Evening star., 1949-03-27

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wisdom of proclaiming a change
which history itself has made in
evitable? Until the development
of high-powered aviation, an at
tack on the United States had to
be made by sea and could therefore
be thwarted by the Navy, which in
a very real sense was the first line
OF defense. Also, there used to be
a large number of real military
powers in Europe. This is not true
IN the same sense today. The wall
between us and the SovietS does
not consist of large military estab-
lishments of European states.
Does Not Increase Risk
What can we lose by embarklng
on this North Atlantic pact and
these schemes for military aid to
Western Europe? Obviously, we
lose the time and treasure which
all these efforts cost. But do we
in any way increase the risk OF war
when we say that we will consult
with each other if armed attack
begins? Clearly we do not. l
submit that if there was an armed
attack on Western Europe that we
would not, could not and should
not sit idly by. We would. I am
sure, react, and hope, react with
effect.
When we agree to consult, there
fore, and to take such action as
we deem necessary, including the
use of armed force" We add
nothing to what we would have to
do in case of an armed attack
which might occur without a
treaty being in existence.
To put it another and better
way, the North Atlantic pact and
the proposed measures for military
aid may make it. unnecessary for
us ever to use this "Uniforce' about
which we talk, think and work so
much. do not believe am being
visionary.
Moreover. believe that if such
q consultative arrangement had
been in existence in 1914 that the
Kaiser would not have started
what we call World War I. be-
lieve that if such an arrangement
had been in existence in 1889
Hitler would not have started
World War H. I submit that the
arrangement (the North Atlantic
Security Pact) which we are now
considering, would not only make
it far more likely that we would
win a new war. if, tragically, it
did occur, but that it very much
lessons the likelihood that some
one will start World War III.
If it has this consequence. it will
indeed have been the cheapest
bottle of preventative medicine
that the American people ever
bought.
Marshall Awakened Us
It is almost four years since the
fighting in Europe stopped. Un-
fortunately, the ability which pro-
duced those armed forces and
gained a victory was not equaled
by our preparedness for the end
of hostilities. Our unpreparedness
for peace, coupled with nearly
complete prostration of Europe
created a vacuum. Into that
vacuum stepped the gaunt figure
of communism. apparently deter
mined to set up a goddess world
dictatorship.
Gen. Marshall's speech at Har-
ward in l947 awakened us. We
began to take the lead. 1t has
become an accepted bipartisan
American policy to favor the in
tegration of the countries of West
ern Europe. Those are the
countries in which the individual
is considered to be worth while.
and to be the master, rather than
the servant, of the state. We
favor the integration by economic,
by military and by political meth
ods. We encourage the elimina-
ton of tariff barriers in Europe.
We speak favorably of setting up
a unified European armed force.
We dream of a United States of
Europe. The order in which I
have stated these steps repre-
sents, I think, the order in which
they will come. Certainly the
political lntegration epitomized by
a United States of Europe is far
IN the future.
Recent steps have been taken
looking toward both economic
and military integration in West
ern Europe. 1t is to the latter
that I wish particularly to direct
attention. We Americans sup
port this movement toward in
tegration because we think it is
best for the nations of Europe,
best for us and, in the long run,
best for the world. if there arises
third force" of approximately
equal population and strength
with the two great world powers
of today-the United States and
Soviet Russia-such third
force" would contribute greatly to
world stability. The alternative
a Balkanized Europe-is certain
poverty and misery for the Euro
peans and the likelihood of war
AS separate little countries they
are at the mercy of an invader
United they would be a prosper
Gus and powerful organization OF
human beings.
Important Questions
The whole policy of our country
is directed toward avoiding war
But if war should come it is only
natural and proper for us to hope
that we would have some friends,
some allies who would be fighting
on our side. We shall not shirk
our duty or evade the obligation
OF giving everything we have to