Evening star., 1949-03-21
Peace Strategy
First j. ). Need, ,
baruch States
All Planning Hinges
On Decision About
War Peril, He Says

war TeTI, ne ooyS
Planning for the economic well
fare of the country is useless until
the United States develops a
strategy for peace in the cold
war;" Bernard M. Baruch declared
today.
Speaking before the United
States Conference of Mayors,
which opened this morning at the
Hotel Statler. Mr.. Baruch said:
1T is futile to talk of planning
until we have determined how to
achieve a decision in the peace
making"
The planners can draw Won
drous charts" he said, but until
some port is fixed as our destina-
ton, we will continue drifting. We
will have motion without direc-
ton
Mr.. Baruch was the last speaker
of the meetings opening session
and his address followed that of
President Truman.
Capitol Holds Key.
The veteran industrialist and
adviser to Presidents told 600 big
city Mayors, THE answers to your
problems do not lie in your hands
or even in your home communities.
but in Washington. 1t is impos-
sible for Mayors, Governors or
private individuals to know what
to do, he said. until we decide
what to do about the threat OF
war which hangs over the world
today"
There has been some progress in
this direction within the last year,
he said, but not enough. 1t is a
matter of increasing urgency that
we make up our minds where we
stand globally and then organize
ourselves to see it through"
The questions to be settled, he
said, are how long the cold war
will last and how much of the ma
tion's resources must be thrown
into it; what portion of the worlds
burdens must be borne by the
United States, and what must we
give up at home.
Until these and related ques-
tions are settled, all of us
are prisoners of the Federal Gov
ernment," Mr.. Baruch declared.
This condition exists because we
live in world of alarums."
All Linked to Peace Strategy.
Speaking on the outlook for the
Nations economy, Mr.. Baruch said
that some of the worst mistakes
of modern times were committed
by Government planners" and
cited recent Federal tax reduc-
tions as an example.
whether taxes should now be
lowered or raised hinges on what
is decided in the peacemaking, +
he declared. That holds for all
the aspects Of our problems-for
prices, Government controls, the
size of our military establishment
and other matters. Nothing can
have meaning except as 1T is re-
lated to our peace strategy-a
strategy we still lack"
Mr.. Baruch said that what the
country needs is stable purchas-
ing power and halt in the race
for benefits between selfish groups.
He told the mayors:
whatever your cities can post
pone should be postponed. Until
the overall decisions are made
you should hold some of your
strength in reserve"
If war should be forced upon
us-which God forbid-we will be
ready to do our duty. We need
have no fears for the present or
future If we keep ourselves strong
militarily. economically and spirit
ually."
Mayor of Oslo Speaks.
Earlier, the Mayor of Oslo, Nor
way. H. E. Stoke, told the mayors
of democracy in his country and
of the whole hearted and nation
wide rally around the Atlantic
pact" He urged a worldwide CO.
operation between municipalities
to supplement the alliance.
Mayor George w. Welsh of
Grand Rapids. Mich. president of
the conference. opened the meet
ing. He spoke in much the same
vein as President Truman, calling
for coordination of city, State
and Federal taxes and legislation
to ease the housing shortage.
Mayor Thomas D'Alesandro of
Baltimore, legislation chairman of
the conference, advised the dele
gates to continue pressure for ex-
tended rent control and housing
legislation. Public housing and
slum clearance, he said. can make
possible the solving of lone of the
most pressing and serious prob
lens facing the major American
cities today"
Presents Report.
The Baltimore Mayors 1egis1a-
tive report also would have the
conference urge Congress to:
Repeal the Federal tax on the
ater and other admissions, to open
this source of revenue to cities.
Rewrite the Federal Highway
Act so that at least SO per cent of
Government highway funds are
specified for city use.
Vote loans and grants for local
school construction directly to the
cities, to ease increased enrolment
problems.
In q meeting with reporters as
conference members gathered yes
terday, Mayor George Welsh of