Evening star., 1948-03-02
The Details They Avoid

The Details They Avoid
In discussing possible solutions of the
Palestine problem, people like Senator Taft
and Henry Wallace would be more helpful
If they avoided the generalities and got
down to details. Then we could know more
about what they do believe.
1t is this tendency to avoid details that
has contributed to the dangerous dilemma
we face on Palestine now. 1t is dilemma
affecting our own national interests as
well as the prestige of the United Nations
Senator Taft, for example, wants us to
support establishment of a United Nations
military force to police Palestine. But
what does he mean by that? The United
Nations has as yet been unable to reach
any agreement on the constituent elements
of even a theoretical international police
force. Russia has been unwilling to say
what she has in mind. Yet establishment
of such United Nations force depends on
Russian cooperation. BY supporting es-
tablishment of United Nations force for
Palestine then, does Senator Taft mean
that we must continue to strive for Rus
sian cooperation in the enterprise?
If so, suppose Russia agrees to partici-
pate and is willing to contribute contin-
gent of the Red Army. Does Senator Taft
want Red Army troops sent into Palestine?
If so, will he continue to support approprt-
ations to keep the Russians out of Greece?
Does it make any difference to him who
will command the United Nations Palestine
army, to which the United States will COM
NIT American soldiers? Will Congress sup
port designation by the United Nations of
a Russian to command an international
force? Or are we counting on the assump-
ton that the troops will be commanded
by an American or Britisher, with Russia's
consent?
But suppose the international force will
not include any Russian troops. Is that
what Senator Taft means? Who will sup
ply the deficit to make up for the absent
Russians? Is it to be the United States?
Or are we assuming here that we shall
furnish the gold and let others do the dirty
work of fighting?
If we are to supply troops, where are
they coming from? Senator Taft describes
the United Nations force for Palestine as
q small" one What does he mean by
"small"? Is he talking of force, say, of
10000 men-which is about the size of the
British force in Palestine? Where shall we
obtain the American soldiers to represent
the United States in such force?
Senator Taft and Henry Wallace are
against universal military training. They
oppose peacetime selective service, though
they insist on our doing something about
Palestine Should we draft men for service
in Palestine, or are we counting on volun-
tary recruiting? If we are counting on
volunteers, what luck are we having now
in keeping our own military forces up to
minimum strength?
Not much In spite of the greatest re-
cruiting drives in history, we cannot get
the men. We do not have $4,000 mobile
troops in the United States. In continental
United States we are about 1000 short Of
meeting the need in housekeeping" or
service troops, for the Army alone. Our
whitfield down divisions of mobile, fighting
troops in this country are about $4,000
short of what they should be.
In the Far East General Macarthur lacks
$4,000 men of meeting what he considers
his minimum needs. In tinderbox Korea
we are 10000 short of what ordinary, COM
nonsense precaution-and our own re-
sponsible generals-demand
We are short some 10000 men in the
European theater, including Germany.
Our Air Force is $4,000 under authorized
personnel strength; far short of the per-
sonnel and equipment that the military
men say we need even for adequate ma
tional defense. The Navy is $4,000 short of
budget authorizations for personnel alone.
Our Marines, the equivalent of two divi
sions, are already committed and are
spread all over the world today.
These shortages in personnel are the
result of inability to recruit the men
authorized by Congress. The shortages
will become more severe this summer.
Opposed to universal military training or
selective service, where do Senator Taft
and Mr. Wallace look for the men who
would form the American contingent in
a United Nations Palestine force?
The whole tragic Palestine episode has
become complicated by the loose talk of
politicians, whose vote-bidding generalities
avoid the hard core of detail. Such talk is
dangerous. The politicians should tell the
people precisely what they mean when
they talk of backing up the United Nations
in sending men to fight in Palestine.
The Benefits Are Mutual