OF
farms has risen SO per cent above
prewar levels. In Mr.. Anderson's
Judgment, total output cannot be
expected to fall much now. except
In periods of extremely unfavorable
weather; actually, 1t Is likely to rise
as the chronological revolution con-
tinues.
Looked at narrowly, this would
seem to be leading us into a time
when our farm surpluses may be
worse than any in the past. But
there is this other factor to remem-
Der: The worlds population is grow
ing at. the rate of zoe. 100000 every
decade, and 100 years hence it con-
ceivably may total 4,0oo,o00,0oO, as
against the present 1000, o,ooo. As
was pointed out not long ago by H
H. Bennett, chief of the Soil Con-
servation Service, these figures mean
that agricultural productivity must
keep on increasing. the fact being
that it is n ny sufficient to feed
Evening star., 1947-01-13

economic profits Ia terms OF far
reaching industrial advances.
Beyond that, the atom may lead to
incalculably valuable progress in
such fields as medicine. above
everything, because OF its unparal-
leled deadliness. 1t may force the
world to cooperate and police itself
in a way that may bring on liter
ally warless age. Considered from
any standpoint, Americas invest
ment in it is not merely necessary
but wise. In time, given lasting
peace, the dividends are likely to
repay us many times over for the
lavish sums we are spending on 1t
now
Evening star., 1947-01-13

In a year like this, 1t may be assumed
that the Presidents budget message, as
well as the preliminary estimates OF Re-
publican leaders, are merely means OF
drawing the lines of q political connlct.
president Truman sticks to high esti-
mate of both income and outgo for the
fiscal wear 1947-4S. John Taber OF the
House Appropriations Committee sees
cut to under $4,000, ,00o,0 900. Senator
Robert Taft, an all but avowed candi-
date. cautiously takes his position in the
middle. And so the battle begins.
The truman prognosis is disappoint-
ing. Especially disappointing is the fact
that his estimate of expenditures for the
current year 1946-47 is higher than 1t
was In August: and In August 1t was
much higher than 1t was year ago.
In his estimates for 19z7-48 there is no
real program of economy. The Army
estimates remain about the same. The
NAVY is down about 81 ,80o. 900 900. The
figure for general government, which
includes most civilian employees Is down
by only 500, ,O00, 600. There are increases
for nearly all the paternalistic services
which marked New Deal budgets.
No one. including the Republicans,
will quarrel with the estimates for ma
tional defense. The great unpredictabies
are there. We learned, to our sorrow,
that military economies may bring vast
and expensive consequences later. Inere
is. to be sure, an element OF d1plomatic
pressure in high estimates for defense.
A cut in defense expenditures would
weaken the hands Of diplomacy IN the
critical negotiations in the future for
international disarmament We can
venture some hope that Russia may oe
impressed by public demonstration oi
our determination to remain miiitarliy
strong. But economy in this line next
year is wholly speculative, ana ponu-
clans like Senator TAFT are taxing NO
ehances, They were kurned once.
Evening star., 1947-01-13
Our Atomic Investment

Some pairing down may be pos
sible, but Congress is not likely to be
able to effect any appreciable cut in
the atomic energy expenditures esti-
mated by the President for fiscal
1948. He foresees an outlay of
$444,0O0,00O. BY recommending def
mite appropriations of $250,000, 900,
however, and by asking an equal
amount of authorizations, he has
made allowances for the possibility
that half billion dollars may be
needed.
In prewar days, this item simply
did not exist in our Federal budget.
But now, because nuclear fission has
become controllable reality-one
of the most portentous developments
in the history of mankind-we must
maintain a vast network of labora-
tories and processing plants at Oak
Ridge, Los Alamos and elsewhere
throughout the Nation. This enter
prise, moreover, must be run by tens
of thousands of individuals, a great
new accretion of Government en-
ployes where there were none before
uniquely skilled employees, includ-
ing many of our best young physi-
cists and chemists.
For some years to come, until ex-
penses can be shared with other
nations under a world control au-
thority, the annual cost of all this
| probably will remain in the neigh
| borhood of a half billion dollars
roughly equal to what we spent to
maintain our entire Army establish
ment prior to 1899. It is worth re-
peating that this cost is as unprece-
dented as the atomic bomb itself
and that the American taxpayerIf
for no other reason than military
safety-is inescapably saddled with
it, although he never had to bear it,
never even suspected its coming, be-
fore the war. Progress in this in
stance thus has all the appearances
of creating such heavy new finan-
cial burden and such a number of
new social and political headaches
that one is almost tempted to ask
whether it is any good.
But such a question represents a
narrow and unimaginative view of
nuclear energy. The military side
of this tremendous new power, the
side we must develop until there Is
effective world control, is full of
enormous potential evil. At the
same time, however, there Is the
promise of at least equally enormous
potential good. To begin with, from
dollars-and-cents standpoint, what
we spend on our atomic project may
be offset in considerable measure by
discoveries effecting economies in
such things as naval construction tit
may be found, for instance, that
costly battleships are unnecessary
It is quite possible, too. that by
licensing and other arrangements the
whole enterprise may become more
| than self-supporting and yield vast
Evening star., 1947-01-13

