The Wilmington morning star., 1947-01-14
Bvrnes And V%andenberg

1t was appropriate LHdI OeIIdloI VdH-
denberg and the retiring Secretary OF
State. James F. Byrnes, should appear
on the same program of the Cleveland
Council on World Affairs. They have
been SO closely affiliated in shaping the
United States foreign policy during this
era of international negotiations for
peace that it has been all but forgot
ten that their political faiths are not
identical.
Now as Mr.. Byrnes is about to re-
tire to private life and Mr.. Vandenberg
has assumed new and greater authority
in the nations affairs, this difference
is recalled, perhaps emphasized. Mr..
Vandenberg made it plain at Cleveland,
for example, that he does not favor the
neutral position of this government in
China which General Marshall sought
to maintain between the nationalist gov
eminent and the communists, and which
probably had Mr.. Byrnes' endorsement.
Senator Vandenberg made the unequivo-
cal declaration that the United States
should throw the full power Of its in
fluence and assistance to the cause of
the nationalists.
This could mean that the incoming
Secretary of State and the chairman of
the powerful Senate Foreign Affairs
Committee, General Marshall and MIR.
Vandenberg respectively, will not find
common ground. At the same time, it
reasonably be argued that as the
United States poured it's equipment and
supplies into China for the support of
the Chang Kai-shek government
throughout the long period of the war
and has given it's normal and physical
backing to the n%ationalists, there is no
s%oundness in the judgment that would
justify neutrality toward the national
sts' enemies. Mr.. Vandenberg merely
clings to the position that the United
States is committed to the nationalist
cause in China, and that this commit
ment precludes United States neutrality
toward the communists.
Whether this position is right or not
is not for us to say. At least Senator
~Vandenberg is logical in unfolding it.
The outcome is obscure, but obviously
there must be a showdown on it. DOS
slbly If the near future.
Senator Vandenberg left no doubt
that or other major issues in u for
eign policy he stands solidly for the
course he helped Mr.. Byrnes to chart.
On disarmament he declared we "will
go as far the other Titans will depend
ably agree" but added Eve shall take
no sweetness and light for granted in
a world where there is still too much
iron curtain" He said there must be
drastic revision of the power veto in
the United Nations.
AS the atomic bomb and atomic en-
ergy control are part and parcel of dis
armament proposals Mr.. Vandenberg's
reference to disarmament are significant
in light of Mr.. Byrnes' statement on the
program, that the United States
must discharge it's responsibility as a
great power in the United Nations Sc
Council "to see that other states
do not use force except in defense of
law"-veto or no veto-and his further
declaration that Eve are not going to
dlsarm while others remain armed"
Even though these two men do not
see eye to eye on all great issues, the
people have reason to be
thankful that as one steps aside the
other takes up new responsibilities, not
as his successor in the State Depart
ment, but as presiding officer of the
Senate and chairman of that body's
Foreign Relations Committee.
"