Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1948-08-21
TIE Political NH
Dewey Irked Democrats
In Italian Colony Talk
Took Edge OFF the Ten.Srike Planned
BY Truman Forces

By Gould Lincoln

The Democrats, 1t is reported are perturbed
over Gov. Deweys statement that he favored
giving Italy administrative control Of its for
mer African colonies under . United Nations
trusteeship. 1t is not because the Republican
presidential candidate is in disagreement with
the Truman administration on the subject. He
is not. It is merely because Mr. Dewey grabbed
the ball and ran with it.
There Is sizeable vote in New York and
other States Of Americans of Italian blood.
The Dewey statement sits well with those vot-
ers which is the reason the Democrats are
miffed. They are charging that the New
York Governor is playing politics, hoping to
line up the Italian vote for the COP ticket.
The Truman administration, 1t Is further
reported. has been working along the lines
proposed by Gov. Dewey for the disposition Of
: the former italian colonies It has been work.
ing, it is true, through the conferences Of
the Big -Four, the United States, Russia, Brit.
ain and France.
Beaten In Strategy.
There was no reason why in . month or two
months, according to choice, President Truman,
the Democratic nominee for President should
not have made the same kind of announce
ment as that now made by Gov. Dewey. In
deed, it Is entirely likely that the Truman
strategy would have been exactly that-par-
ticularly had the negotiations in the Big Four
conferences worked out successfully for italian
administration of the African colonies
The Dewey pronouncement apparently has
taken the edge of this expected ten-strike
for Mr.. Truman with the Italian American
voters. In other words, it is just as smart poll
nouncement Of Mr.. Humans position on the
colonies would have been.
From Democratic sources comes q protest
that Gov. Dewey's statement was premature
and might in some way handicap the United
States in its dealings within the Big -Four
conferences Why should it? It would appear
more reasonable that Gov. Dewey's statement
would strengthen the hands Of Americas rep
resentatives, since 1t places the candidate Of
the Republican Party squarely in support Of
this objective, making 1t clear that politically
the United States is united in support Of such
. proposal.
The Democrats quite naturally are not at
lacking the Dewey proposal TO have Italy
administer the former African colonies. They
could scarcely afford to, If they wished to
curry favor with the Italian voters In this
country.
Has Another Angle.
The Dewey proposal has another angle. It
tends to establish favor in Italy itself toward
the United States and the Western Powers
generally, and to lessen the Communist Party
influence in Italy. 1t Is in line with former
pronouncements by this Government.
The Democrats, who not 80 long ago were
complaining that the New York Governor was
silent on matters Of great public Importance,
are beginning to find out that Gov Dewey
has plenty to say, when he believes the time
Is right. His statements are made after
mature consideration, however, even though
they move too fast for his opposition.
Gov Dewey is not out to break down
the bipartisan unity on foreign policy which
he himself initiated in 1914 when he sent John
Foster Dulles to confer with Secretary Of State
Cordell Hull during the Dumbarton Oaks meet
ings. His present procurement on the
italian colonies is a case in point. Mr.. Dewey.
however, sees no reason why the Truman ad-
ministration should be left to capitalize en-
>tirely on moves that may be popular In con-
nection with foreign policy.
The Dewey statement on the former italian
colonies has also met with favorable response
In italy itself. II the plan helps to build up
in any way the Italy which this Government
Is out to help recover, 30 much the better