Evening star., 1948-01-03
The Political Min
vondenbergi Strengthened
Position on Foreign Policy
Refusal to Join Presidential Race Adds
to His Record as Statesman
By Gould Lincoln

By Gould LincoIn
II Senator Vandenberg of Michipan shou,a
be nominated for the presidency and elected.
1t Will be an honest case Of the ONCE seeking
the man. His New Years Day remuneration
OF any desire for . presidential nomination
is merely the most recent of long series Of
declarations by the Michigan Senator that he
was not and had no intention of becoming
candidate, extending over many years
Had Senator Vandenberg last year, like hin
Republican colleague, Senator Taft of Ohio,
Travelled to the Pacific Coast and then declared
himself candidate for the COP presidential
nomination, the complicated situation--for the
Republcans-might have become even more
complicated. There k no question that Mr..
Vandenberg would be formidable candidate.
No man among the Republicans in or out Of
Congress has . record Of more constructive
proposals. No man among them has better
grasp Of international affairs And no man
has done more to formulate an American
foreign policy behind which the whole coun.
try-except Henry Wallace-can take its stand
and hope for real peace
Reluctance Is Amazing
Mr. vandenberg's reluctance to thrust him-
self forward-or to permit friends to do the
job for him-is amazing when all his qualihca-
u
patent fact that he would overshadow many
Of the men who have their lightning rods
UP today. He halls, too, from q great and
populous State, with delegation Al strong in
the coming Republican National Convention.
Any one who has listened to his speeches in
the Senate in recent years must be aware that
in q campaign for the presidency he would
be . great figure, capable of debating any
subject with the opposition. But no one has
ever been able to get him say he would run.
The Michigan senator is not only chairman
Of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee
but he is the recognized spokesman Of the Re-
publicans In the Senate-and the House for
that matter-on foreign affairs. One explana-
ton advanced for his unusual attitude toward
q presidential nomination--or rather candi.
dacy for such nomination--is his intense in
terest In promoting and maintaining firm BIZ
partisan foreign policy. This translates itself
into the Marshall European Recovery Program,
the most pressing issue before the Congress
today. Mr.. .Vandenberg, since the involve-
ment Of the United States in the second world
war, has devoted his talents and his time to
working for peace with the United States
taking leading role in world affairs-as It
must If there is to be peaceful world.
He has been no "yes" man, however. to the
Democratic administration on foreign affairs.
Rather has he labored with the Democratic
Presidents and party leaders to bring about
agreement on common ground. Nor is he pre-
pared to accept the Marshall plan in all its
details What he does desire. however, is q
Marshall plan whipped into the most effective
form to do the job Of rehabiitating Western
Europe and halting the westward march Of
Communist Russia. He has. in reality, lived
during the last two years for the promotion Of
world peace with justice. His contribution has
been enormous.
Strengthens Position.
Obviously Senator Vandenberg will be in bet
ter position to fight~for bipartisan, Ameri-
can foreign policy if he keeps himself aloof
from the very partisan fight over the presi. p
dency of the United States now coming up.
When he speaks in the Senate, he will not be
subject to charge that he Is playing personal
or Republican politics.
SO Senator vandenberg has sought to take
himself out of the presidential race completely.
Nevertheless, he is still available If the con-
vention should turn to him, as 1t well might
Michigan Republicans have still to determine
what their course shall be. They could, II they
wished, ignore Mr.. Vandenberg's request that
his name be not considered for the presidential
nomination. The expectation is, however, that
they will heed his plea. II so, Gov Dewey OF
New York, native son of Michigan, will be the
choice of many Of the Michigan delegates.
Gov. Dewey has many friends in his native
State who will work for him.
It is also apparent that Mr.. Vandenberg II
not lending himself to any stop Dewey" pro-
gram, by aligning himself as "favorite son"
with others.