Evening star., 1948-06-13


Russian high command decided-in
contravention of existing agree
subject all rail traffic
between Berlin and the western
occupation zones to strict control,
the State Department induced the
White House to cancel the decision
of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and
the Defense Department to instruct
Gen. Lucius D. Clay to run Amer
ican trains through the Russian lines
with a strong military guard.
This plan had heen recommended
by the American commander in
Germany and had been approved by
all responsible military officials in
Washington.
Blocks Naval Operations
For a long time before President
Truman made his statement, March
IL, 1947, of Americas vital interest
in stopping Soviet encroachments
in Greece and Turkey, the State
Department had blocked the sending
of strong naval forces to the Med
iterranean. A few weeks before the
Italians voted. April 18, the State
Department also caused the Navy
to withdraw all of its units from
Italian waters.
Army, Navy and Air Force chiefs
find it difficult in the present
strained international situation to
decide what steps should be taken
for the country's defense because OF
the lack of a definite policy by the
State Department.
For instance, the National Security
Council-whose estimates of the in
ternational situation, according to
the President himself, are superior
to those of the State Department.
pointed out clearly the dangers OF
our policy in the Middle East and the
peril of alternating the Arab world at
a time when we lack oil resources.
The Councils evaluation OF the
Middle East situation was overruled,
however, by the White House with
the consent of the State Depart
ment.
During President Roosevelt's ad-
ministration, the foreign policy OF
the United States was controlled
directly by the White House. Since
President Truman came to office
however. he has followed, by and
large, the advice Of the Secretary
of State and there is no question
if he took a strong position he could
preyail over Mr.. Truman's White
House advisers.
This is illustrated in our policy
toward China. 1t is we'll known to
all those in the Presidents inner
circle that he favored strong mill
tary support for the Marking gov
ernment. Secretary of State Mar
shall, however, does not like Cen
eralissimo Chang Kai-shek and the
Kuomintang.
Advises President
Gen. Marshall was able to prevail
over the Presidents own inclinatlons
in the matter and to persuade him
to back his policy of withholding
military help from the Chang re-
gime, although most of the military
men who do our war planning were
strongly in favor of such support,
The advice of the military was
ignored until few months ago
when Congress, despite Gen. Mar
shall's opposition, voted some $780,
600 900 to assist the Chinese govern
ment. However, between September
1916, and the fall of 1947, the State
Department refused to license the
export of vital military supplies to
the Nanking government and as a
result the situation has become SO
bad that it is doubtful whether any
thing can save the Chang govern
ment in it's fight against the Mos
cow-sponsored Communists.
The State Department also plays a
predominant role in Americas eco
nomic policies. Our diplomacy, as
practiced in recent years, has been
predicated on heavy use Of the coun-
trys economic resources. Any at
tempt on the part Of the legislative
branch to put a stop to the rash
spending of American substance is
severely denounced by the State
Department through its. powerful
propaganda mediums in the country
The only consistency shown by oui
foreign policy trainers has been il
dispensing a large. share OF tht
country's wealth to European coun'
tries in the belief that peace can bt
bought with goods and cash.
Election Victories Hailed
The Communists setbacks IL
French and Italian elections have
been presented as great victories fol
the State Departments thesis thai
we can buy peace in Europe ane
stave of another war by spending
billions of dollars.
This also was the theme of Presi-
dent Roosevelt's appeals in 1s41
when he asked Congress to approve
his lend-lease programs and assured
the country that. by becoming the
arsenal of democracy, America would
not have to send its sons to foreign
wars.
The cost would be so small, 1t was
stated, only about $1,000, ,0Oo,00 and
Congress considered the price not
too great. BY the end OF l945 we
had spent some s265 900 100000 in
fighting a global war. In the so
called peace years since VI day we
spent another $50, 900. 900 900 to aid
our wartime Allies and the European
Recovery Program provides for ex-
peniture of a similar amount during