Evening star., 1948-02-29

state OepaT CmeQC.
5 and Representatives have become
Communist, but are coerced into the
Russian fold by terroristic police
methods. e.
In order to slow down Russia's
march, it was proposed to spend
billions of the taxpayers money in
all kinds of economic and financial
schemes. But because of the fear
of justifying Moscow's charges that
we were warmongers. and militant
imperialists, there was a distinct re-
luctance to listen to experienced
voices in Europe and Asia which said
that a really strong American mill
tary force and supplies Of military
equipment for the nations on the
periphery of the iron curtain would
be as much help as food and ma
chine tools for the peoples menaced
by the Red avalanche.
It was only in the spring of lS47
that we decided timidly to support
Greece and Turkey. The Truman
doctrine, which clearly stated that
America would assist those countries
to maintain their sovereignty and
independence, was the first practical
approach to the problem. Later, in
December, last year, the same prom
ise was made to Italy In somewhat
nebulous statement from the White
House.
But strange as 1t may seem to the
man In the street, while we adopted
this attitude toward Europe, we
refused to extend it to the Far
East, where Russian activities are
as energetic as in Europe.
Pressured Into Aiding China
We promised the benefits of the
Marshall Plan to the 16 European
nations. provided, Of course, that
they maintain their democratic
forms of government. In regard
to China, however, the State De-
partment insisted after months Of
passivity that Generalissimo Chang
Kai-saek should include Commu-
nists in his government in order to
get the full benefit of Americas
global bonanza.
Under pressure from Congress the
State Department produced a plan
of assistance to China amounting
to s570,00O0O0. But at the same
time-while the matter was being
discussed in Congress-Americas
Ambassador to Nanking, DR.. John
Leighton Stuart, reiterated the de-
mand that's Gen. Chang should
broaden the government by includ-
ing scme of the Moscow puppets.
DR.. Stuart,sf statement is reliably
stated to have been drafted in main
outline-if not altogether written
in the State Department.
There is not a single top military
man in the Department Of Defense
and. for that matter, not a single
realistically minded civilian inA
trusted with national defense-who
is not convinced that China, and
especially Manchuria, is of utmost
military Importance to the defense
Of this country.
The conduct of Americas foreign
affairs since last year has been in
the hands of one of our ablest tacti-
clans, Gen. Marshall. But the fact
that he is a distinguished tactician
and Iogistical expert does not mean
that he is also a far-seeing states
man. Although diplomacy and mill
tary strategy are interviewer closely
these days, Gen. Marshall's military
training makes him an Indifferent
diplomat with a strong distaste for
anything political.
Throughout the war-when Gen
Marshall was q member OF the
Joint and Combined Chiefs Of Staff
he tried to avoid participation in
any discussions which were favored
with international politics. Gen.
Marshall accepted his first diplo-
matte job as Special Ambassador to
China as a chore because his Com
mander in Chief demanded that he
give up his retirement and attempt
to settle the Chinese crisis, which
some State, Department experts
ascribed to Gen. Chiang's dicta-
torial ambitions.
Gen. Marshall did not fare well in
his first attempt at diplomacy be-
cause he had espoused the idea OF
the experts" namely, that the
Chinese Communists were mere
agrarian "reformers," as they had
been identified by State Depart
ment ideologists and liberal news
papers and magazines in this coun-
try.
However, the Secretary of State
is not used to failure.
Not Used to Failure
Gen. Marshall agreed to succeed
Secretary of State Byrnes out Of
loyalty and obedience to the de-
sires of his Commander in Chief.
It is probable that In his own
heart Gen. Marshall did not think
he could do the job as well as he
did his wartime job as Army Chief
of Staff. He must have been aware
that the conduct Of Americas for
eign policies in the midst OF Mos
cows dark intrigues and conspira-
cies, is the most difficult job any
American citizen ever undertook In
the history of the Republic.
As military man Gen. Marshall
realized how little actual force we
have to implement policy OF direct
and forceful talk to Moscow. Be-
cause of this disadvantage he Is
compelled to accept the suggestions
of a few advisers whom he chose
when he went to the State Depart
ment and must follow a patched