Evening star., 1949-07-12
The Political Mill
Taft Statement on Pact
Gives Admirers Shudders
Expect Senator to Be Plastered
With Label of Isolationist
Bv Gould Lincoln

~A
By Gould Lincoln
Senator Taft's fiat declaration he would
vote against the North Atlantic Pact sent
cold shivers down the backs of ardent ad-
mirers who hoped to see him nominated and
elected President in 1852. They see him
plastered with the label of isolationism. They
fear he will become, perforce. the leader Of
paciast forces-even though he may dis
avoW them
One Republican member of Congress. Q
great admirer of the Ohio Senator. exclaimed
with anguish in his voice when he learned
that Senator Taft had said he would vote
against the pact: Just when he had by
his great abilities placed himself in the FORE
front Of Republican presidential possibilities.
he kicks away his chances!" Others omi-
nously shook their heads-too many Repub-
lcanS. especially in the great coastal States,
have become strong internationalsts.
Mr.. Taft, however, with that courage for
which he has become famous, has taken his
stand on the treaty. He has never been one
to count the political cost to himself where
his convictions and principles were at odds
with mere vote getting. His statement to
the Senate was frank in the utmost. He
could not vote for the treaty; he believed
that it committed us to arm all the other
signatories to the pact, and that it would
bring war rather than peace.
Not Entirely q Surprise
The Taft decision to oppose the North
Atlantic Treaty was a shock, even though it
did not come entirely as a surprise. The
Senator has admitted in the past that he
had his doubts about the advisability Of
ratification of this treaty. Apparently these
doubts outweighed his desire to go along with
his many Republican colleagues who are
supporting the pact-including Senator
Vandenberg of Michigan, ranking Republic
can member of the Senate Foreign Relations
Committee.
In his address to the Senate, Mr. Taft
declared himself a firm supporter Of the
United Nations-which should in part, at
least. answer any charge of isolationism made
against him. He also showed himself en-
tirely willing to tell Communist Russia that
If Russia attacked Western Europe, Russia
would have to fight the United States-a
kind Of Monroe Doctrine for Western
Europe. But when it comes to signing on
the dotted line with the many implications
contained in the treaty binding this country
for 20 years, Mr.. Taft baked
Il would like to be able to vote for
policy that will commit us to war If Russia
attacks Western Europe" he said II would
be glad to join in an agreement to occupy
Germany indefinitely to guard against
third attack from that quarter can
11ot fOCc 1OI b CIcdIy WHICH, III opinion,
will do far more to bring about third
world war than it will ever maintain the
peace Of the world"
Encouragement to Reds
An unfortunate consequence Of Mr.. Taft's
announcement is the encouragement of Com
munist Russia and other nations to believe
that the American people are again sadly
divided on the question Of foreign policy.
They see an acknowledged leader Of the Re-
publican Party breaking strongly with the
administration.
With the detection Of Senator Taft, the
opposition to the treaty in the Senate may
swell to Is or 20 votes when the roll is
| called. Senators who have wavered on the
issue already have been definitely impressed
by his strong statement, and the position he
has taken. = --
Mr.. Taft must run for reelection to the
Senate next year. Presumably the North
Atlantic Treaty will have been in effect for
| year by election day. In Ohio, Senator
Taft's stand on the treaty may be no issue
at all, provided that things are moving
along on an even keel. On the other hand.
II there IS tough going, If the arms program
is costing the taxpayers lot of money,
Senator Taft might benefit from his stand.
And If there were war or threat of immediate
war, he might be politically sunk
What isolationist sentiment remains in
| the country will hail the decision of Senator
Taft. They will see only his antitreaty vote.
and forget the fact that he has repeatedly
stood strongly for international cooperation
and still does.
Senator Taft's stand on the treaty brings
him squarely into opposition again with his
| old antagonist, Gov. Dewey of New York
| emphasized by the fact that John Foster
| Dulles. recently appointed Senator from the
| Empire State-is strongly supporting the
| treaty and will vote for it.