Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1948-10-30

United States. It is correct to urge that in the
current crisis we have an obligation to base
our foreign policy upon enlightened self-in-
terest. Those who are charged with the
Nations security have recognized the strategic
Importance OF the Iberian peninsula. Last
spring the House of Representatives, rejecting
good deal of public sentiment, voted over
whelmingly to include Spain in the Euro
pean Recovery Program. The members of
Congress realized that 1t was criminal folly
to invite Soviet dominated countries like Ro-
mania, Bulgaria and Yugoslavia to accept
American help and at the same time to ex-
clude from the benefits of this program the
Spanish people and the Spanish government
which accorded us valuable assistance in World
War II.
It Is interesting to observe that the fore
most witness to the help we received from
both Spain and Portugal was and still Is
wartime Ambassador Carlton j. H. Hayes.
Although Professor Hayes has returned to his
posts as Seth Low Professor of History at Co.
lumbia University, he continues to point out
that 1t Is a matter Of American honor to be
grateful to the present Spanish government
The Stars editorial raises an interesting
point with respect to the United Nations reso-
luton Of 1946 which recommended the with
odWdl VI CIllciS % OlplOmdIlC missions from
Madrid. Whenever this 1946 resolution is
mentioned, it is imperative to add that when
the same resolution was rentroduced in 1947,
1t failed to secure the two-thirds vote neces-
sary for adoption.
Practical View Emphasized.
Technically to be sure, some State Depart
ment experts seem to make out good case
their of cir Yytio
never was formally repudiated it continues
to remain in effect From practical point
of view, however (and this is what should
interest us in our duel with the Soviet Union),
1t is fair to raise the following questions:
Why was 1t judged necessary to reopen the
whole question in the 1947 General Assembly
OF the United Nations? Why was a new vote
taken on the identical proposition that under
Soviet pressure, had been acceptable in 1916?
Why continue to follow an admittedly bank
rupt policy face to face with the monstrous
realities of 1913? The best evidence as to the
practical nature of these questions may be
obtained by studying the record of diplomatic
activity displayed by the other American re-
publics in 1947 and 1913. Since the failure of
the United Nations resolution against Spain
in 1947, many South American countries, in
Guiding Peru, Bolivia, Paraguay and Argen.
tlna nave accredlCed Ambassadors and min
listers as chiefs of their diplomatic missions in
Madrid. The same movement is noticeable in
Central America. The Acting Foreign Minis
ter of the Republic of Costa Rica has an
nounced that that republic is sending chief
Of diplomatic mission to Spain. Previously,
the republics of FL Salvador and Nicaragua
had taken the same step precisely in the
light Of the reasons admirably set forth in
The Stars editorial. This is a trend which
the citizens of the United States who cherish
the Good Neighbor policy, should study with
profound attention.
Much more is at stake than the security
Of Europe against further Soviet aggression;
the high principles and ideals of inter- Ameri-
can friendship are involved in this struggle
between the Soviet regime of slavery and the
non-Soviet world whose aims must be liberty
and progress It is time entirely to disregard
subtleties and technicalities in order to pro-
tect human rights in the Western Hemisphere.
Our sister republics have shown the way. It
Is our duty to think in practical terms of our
own national welfare.
DIR. JOSEPH r. THoRNING.
Associate Editor Of THE Americas" and
word Affair.""