Evening star., 1947-03-21
U. N. Seen Helpless
In Greek Situation
Yet 1t Offers Convenient Alibi
to Foes of Truman Policy
By Dapid Laurence

The Republican Party in Congress has
no more skeptics about the Truman
policy in the Greek Turkish affair than
are to be found in the Democratic Party,
but the record of the Republicans prior
to Pearl Harbor and on certain impor-
tant votes between 1899 and ls41 puts
the majority party on the spot.
Through the skillful leadership Of men
like Senators Vandenberg and Austin.
the Republicans have managed to erase
much Of the suspicion concerning their
party, but it would not be accurate to
say that isolationism has been killed
off by the overwhelming votes given the
United Nations Charter or by the sup
port Of the bipartisan foreign policy
in recent months.
The germs of isolationism are equally
strong inside the Democratic party, but
the manifestations are more guarded
and less frequent. The truth is, whether
those Of opposite view like it or not,
isolationism is ingrained in the Amer
ican habit Of thought with respect to
world affairs and should never be con-
fused with disloyalty or with those who
prefer to play the game Of foreign gov
ernments to the detriment of American
interests.
Positions Reversed.
As matter of fact, the positions
which many prominent citizens took
in the years prior to 1941 on foreign
policy are being reversed in curious
paradox. 1t was from the right-wing
and conservative fractions inside the
Republican and the Democratic parties
that isolationism before the war got its
chief support in the controversy with the
so-called "interventionists" who favored
measures short of war" and finally
direct intervention.
Today the isolationism crops up on
the left-wing side, and 1t will be con-
ceded that there are more left-wingers
in the Democratic Party than in the
Republican Party. Men who follow
Henry Wallace and who call themselves
liberals" are expressing skepticism
about the Truman policy, and this may
be because anything that in any way,
seems to 60 contrary to Russia's In
terests or desires strikes an opposition
note among the left-wingers in America.
In fairness, 1t should be pointed out
that not all left-wingers are on the
Russian side Of the debate in foreign
policy matters, but 1t is to be observed
that even some OF those who 60 along
with the Truman policy hedge their
support with such comments as the
need for handling the problem through
the United Nations.
U. N. Is Helpless.
The truth is the United Nations Is
helpless, because Russia can block and
delay action and defeat any aid that
might be needed in Greece and Turkey.
Russia, likewise, has frustrated action
in the Security Council toward the
formation Of an international police
force. So the real answer as to why the
u NJ isn't being relied upon to help
out is that Russia wouldn't let the u N.
function on this problem.
As for the conservatives or right
wingers, many Of them are insisting that
the U. N. handle the issue, but they do
this either because they wish to ignore
the facts Of international life today or
because the U. N. furnishes a conven-
lent alibi for those who wish to oppose
the Presidents policy.
The isolationists of yesteryears are
further divided because Of the COM
munism issue. They want communism
thwarted anywhere and everywhere.
This will cause them to choose between
ingrained isolationism and what they
deem to be vital to the protection Of the
economic future Of this country.
There will be questioning and reluc-
tance to go along but, in the end, an
overwhelming majority of both parties
will support the new American policy
with respect to Greece and Turkey. It
would, however, be misleading to say
they will do so enthusiastically or with
any degree of conviction. They will
support the policy primarily because
they canno5 do otherwise, either politi-
cally or ideologically.
fReproJurtiop DiobfS par.rvn1N