The advantage that Gen. George G.
Marshall brings to his new Office of Sec
retary of State Is that he planned the
strategy of the war and in so doing set
the major conditions that determine the
peace.
Since Gen. Marshall's is first-rate
intellect we must assume that he FORE
saw those conditions. Yet it is the situa-
tion created by the strategy of. the war
that has so far prejudiced making the
sort of peace projected before the war
the Atlantic Charter peace.
Where armies stand, power stands.
winston Churchill, who is an excellent
military scientist, also understands
power politics-which, in the world as
it is, Is the only kind OF international
politics that exists.
Mr., Churchill never lost sight OF the
political object, of Britain's war, which
was to strengthen, not weaken, the free
dom of action of Great Britain and her
empire, and of the Western world in
general. That is why he advocated the
invasion Of the Balkans. He did not
want Russia in Europe;S he was willing
to have Russia advance to the so-calied
Curzon Line in Poland; he apparently
was willing to abandon the Baltic states
and to grant to the Soviet Union the
concessions Stain previously had won
from Hitler in Romania as the price
Of the Russo German pact. But he did
not want Soviet power supreme IN Yugo-
slavia, Albania and Greece, because OF
their importance to the Adriatic. Suez
and the Mediterranean; nor did he want
to see the Soviet supreme IN any part
l~s oxlo o,,@ Nf
Europe.
1t was, / believe, Gen. Marshall who
vetoed the Churchillian strategy. The
political result of the way in which the
war was conducted Is what is now called
"the iron curtain" and the partition OF
Europe.
This partition could occur because OF
the disposition of the Allied armies at
the close Of the war. The Western armies
halted, by prearrangement, and not by
necessity, outside all the capitals OF Cen
tral and Southeastern Europe. Gen.
patton's armies could easily have been
in Prague, but they halted 80 miles dis
tant in Peron, and stayed halted despite
the rising in the Czechoslovak capital
and frantic calls for aid, a delay which
cost hundreds of Czech lives battling
with SIS troops, until Red army tank
corps could race from Berlin.
we could have entered Vienna, and
Berlin, considerably in advance OF the
Russians, but we halted at the Elbe.
When we did enter both capitals 1t was
to divide Austria and Germany into
zones. and to accept, at Potsdam, fait
accomph regarding Germany,s eastern
frontiers.
And in China by prearrangement, the
Evening star., 1947-01-13
Winter Starlight

Noao IL the season Dlten the light OF stat
Comes dotoa unfltered By the leG5;;
A multitude OF cleaning 5nreItns pass
Betpeen the naked bougfls tn 6rief
Repeated lines that make each syc6n,oTf
More silpery from ts0tg to core.
The graceful and unshrouded btrche
stand
TaH In the tuIgency OF light;
ertsp1,ess OF air accentnates the gloD
That nus the pdstness OF the night;
Ana he ,p1so sorrolps iDhen the ledpes
Noap hos more starlicht In his heart.
ROSE MYRA PHILLIPS. I
Evening star., 1947-01-13
Lows Not Enough
By David Laurence

From the Vancouver Sun.
The Socialist government Of Britain
makes no effort to hide its failures to
make good on promises made to the
electorate, and the people have so far
shown great forbearance in accepting
the further sacrifices thrust upon them.
But affairs are moving to such a crisis
that it becomes dificult to see how the
Labor party can maintain Its credit. II
its government cannot produce coal,
then it cannot produce at all, and
Britain Is in evil case. The truth Is
shown that no style of government, capi-
talist or socialist, can, make country
prosperous by the mere passing OF laws.
1t can only offer men job to do, and
the rest is up TO them.
Evening star., 1947-01-13
Policy for America


delivered by Senator Vandenberg
and James F. Byrnes to the Council
on World Affairs lies not so much
in the statement of any new prin-
ciple as in the timely reaffirma-
ton of foreign policy which has
come to be, and which must con-
tinue to be, an American policy
rather than partisan policy.
For MIR. Byrnes, this address was
In the nature of valedictory, eli
making period of service to this
country and to the world which has
seen the emergence of at least the
outlines of the structure around
which international peace must be
built. For Senator Vandenberg, it
was the first comprehensive, formal
statement of his position since as
suming the Craftsmanship of the
Senate Committee on Foreign Re
lations. While he disclaimed au-
thority to speak for the Repub-
lican Party his unequivocal re-
Endorsement of the basic principles
toward the establishment of which
he and Mr.. Byrnes have been work.
ing is decidedly reassuring.
For the benefit of other peoples
who may be wondering what will
be the effect of our internal political
changes, Senator Vandenberg had
this to say: IT believe the United
States, in enlightened self interest,
will do everything within its power
to sustain organized international
defense against aggression; to pro-
mote democracy and human rights
and fundamental freedoms; and,
through international co-opera-
ton, to seek peace with justice in
free world of free men,"
That is an excellent summation
of what has come to be accepted
as our American foreign policy-a
policy concerning which there has
grown up unanimity among par
ties and people that, stands in
welcome contrast to the attitude
which prevailed after the First
World War. And to a world in which
the potentialities of American power
are so great, for good or bad, it must
be reassuring in the highest degree
to know that when Gen. Marshall
assumes his duties as Secretary OF
State his primary task will be to
implement the broad policies al
ready laid out and fully supported
by the American Nation.
These addresses have served, how
ever, to bring into the open an i'm
portant difference between Senator
Vandenberg and Mr.. Byrnes. This
has to do with this Governments
policy toward Argentina-a policy
which Senator Vandenberg believes
to be unwise.
Broadly speaking, he dissents
from our unilateral efforts to COM
pei Argentina to fall into line with
our own Governments views, and
would leave this question to the
decision of all of the American re-
publics. There is not involved here
any dispute as to this country's col
laboration with other nations in
the cause of world peace. But the
issue is of great Importance in pre-
serving good relations within the
Western Hemisphere, and there is
mounting reason to believe that
Senator Vandenberg's view is the
correct, one.