Evening star., 1948-10-12
Marshall Seen beset
By Politics in Facing
Diplomatic Problems
Opinions Differ Widely
On Wisdom of Policies
Followed With Russia
Bv David Laurence

By David Laurence
Some day, when the smoke OF
political battle has cleared away
historians will view the events OF
these times with more objectivity
than seems possible at the moment
They will accord then q generous
measure of praise to George Mar
shall for his valiant efforts to per-
form overwhelming duties for his
Government in the postwar era,
long after he earned the right to
rest and retirement from the job
he did in commanding the biggest
military organization the world has
ever known.
Secretary Marshall is unused to
the ways Of politics. When Presi-
dent Of the United States requested
him to 60 to China as his envoy,
he accepted that difficult post and
quietly strove for year to find a
way to solve the bathing and COM
plex situation in the Far East
When the President asked him to
become Secretary of State, he again
accepted the call of duty-this time
to a post even more confusing and
exacting, because he was never
trained in the school of diplomacy
or in the legalistic methods OF
intergovernmental communication.
At the outset, the Secretary Of
State made it clear that he
couldn't be drafted for political Of
flee and has maintained correctly
the bipartisan tradition of his i'm
mediate predecessors. To him the
State Department was like the Army
"a nonpolitical division Of govern
ment.
Beset on All Sides.
Yet, Mr.. Marshall has since been
beset on all sides by politics. The
question of aid to China became
political, as did the matter of
recognizing Israel and composing
the Palestine war. Mr.. Marshall
with a tact and courtesy that he
learned to give superior officers
in the Army, gave to the Presi-
dent the obedience to instructions
which the Chief Executive asked
for or implied in the making Of
policies.
History will review Mr.. Marshall's S
handling of the delicate question
of relations with Russia with per-
haps a less critical approach than
would have been visited upon any
other military man. For George
Marshall has an engaging persona
lity and a sincerity that produces
profound respect for his views. Yet
there is no doubt that much diff
ference Of opinion prevails here as
to the wisdom of the policies he
has followed There has, for in
stance, been q fear that he over
simplified the Russian policy of
negation as meaning that no for
mula for cooperation would be
feasible and that hence none need
be tried.
The doctrine that Russia could
not be trusted and hence that
negotiation was futile has led to
q blind alley in the diplomacy Of
the Western Powers. 1t Is not
a novel development. Time and
again in world history, neverthe-
less, governments have found 1t
necessary and desirable to make
efforts to negotiate and prevent
war even at the cost Of time and
patience,
Factors Of Pride.
The announcement just made
from Paris that there cannot be q
simultaneous lifting of the Berlin
blockade and q meeting Of the
Council of Foreign Ministers but
that, instead, there must be lift
ing Of the blockade first illustrates
the kind of entangling pride fac
tors which can be introduced by
governments sometimes when there
is O basic distrust on both sides.
Even the solution of the overall
German problem is frustrated at
present because of fear that Rus
sia might get control of Germany,
though the tactical approach in the
negotiations should be to discuss
anything and everything to the
point of demanding safeguards for
the future independence Of Ger
many. Once negotiations are be-
gun, proposals can be made to limit
the activity of any foreign power
seeking to interfere with German
autonomy by infiltration or other
wise.
It is far better to manifest q will
ingness to negotiate all these points
than to place the Western powers
in the position Of refusing to come
to an agreement because they be-
lieve Russia will not keep it. Such
an attitude can mean that only war
or q surrender by Russia of what
she deems to be her co-equal rights
in Europe can end the deadlock.
This is not realistic diplomacy in
an atomic age.
Secretary Marshall is respected
by the British and French govern
ments and wields today an enor-
nous influence. But back home the
political pot Is boiling. There are
large groups Of people who say little
but who feel that there can be a
peaceful way out of the difficulties
that have arisen in Berlin and that
maybe a fresh start under a new
administration may bring about
that result.
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