Evening star., 1949-07-10

devised to solve that political
problem.
The Atlantic coalition is based
on a definite pledge by all its
members to go to the help Of every
other member which may be the
victim of aggression. For the first
time in our history we signed a
commitment to intervene in Eu-
hopes perennial wars before they
occurred. While we thus departed
from our traditional policy-which
had allowed us a free hand to
intervene or not, as we saw flt, in
the struggles of the Old World
our prior commitment may have
a good effect on many of the
nations which are afraid of Rus
sian imperialism.
1t was soon realized, however.
that the Atlantic pact by itself
was only a pious expression of
desire 1t could not become
effective unless the signatories pos
sessed the means to resist aggres-
sion. We are in a state of lim-
tied military preparation. But
besides that we are SO remote from
the possible future European bat
tlefeldS that the Western Euro
pean nations could not expect us
to arrive in time to help them
stop the Red Army's drive.
Europe has practically no armed
forces with which to hold Russia
for even a week. 1t has man.
power, but no equipment. This
brought forth the most recent de-
mand on the American taxpayer
I for funds to provide Europe with
the most modern fighting equip
ment.
American and European mill
tary men estimate that the Gre
alton of Is divisions in Western
Europe would deter the U. S. S. R.
in the launching of any aggressive
designs. These divisions do not
exist at the present time.
1t is up to us to equip them
and the administration is ready
now to ask Congress for appropri-
ations-estimated up to $780,
000,000-as the first installment
on such a plan. Whether this
amount will suffice remains to be
seen.
Military experts In Washington
and In Western Europe cannot
say how much will be needed be-
cause they cannot foretell the fu-
ture.
How Much More?
Two points worry our legislators
and the State Department will be
asked to give as candid an expla-
nation as it can on-one item: Will
such new burden on the Amer
lean taxpayer definitely put an
end to the threat of aggression
by the U. S. S. r.? Or will
further sacrifices on our part even
prove a deterrent to Russia's ag-
gressiveness?
The other question. which the
State Department will not to be
able to answer, is how much addi-
tional burden of expenditure the
American taxpayer can stand?
Whenever the State Department
has come before Congress with re-
quests for money to aid Europe
it has said that each request was
the last that would be made.
Congress, reposing confidence in
the Governments diplomatic
branch, each time has appropri-
ated the money. Now. however,
it is beginning to lose confidence
in these repeated statements that
the requests are near an end.
So far since Vi day we have
spent upwards of $21, 200, 900. 900
in all kinds of recovery schemes
and assistance, even to our former
enemies. All that money was
lavished abroad because it was
felt that only by such open
handed assistance could we con-
solidate the peace Of the world.
The fruits of this colossal out
lay have. in fact. been negative.
May Ask for Blueprint
The American taxpayer. how
ever, has reached a stage of near
exhaustion. We are on the thresh-
old of a possible recession.
The question which is para
mount in the minds of many
legislators who are not sold on
military aid to Europe-although
they realize the serious political
implications of refusing that aid
is whether this last effort will
prove more effective than all the
others which so far have failed to
accomplish their purpose.
What appears to worry many
Senators and Representatives
who never were isolationists is
whether we are going to pour
more money down the rathole
and at the same time weaken
our own structure to a point
where we ourselves may get into
serious trouble at home.
Stain relies on the conviction
of all the Politburo's analysts .hat
an economic crisis in the United
States is inevitable, if expendi-
lures continue on their present
lavish scale.
A serious economic crisis il this
country necessarily will affect
Western Europe and the rest of
the world. If such crisis occurs
in the near future, accompanied
by unrest which will be due not
only to large numbers of unem-
ployed but also to Russia's sub
versive agents on this continent,
we may be compelled to cut off
all further support to Western
Europe. In such case the whole
structure built by the State De-
partment in recent years will COL