Evening star., 1948-11-21

IN increasingly adequate military
,lovakia or Hungary, for instance.
It is a matter OF little interest to
he American Government whether
The present government or Gen.
Charles de Gaulle has the reins In
France. Although De Gaune IL
little liked by the American Gov
ernment. his taking over the French
government would have no infiu-
ence on cur attitude toward France.
But should Communist maneuvers
oased on violence and strikes place
Thorez in ONCE. our policy
would undergo a quick change since
the French Communist Party is
avowedly an appendix Of the U. 9.
s. r. and follows blindly instrrc-
tions from Moscow, regardless of
they are benefiting France.
The same thing applies to italy and
any other country on the European
continent.
Should the men in the Kremlin
realize that they cannot buck any
longer the determination Of the
West, led by the United States, and
decide to change their present poll
cies, there Is no question that the
would jump At such
a chance to bring real peace to
the world. This would help the
domestic plans OF the new New
DEAL far more than the present
and threatening condi-
tions.
Far East Problem
The most difficult situation which
confronts Mr.. Truman In the I'M
future Is that In the Far
East.
The Chief Executive, who was mn
informed about many international
Affairs when he succeeded Mr..
Roosevelt in 1s45, happened to know
! good deal about China. The then
Ambassador to washing
ton, Wei Tao Ming, had met the
hen Vice President and used to call
1t his office in the Senate fire.
quently to discuss the Chinese situa-
lion from the American and inter-
ational point Of view. Mr.. Truman
then had leisure and listened With
! good deal Of interest to the lively
expose OF the westerniaed Chinese
and learned much about
that country and It's role IN world
politics.
Mr.. Truman did not indorss the
policies Of the State Department
which were intended to attrits the
forces Of Generalissinae
Chang Kai-shek by depriving them
Of badly needed arms and ammuni-
ton. But since that policy WAS
urged by Secretary Marshan who
has the full confidence OF the Chief
Executive, he allowed It to continue
although he himself was aware Of
It's pitfalls.
Ever since Congress appropriated
el25 ,o0o, 900 for military supplies to
China Mr.. Truman has insisted that
they be delivered without delay.
Executive Order Disobeyed
In an executive order to the
State Department on June 2. 1913.
Mr.. Truman instructed the ohcisls
Of that department: TT 10 my de-
sire that the grants to China under
this section OF the act be made
Under the following procedure '''."
This executive order was politely
apparently because the
officials concerned who opposed any
to Nationalist China be-
lieved that the Chief Executive
would not follow up the matter
since he would be busy with the
This, Of course, Is only
speculation based on the fact that
this order was never put in effect.
The situation in Manchuria and
Northern China began to deterio-
rate alarmingly during Mr.. Truman's
Early in October during
one Of his visits to Washington be-
tween campaign speeches he dis
covered that nothing was being
done except talk about sending arms
and ammunition to China. He in
his assistant. John r.
to put the heat" on the
State and National Defense Depart
ments at once to see that the badly
needed supplies actually got on the
way quickly. This was an order
which Mr.. Steelman communicated
mincing his words to the
authorities concerned. The Army
was ordered immedi-
ately to send to Chang a small por-
ion of his desperately needed sup.
plies from Army stockpiles while
he Navy received orders to provide
transports to carry the supplies to
China forthwith.
Aware of China's Importance
There was some delay In exc
cutting the Presidents orders. Some
,ay it was because 1t took time to
yather and pack the arms and am
nunition for overseas shipment.
others say that the delay was
;aused by men who believed Mr..
Truman would be defeated and his
,rders did not matter much any
onger. Whatever the reasons. the
act remains that only q week ago.
he first transport left the West
Coast with a much belated cargo
5000 tons of rifles and
Machine guns and ammunition for
10Th.
Mr.. Truman is keenly aware Of
he Importance of China to our ma
ional security and is expected to
10 everything in his power to save