Evening star., 1949-08-01
Concept Behind Policy
0fU. 5. in Europe Held
Primarily Military
Diplomacy Giving Way
To Strategic Game Of
Force, Counter-Force'
Bv David La,crence

IA AhoJoA SoAASN HA AAAAoA AAS AAAiAA
tary-is back of the policy of the
United States in relation to Europe
today.
This concept assumes that Rus
sia has been caught Off -balance by
a series of spectacular moves-an-
nouncement of American military
and economic aid to Greece and
Turkey in March, 1947, the pro-
posal of the Marshall Plan in June
1947, the counterblockade and air.
lift at Berlin in 1948 and 1949,
and now the North Atlantic Pact
and the plan to supply European
democracies with 81 ,450, 100000 of
military aid.
The theory seems to be that the
United States, though at peace
with Russia. has adopted the basic
reasoning of the military mind,
namely. to take the "offensive"-
or, rather. the initiative" in
peacetime language. This means
keeping the "enemy"-or, rather,
the "aggressor" in peacetime Ian
guage today-guessing as to what
is coming next or where the pres
sure is to be applied.
That's one reason why the new
arms plan is worldwide. 1t serves
notice that the United States is
approaching its obligations on a
global basis.
Phrases Keep Cropping Out.
The background of the thinking
of the high officials of the United
States Government crops out again
and again in the phrases OF the
official announcements. Here, for
example, are just a few which quite
often use the word momentum"
or initiative" in a sense analogous
to that of a military mans ad-
vance of his army on the field OF
battle. Thus. President Truman's
speech on the arms program-'ln-
doubtedly prepared from memo
randa from military advisers
says:
above all, it is urgent to in
itiate a program of aid promptly
if we are not to lose the momen-
tum already gained toward re-
covery and political stability"
Later on the President says:
IF this program of military
aid is to succeed, we must prose-
cute it promptly and vigorously.
Our policies for peace are having
the desired effect. We cannot
afford to lose the momentum
we have already gained"
Acheson Quoted.
Then, at the conclusion of the
message. the President says: Il
would not suggest that this pro-
gram alone will bring the present
international tension to an end.
1t will. however. preserve the in
itiative which the free nations Of
the world now have"
Secretary of State Acheson, in
his prepared statement before the
House Foreign Affairs Committee !
used some of the same sort Of
phrasing. He said:
The totality Of our effort is
what has given renewed strength
and vitality to the free world and
has brought us thus far safely
through great dangers. The mo-
mentum must be maintained if
we are to accomplish our purpose.
The military assistance program
Is necessary to sustain the advance
and carry us further along the
way which we have every reason
to believe leads to peace and Sc
curity for ourselves and Others"
In the printed document issued
by the Department of State COIN
cident with President Truman's
message to Congress and prepared
by the interdepartmental Foreign
Military Assistance Co-ordinating
Committee the momentum" and
initiative" Technology appears
several times. On the first page
the statement reads:
There is now a real momentum
among the free nations of the
world toward achievement of con-
ditions which can guarantee their
peace and freedom. We cannot af-
ford to lose this momentum-it is
doubtful that once lost it can be
recaptured at any cost"
Diplomacy Yields to Force.
On page II occurs a reference to
Americas provision for economic
assistance to Europe and Ameri-
can participation in the North At
lantic Pact, and then the docu-
ment says:
by these efforts. we, the free
nations, have acquired the initia-
tive. Under no circumstances must
1t be lost"
Finally, on page Al. the docu-
ment says in conclusion:
The military assistance pro-
gram is realistic program
once in effective operation, it can
help preserve the initiative which
the free nations of the Western
world now have"
Thus does diplomacy today give
way to the strategic game of force
and counter-force while negotia-
ton is held to be futile and dis
trust irremovable. Not a single
word anywhere in the documents
holds any hope of friendly inter-
change of view or negotiated ad-
justment of world problems. The
concept of force and force only,
which preceded two world wars,
has yet to win the peace or as
sure us against a third world war.
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