Evening star., 1949-03-19
The Political Mill
Atlantic Pact Is Answer
To RecuIcitrunt Russia
Old Strategy of Divide and Conquer
Is Halted by New Alliance
By Gould Lincoln


The North Atlantic security pact, whose
terms have now been made public Is an
answer to recalcitrant Soviet Russia. With
the United States taking leading part.
the pact clearly states to the Soviet Union
that there is to be no piecemeal overrunning
of Western democratic nations. The old
strategy of divide and conquer, which was
so well adopted by NaZi Germany under
Hitler. will not work in the future If the
new proposed defensive alliance comes into
being as it is expected to.
The United States has twice within the
last 80 years been drawn into wars not Of
its making, but which finally engulfed most
Of the world. It is determined to do all in
its power to ward off third world conflict.
which would in all probability be far more
devastating than either Of the last two wars.
Its aim Is world at peace-just as 1t was
when it helped to set up the United Nations
and when it entered into pact with the
Latin American countries.
The main threat to peace today and for
some years to come unless the Soviet Union
reverses its recent course. comes from Rus
sia which has made no bones about its
purpose to communize the world with Rus
sia in the dominant role. The Soviet Unions
membership in the United Nations has been
mockery. With every weapon at its COM
mand and in particular the veto in the
Security Council. Russia has blocked the
advancement of the United Nations.
Provision of U. N. Charter.
Under the United Nations Charter, pro-
vision is made for forces to be set up to
maintain peace in the event there Is threat
of aggression, or war itself. Russia has made
it impossible for the organization of such
forces. Further, it has undertaken, without
md t,1It xryif cI1Nn "a
overrun and bring under its domination
other countries of Europe-and continues
its efforts along those lines The North At
lantic pact calls a halt.
The pact, as 1t is written, Is careful to
preserve the constitutional power Of Con-
gress to declare war in the event Of an
attack on any Of the nations covered by
the new alliance. There is, however, in
the language of the pact an implied moral
obligation on the part of the United States
to take up arms in the event of an all-out
attack on one of the other signatories to
the security agreement-such an attack, for
example as that launched by Germany
against France in the First World War. Sec
retary of State Acheson has made this en-
tirely clear. The moral obligation will rest
on the Congress of the United States-and
1t may be expected to meet that obligation
promptly.
Senate Leaders Favor Pact.
Fortunately in the case of the North At
lantic pact, which must be ratified by the
Senate to make it effective so far as the
United States Is concerned, the leaders of
both the Democrats and the Republicans in
the Upper House, on the subject of foreign
policy, have expressed their approval Of
the terms of the security agreement. Sena-
tor Connally of Texas, chairman of the
Foreign Relations Committee, and his
counterpart on the Republican side, Sena-
tor Vandenberg of Michigan. are in agree
ment With such assurances the ratification
of the pact by the Senate may be expected
by an overwhelming vote. To have brought
forth the proposed pact without certainty
of its approval by the Senate would have
been an error which would have delighted
the Soviet.
The United States clearly has reached
conclusion that it must take leading part
in the preservation of world peace. And
having reached such conclusion the best
way to avert war is to be strong enough
to make an attack against the peace sui
cidal The signing of treaties of alliance, in
this case, is not enough. # the defensive
alliance is to function, the allies must be
prepared and armed. The next step. there
fore, will be aid from the United States to
the nations Of Western Europe to arm them.
selves.
The new pact is one. however, for peace.