Evening star., 1949-07-24
Role Of 'IsoIationist'
In Attack on Treaty
Is Denied by Taft
BY Mortin S. Hayden


North American Newspaper AlIiones
Reiterating his belief that the
United States should at once de-
clare war if Russia moves against
Western Europe. Senator Taft.
Republican, of Ohio. denied he
was being an "isolationist" when
he led the vain effort to block the
North Atlantic Pact.
Despite his repeated Senate as
sertion that ratification of the
pact would bind the United States
to fill a blank check" commit
ment to arm all Europe. the con-
tinuing contender for the Repub-
lican presidential nomination said
he would fight the military assist
ance program treaty or no
treaty"
The Ohio Senator sketched his
foreign policy in an interview.
Here, in question and = answer
form. is the Taft viewpoint:
Question: isn't 1t inevitable. In
view of your stand on the North
Atlantic Pact. that your political
opponents will now charge that
you are the leader Of the Sen
ate's Isolationist' block?"
Senator Taft: My strongest po-
litical opponents are leaders OF the
Nations large labor unions. Since
they do not hesitate on any
charge, no matter how untrue
they probably will call me names
in connection with my foreign
policy. However, since favor
warning Russia, that If they at
tack Western Europe, we Will oe
in war, I could hardly be truth
fully called an isolationist."
Pact Debate Recalled.
Question: Speaking during the
pact debate you said: I would ike
to be able to vote for a policy
that would commit us to war, II
Russia attacks Western Europe.
Doesn't that go even farther than
the pact which did not specl1-
cally bind us to WARP"
Senator Taft: Il think the pact
does bind us to go to war. II one
of the signators is attacked. Spe-
cifically, it says that, in event OF
armed aggression against one OF
the parties, each of the others
shall take such action as it deems
necessary, including the use OF
armed force, to restore and main
tain the security of the North
Atlantic area
ITO me it seems perfectly OBJ
vious that, if an attack occurred,
nothing but armed force could
restore the security of the area
AS I said, I am willing to go for
that because I believe that the
knowledge, on the part of Russia
that. if they attack, they will be
in war with us. will be an effec-
tive deterrent to such an attack.
If Hitler had known we would
join second World War. he
might not have attacked Poland
Certainly, as long as we have an
occupation force in Germany, we
would be in the, war anyhow and
Russia might as we'll know it"
Monroe Doctrine Cited.
Question: 'You seem to favor
the old Monroe Doctrine theory
i.e., that we should make a uni
lateral declaration against Rds-
sian aggression. Isn't it better to
take Joint action with other coun-
tries and thus be sure that. if war
comes. we will have some allies?"
Senator Taft: There is, Of
course, something to be said for
such an agreement between the
group Of countries, although I
do not believe any of them would
60 to war with Russia If it didn' t
suit it's convenience at the time
If they did. the United States
would have to supply most of the
fighting forces and probably all
the arms.
If a declaration of intent were
made by the United States alone
we could withdraw from it when
We wished to. on proper notice
This treaty binds us for 20 years
Under a Monroe Doctrine declar-
alton we could decide. in each
case, whether the attack was
justified or not. Now we have to
go to war, even if one of our allies
has in some way instigated the
attack Further, we didn't have
to provide arms to anyone under
the Monroe Doctrine, and never
did so. Yet it was one of the
greatest forces for peace in the
history of the world"
Question: You argued a
length that, If the pact were ap
proved without the reservation
you favored, the Senate Woult
be committed to provide arms fo
Europe. Now that the pact ha!
been so ratified, do you feel com
mitted to vote for the military
assistance program"
Taft: mo. I oppose the military
assistance program, so I do not
feel obligated to vote for it
treaty or no treaty"
Speech Is Recalled.
Question: You said during the
debate that you favored aid for
particular countries at particular
times if that appeared as a de-
terrent to war Doesn't the pro-
posed military assistance come
within that def1nition?"
Taft: Il said would, from time
to time, be willing to help other