Evening star., 1948-03-18
1rumon's Message Seen
As Close to UItimotum
Problem of Soviet Expansion Put Into
Lap of 6. o. P. Congress
The Political Min
By Gould Lincoln

~ YUMA LtWCObu
President Truman has done valuable thing
He has put Communist Russia on notice that
this country will back dollars with bayonets.
II necessary, to bring about recovery in wes-
tern Europe and to maintain peace His
address to Congress on the international sit-
uation comes as near being an ultimat,m to
the Soviet government and its expansionist
ideas as anything could without actually draw
ing line and saying: Beyond this you
shall not go!"
Some Of Mr.. Truman's political opponents
are saying that the President was merely
playing politics; that he was seeking, by calling
attention to q serious world situation to turn
public attention from his own personal DO
liticd diniculties arising from the attacks
Of Henry Wallace on the Left and the South
ern Democrats on the Right. There is nothing
to prove this. Because many people prefer
to stick their heads in the sand and not see
what Is going on in the world, does not mean
the situation is not desperately serious.
Resistance Seem.
The President has laid the problem right
in the lap Of the Republican Congress. For
tunately some of the Republican leaders,
among them Speaker Martin, had already de-
clared the willingness to build up the armed
forces. But even So there are too many Re-
publcans In Congress who will hesitate to do
what the President and the highest military
authorities recommend. They will still rs.
sist the plan for universal military training,
and they will with great reluctance 90 along
with the proposal to resume temporarily .
selective service system In order to bring tbs
armed forces up to the required strength.
The Marshall Plan. which Is the European
Recovery Program, has already passed the
Senate and now will be expedited in ths
House, the Republican leaders have promised.
There has been entirely too much talk
about national security and too little done
about it. Mr.. Truman has laid 1t on the line
and If the Republicans in Congress baIk, the
blame will b theirs. Further, Mr.. Tr,Iman's
warning to Russa-if it is followed up by ac-
ton resulting in stronger United States armed
forces-may halt the onward rush Of Comrnu-
mist aggression and so stave OF third world
war.
One thing the Russians might well take into
consideration, when they consider the words
of the President of the United States: He is
the man who ordered the first atomic bomb
dropped on an enemy. 1t Is quite likely that
Mr.. Truman does not intend to SIT quietly by
and wait for an attack to be made on the
United States. :,
Document Of support.
It is we'll within the bounds that Mr.. Tru-
mans statement to the Congress will take Its
place in history as document OF tremendous
international import. The nations Of West
ern Europe are at present arranging an agree
ment for economic cooperation and common
defense against aggression. That aggression
can come from only one source, Communist
Russia and its satellites. Mr.. Truman vir
tually promised the aid Of the United States
If it comes to . shooting war with Russia.
He said:
Il am sure that the determination Of the
free countries Of Europe TO protect themselves
will be matched by an equal determination
on our part to help them TO do 90"
This holds its significance for the Commit
nists-Russan supported-in italy, who may be
the next to attempt TO dominate another
European nation.
The reluctance Of the Republican Congress
to do anything about universal military train
ing Is a blot on that Congress, as 1t was q
blot on the Democratic Congress that pre-
ceded it. It has . chance now TO eradicate
the blot