Evening star., 1949-01-21
Move for Peace Seen
0pportune in Tenor oi
Inaugural Address
Entire TuIk Dedicated
To international Rather
Than Domestic Affairs
Than Domestic Affairs
Bv David Laurence

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Whatever the purpose President
Truman or his advisers had in mind
In dedicating the entire inaugural
address to international rather than
national affairs, the fact remains
that 1t Is almost unprecedented in
history.
Perhaps It k an omen Of good
things to come, for the President
certainly gauged the interest OF
the world correctly rs he chose
10 emphasize above all else the
desire of the United States for
peace with Russia.
This is the moment when q move
FOR peace Is most opportune. The
Russians already seem to sense 1t,
for they have switched their propa-
ganda to peace talk. Also, as the
new administration opens, the
inaugural address serves notice that
all Americans are united on the
single theme-peace in the world.
No other topic could have aroused
such widespread approval. 1t was
way to reiterate the nonpartisan
feeling that the American people
have about international affairs
nowadays.
Atmosphere Of Suspicion.
With new Secretary of State
young, vigorous, resourceful and ex-
perienced-taking hold here, it may
be that the Russians have come
to the conclusion that this Is the
time to start on a new tack. Ger
tainly any evidence that the Rus
slams mean what they espouse will
be welcomed. i
The atmosphere is one of suspi-
cion, of course. There are some
who believe that it is futile to-
discuss anything with Russia. Up
to now the United States has in
sisted that the Russians must show
their good faith by some concrete
act. But there are moves that can
be made which do not involve
risk and which can be utilized to-
test the earnestness Of the Rus
sian purpose.
Plainly an interlude in the "cold
war" is due. The Russians have
more to gain than lose by agreeing
now to an Austrian treaty and toI
q lifting Of the Berlin blockade
These matters can be negotiated
promptly II there is q will on both
sides.
Mr.. Truman's inaugural speech
will be read throughout the world
as a serious proclamation of Ameri-
can purpose. For it tells that the
United States intends to go ahead
with the North Atlantic Security
Alliance and with its program of
economic rehabilitation for Europe
two circumstances that should
make the Russians pause and de-
termine whether this isn't really
the best occasion to end the "cold
war and usher in a new era Of
peaceful relations between former
allies.
Welcome Platitudes.
Important as the Presidents in
augural address was to the world, 1t
will be regarded by many Ameri-
cans as merely restatement Of
what has been said all along by the
present administration. Significance
attaches to the fact that Mr.. Tru-
man chose to disregard the cleav-
ages of our economic warfare on
the domestic front and to utter no
word concerning his domestic poll
cies except in the most abstract
sense. He declares that he favors a
strong America and feels it is i'm
portant to maintain prosperity.
These are welcome platitudes. for in
them both conservatives and radi-
Gals can take comfort. The radicals
think prosperity will be preserved
by more spending Of public money.
The conservatives believe 1t will be
maintained by preserving private
initiative in business and by the
encouragement Of risk capital.
The fact that Mr.. Truman made
no mention Of any legislation will
be viewed by business men as reas-
suring to some extent. The less
demagoguery on the domestic front,
the more unity can be achieved in
the difficult and perplexing tasks
that lie ahead If the American eco
nomic system Is really to remain
strong and prosperous.
BY every standard Mr.. Truman's
Inauguration was big-a big parade
and ceremony. manifestation OF
big military might and q revelation
Of the political power of big govern
ment. If bigness Is synonymous
with success, the inaugural was, in
deed, q big success.
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