Evening star., 1948-03-18

tTumuH FQttufSy F1UWSTSI,
To Call for Forces Will
Eeove Soviet Unimpressed
BY David Laurence
President Truman presented Con-
gress with q logical case for i'm
mediate war with Russia or at least
a showdown at once, but he failed
to back 1t up with recommendations
that could impress Russia.
The theory that Russia would be
impressed by the adoption of slow
moving program of universal mill
tary training or the drafting of un-
trained youth under the Selective
Service System is not convincing.
Russia can overrun Europe in six
weeks-long before any draft or
universal military training program
can be of avail.
What the President. for some
reason unknown to Capitol Hill. did
was to say Russia has to be stopped
but without indicating that America
is really going to participate at
once in such process.
Did Not Ask for Reserves.
With the whole world aware that
air power is a weapon of great po-
tentiality for immediate action, the
President did not ask for the call
to service of any of the trained pilots
or reserves who would be needed to
back up Americas pronouncements
in the event that Russia continues
her aggression. ...
Unfortunately, the President and
Secretary Marshall give the i'm
preston that they would like to use
the present emergency to secure the
adoption OF long-range universal
military program which Congress
has hitherto baked at passing.
II the crisis is as serious as the
Presidents recital of the facts
would indicate, then Mr.. Truman is
dily-dallying with Americas ma
tional safety and the freedom of
Norway and the five nations which
are binding themselves together in
o mutual-assistance pact.
The thesis that Russia is impressed
by action and not by words is re-
peatedly proclaimed in administra-
ton circles. Yet there was no action
specifically directed toward a re-
turn of American forces to Europe
mentioned in Mr.. Truman's mes
sage There was a veiled promise
to help the five nations and theo-
reticelly warning to Russia, but
this Is not likely to be any more
effective than the pronouncement
Of the Truman Doctrine was last
year in reference to Greece and
Turkey.
II MIR. Truman had asked Congress
to give him authority to use Ameri-
can forces in any emergency that
might arise, Russia might have
been impressed. Without any re-
quest for congressional authority
involving the use of forces, the
Truman speech could be regarded
by Russia as sheer bluff.
The American people are far
ahead Of Mr.. Truman in their
thinking. They do not relish living
In a world with an aggressor state
on the loose. They would rather
have the situation clarified at once
than to drift along indefinitely with
alternate periods Of crisis and calm
and with vast expenditures for
preparation for war while Russia
perfects her military machine, too.
Aggression Now Plain Fact.
Russian aggression is now a plain
fact which the whole world sees.
Mr.. Truman speaks of 1t as grow
ing menace" Secretary Marshall
tells Of cold-blooded aid to guerril-
las In Greece by Soviet satellites,
and he mentions the subversive ef-
forts in Italy and in Scandinavian
countries.
It would appear that such aggres-
sion, If 1t is to be checked at all,
might better be checked by demand
ing cessation at once under penalty
of military action. Such a state
ment need not be given in public,
but American ambassadors can be
instructed to tell Americas purposes
without the fanfare Of publicity. II
such steps are without result and
no basis for O. final effort for an
overall understanding is discerni-
BILE, then public announcement Of
Americas association with the Ave-
nation mutual-assistance pact can
be made. together with q pledge to
defend the territorial integrity and
independence of the Scandinavian
countries.
Two world wars have now been
fought to make the world safe for
democracy. The democracies do not
yet feel safe and peaceful recovery
is impeded by the presence of an
other aggressor state. The only
language such a state Is represented
as accepting Is the language of
physical force. Apparently the
Truman Marshall administration
has failed in its diplomacy, and
the American people now are con-
fronted unhappily with the effects
of a confused diplomatic situation
from which the only outcome is a
showdown that could mean war.
The administrations course con-
sists of halfway measures. War
can be avoided, but 1t will require
firm and clear-cut action now
Congress is ready to back up any
program that really means pre-
vention Of war and Is ready to 60
to war II that Is the only course
left
Reproduction Rights Ressrved)
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