Evening star., 1949-01-11
Acheson Is Expected
To Make Sense OUT OF
Established Policy
His Appointment Opens
A New Hope for Peoce
To the Entire World
By David Lawrence

policy.
The established policy" has
fortunately warded of a provoked
war but it has also warded off ne
gotiated peace. Whether the latter
is a fortuitous circumstance or a
costly error remains yet to be dem
onstrated.
The tendency in all official out
givings is to put all the blame on
Russia. The American people have
been led to believe that our own
government never made any mis-
takes, and has been in no way re-
sponsible for the origin of or con-
tinuance of the cold war" The
simplifed version-repeated almost
with propaganda vigor-is that the
Russians have obstructed peace, do
not want peace, and are only wait
ing the propitious moment to at
tack the United States. 1t could be
true but the published record does
not prove it.
Technical Quibbles.
An examination of the white
paper" on the Berlin blockade, for
instance, reveals how technical
bubbles can keep governments
apart when they are tending to
draw close together. It discloses
the real failure of postwar di-
plomacy. The London conference
of 1916 was a turning point. 1t led
to a decision in May 1947 by the
Allies to go along without Russia
in dividing Germany and 1t led in
turn to Russian reprisals In Berlin.
The "cold war" ensued.
The principal error in the policy
Of the United States Is the assump-
ton that Russia. though a SOW
ereign nation. can be coerced by
economic or other means into sur
rendering her point of view. The
principal error in the Russian pol
lev is the belief that the United
States, also a sovereign nation, can
be coerced by any form OF pres
sure into "co-operating" or "agree-
ing" to settlements on European
issues which the United States
Government believes would not set
tie Europe's problems.
Between these two intransigeant
positions lies an opportunity for
effective mediation and skillful ne
gotiation. Again and again in
world history nationalistic nations
with expansionist ideas have adopt
ed the doctrine after a war that
ITO the victor belongs the spoils. "
The situation today is further COM
plicated by the fact that under the
Communist regime Russia has ide-
ological prejudices against democ-
racy and private enterprise and a
lack Of experience in world affairs
which makes it difficult for her to
work with the other powers.
Cold War Is Costly.
Such condition. however, cannot
be permitted to drag on until an
overt act occurs and brings on war.
Nor can a "cold war" be treated in
the meantime as a substitute for
diplomacy. It Is now costing the
United States about $4,000 ,000, 900
In armament and another $6,000,-
100000 annually In economic aid to
countries where 1t is hoped to keep
Communist governments from
emerging.
The situation calls for man Of
Imagination and skill in the Sec
retaryship of State. With all due
respect to General Marshall. one
of the finest gentlemen and one
of the finest soldiers who ever lived,
he was not skilled in diplomacy and
he has had little of the imagination
needed in handling the psychological
factor so vital to a world policy. His
training naturally has not been
that of negotiator. Soldiers usual
ly don't negotiate except when one
or the other of the parties has been
beaten, and there's a surrender to
be consummated.
It was, as history will some day
record effectively, mistake to put
upon Gen. Marshall the complete
responsibility for handling our for
eign relations in the last couple OF
years. He had the prestige Of a
war hero, but 1t turned out to be a
Job for a man with another kind
of experience and background. Gen.
Marshall did the best he could with
his limited knowledge.
Dean Acheson is a different type.
He is an experienced negotiator and
a good lawyer. He is good enough
to be on the Supreme Court OF the
United States-and may get there
some day. He will serve President
Truman not as man of whom Mr..
Gen. Marshall. Mr.. Acheson will
serve him as a trusted lawyer serves
valued client. He will have ideas
of his own, but he knows that the
way to settle most disputes in
world of materialism is to get, If
possible, an agreement with the
other fellow, out of court.
Worked With Byrnes.
Dean Acheson worked with Sec
retary Byrnes who was more of the
political type-like Mr.. Truman
himself-and served also under Gen.
Marshall as Undersecretary of State.
Mr.. Acheson has no illusions about
Russian behavior. He is loyal
American in every sense Of the
word. There should not be the
slightest hesitation on the part of
the Senate in confirming him.
The appointment does credit to
President Truman and opens for
the entire world a new hope of
peace-not in a few weeks or
months, but in the course of the
next few years. A steady, firm
unostentatious and nonswashbuck-
ling attitude can get results, but
the key word must be reciprocity.
American policy in the postwar pc
riod has been curious mixture Of
ideaism and materialism, plus a
constant eye on strategic considera-
tions in a world of atomic bombs
and air power. Russia respects our
economic power and ingenuity end
America might as we'll respect Rus
y- L. -