Evening star., 1948-02-14
The Political Mill
Aid Program Fored Well
In Lincoln Day Speeches
All G. o. p. Orators Accept Role of
u. S. in Helping Europe
By Gould Lincoln

By Gould Lincoln
The European Recovery Program Jared well,
generally speaking, at the hands of Lincoln
Day dinner orators. The various pronounce
ments of candidates and near candidates for
the Republican presidential nomination should
give encouragement to the man who, most Of
all, will shape the legislation for the program
Senator Vandenberg of Michigan, chairman
Of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
None of the speakers backed away from the
idea that the United States must play very
definite part in the effort to resuscitate and
stabilize the nations of Western Eurone Mr..
Vandenberg was given credit for his le1 lership
on foreign policy by number of the speakers,
among them former Gov. Stassen Of Minne-
sofa and Senator SaltonstaIl of Massachusetts,.
Throughout the speeches, however, ran crfti.
cism of the Truman and Roosevelt admins.
trations for their handling of foreign affairs.
Gov. Dewey of New York was particularly
severe in his attack, charging that constant
yielding to Russia in the past has enabled
the Soviet government to gain firm foothold
throughout Eastern Europe and to move
strongly into Asatic territory.
Dewey Showed Boldness.
But the New York Governor, with char
the United States, through the recovery pro-
gram, move toward federation of European
nations. Such federation would be designed
to weld all Western Europe into a group Of
states strong economically. politically and mill
tarily. Indeed, Gov. Dewey would make such
a federation the goal as well as the price OF
American aid. In his conception, this is the
way to peaceful world, peaceful yet strong
Western Europe, capable OF halting the spread
of Communist Russia. Mr.. Dewey made no
effort to snipe at the figures Of the Marshall
Plan. Rather he indicated that the whole
SIT 0O0, 100000 for the Marshall four year pro-
gram should be made available, If that Is re-
quired
This attitude of the New York Governor
was in sharp contrast with that Of his prin-
cipal opponent for the presidential nomina-
ion-Senator Taft of Ohio. Senator Taft
while admitting that this country must go
ahead with its aid to Europe, declared for
"hard-boiled" plan and against lavish expendi-
lures abroad, insisting that this country could
shit only the high spots in its endeavors to
aid Europe. Gov. Dewey delivered his address
in Boston; Senator Taft in st. Paul. Mr..
Taft's comments seemed to hold the flavor
of the Midwest; Mr.. Dewey's, that Of the
eastern seaboard. Yet Mr. Taft was speaking
in the home town of Mr.. Stassen-an interna-
tionalist Of the Willkie type and proponent
of all-out aid to European recovery.
Calls Aid Indispensable"
At the same time that Senator Taft was
urging "go slow" approach to huge American
donations for European recovery Senator Bald
win of Connecticut, who is expected to be the
Nutmeg States favorite son at the Republican
National Convention next June, was telling an
audience in Minneapolis that the Marshall
Plan was an indispensable STEP in the direc-
ton of peace and that America must be pre-
pared to go long way further than that.
Senator Saltonstall of Massachusetts,, speak,
ing in Seattle, ranged himself alongside other
Republican leaders in support Of aid for Euro
pean recovery. He said frankly that long-range
aid will mean sacrifices by the American peo-
pie. "If the plan works." he asserted WEST
ern Europe will be strong, productive, demo-
cratic ally" The alternative, he said, would be
domination Of Europe by Russia.
Chairman Vandenberg, instead of taking to
the hustings himself, was at khe listening post.
When the final pronouncement on European
aid comes in the Republican Congress- his will
be the voice. Undoubtedly he will give ear to
the views expressed by his colleagues; he has
the Job of so writing legislation that 1t will
receive the necessary support for its passage.
He is in a strategic position. He has declared
himself not a candidate for President No
one doubts his whole-hearted sincerity of pur-
pose-to help bring peace and to keep strong
United States.