Evening star., 1948-10-07
Political Circles Fear
New European Crisis
May Influence Voter
Both Dewey and Trumon
Give Impression Of Being
Closely Informed
By David Laurence

in political circles over the situation
aS between Russia and the United
States.
Will q crisis develop of such q
nature as to cause the electorate to
feel that a change in administra-
ton would not be in the public in
terest? Or will the mere fact of
change tend to clear the air imme-
diately after the election Of Gov.
Dewey and cause a clarification of
the present uncertainty?
The open evidence Of what each
camp thinks of the relationship of
what is happening in Paris to what
Is happening on the political stump
in America is to be observed in the
return of Gov. Dewey's adviser, John
Foster Dulles-who is expected to
be Secretary Of State next January
and in the coming home this week
end of Secretary of State George
Marshall to confer with President
Truman.
Desire of Both Candidates.
Unquestionably, both candidates
desire to give the impression that
they are keeping closely informed
on the situation abroad. Recently
President Truman has been criti-
cized for touring the country, max
ing speeches, while grave interna-
tional controversies have been de-
veloping. The decision Of the White
House to bring back Secretary Mar
shall for a weekend conference Is
designed to correct any impression
which the public may have derived
OF Truman indifference.
Incidentally, the return OF Mr..
Dulles for conference with Gov.
Dewey enabled the Republican envoy
to Paris to tell the press that a
campaign to instill In non-Com-
munist countries fear Of Americas
stability has been begun by the
Soviet propagandists in Europe, US
ing the speeches Of Democrats as
confirming the Russian prophecies
Of economic catastrophe. While Mr..
Dulles didn't mention Mr.. Truman,
1t is, of course, well known that
President Truman has publicly pre-
dicted an economic crash If the Re-
publicans are elected. In fact, Mr..
Truman has said 1t was necessary
to elect him to save the country
from going to the dogs"
Behind all this sparring between
the two parties is the knowledge
that the Russians are trying to take
advantage of what they believe to
be American disunity. Hence pub
lie statements and speeches have
been made by Governor Dewey and
Senator Vandenberg to dispel any
such illusion and to emphasize dra-
matically the existence Of the bipar-
tisan understanding on foreign
policy.
There remains suspicion IN some
quarters here that crisis may be
unnecessarily forced between now
and election. The Dewey people
are hopeful that the American
policy will not bring about any such
break. It will be noted that the
United Nations has before it de-
bate which could result in the ap-
pointment of a mediating commits
sion. If such a move developed, no
crisis would occur for many weeks,
If at all.
Problems Of Tactics.
II Is rapidly becoming clear that
the period between Election Day
and Inauguration Day may present
problems of tactics that will involve
cooperation between the outgoing
and incoming administrations. Be-
cause the bipartisan policy has been
in operation for many months, 1t
should be relatively simple for the
American delegation at Paris to
function uninterruptedly. The pres
ence in Paris Of John Foster Dulles
and former Senator Warren Austin,
both Republicans who have the con-
hdence of Governor Dewey and Of
Senator Vandenberg, chairman of
the Senate Foreign Relations Com
mittee, should make possible an easy
transition there of responsibility in
the American delegation to the
United Nations.
If. by chance, moreover. the Demo-
Gratis gain control Of the Senate,
1t will be noted that Senator Tom
Connally, who would then become
chairman of the Senate Foreign Re-
lations Committee, has played .
conspicuous part In the functioning
Of the bipartisan policy heretofore.
Altogether, there is really no cause
for concern with reference to the
harmony that should prevail in
handling policy at Paris though, to
be sure, q change of administration
may bring about q clearer definition
Of overall policy and thus contrib
ute to q constructive result. For 1t
Is more and more apparent here
that the Russians do not wish to
bring on war.
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