Evening star., 1950-10-22
Hoover's Speech Praised
AS Busis for Peace
Writer,Soys Former Presidents
Views Should Be Popular
By Frank R. Kent

If we are not to drift steadily into an
impossible situation, it seems essential
that some one should clarity the collec-
tive mind of the American people as to
the international facts that now confront
us. Admirable in some respects as Mr..
Truman's San Francisco address was, he
gave neither a clear nor a complete pic
ture.
Yet there was never a time when
real understanding was more vital than
pow. That is why the speech of Herbert
Hoover on Thursday night ought to be
read by every citizen everywhere. Devoid
OF partisanship or any suspicion of per-
sonal ambition, by reason of his expert
ence and character, Mr.. Hoover Is one
OF the few men in the country whose
views carry weight with the people. re-
gardless of party. Calmly and clearly,
he reviewed the history of our Russian
relations from 1888 to now. Realistically,
he appraises our military weaknesses
and made certain suggestions, the sound
ness of which it seems difficult to dispute.
-Four Presidents and five Secretaries Of
State-Democrats and Republicans alike
prior to 1888 had refused to invite
Communist representatives into this
Nation on the ground that all Com
munists carried germs of conspiracy in
tended to turn America into a police
state, destroy all religious faiths. over
throw the freedom of men and the in
dependence of nations
Since 1888, American craftsmanship
became lost when it came to the borders
of communism. Mr.. Hoover reciteS
the acquiescenceS and appeasements Of
Russia after we entered the war in 1941
Moscow in 1943; Teheran month
later; Yalta in February, 1945, and Pots
dam in August of the same year. The
results Of 'tlost craftsmanship" in this
period are presented and documented.
So, too, is the lack of guns, men and ma
terial which now aff1ict our armed forces.
He speaks with enthusiasm of our indus
trial energies and of the brilliant per-
formance of Gen. Macarthur in Korea.
But, he points out, the great danger is in
the overrunning of Western Europe be-
fore adequate resistance can be or
ganiZed.
The time has come" Mr.. Hoover says,
when the American people should speak
out in much stronger tones than the dip
lomatic phrases of conference halls. We
should be willing to aid, but if Western
Europe wants defense from the Com
munists' tide they must do most of it
themselves-and do it fast. Some one
proposed that we at once increase our
forces in Europe to 10 combat divisions.
That would be only slaughter of Amer
lean boys unless many times that num-
ber were standing by their sides. We
should say. and at once, that we shall
provide no more money until definitely
unified and sufficient European army is
in sight"
Nor is such an army in Europe, even
with American forces, alone sufficient to
dull Kremlin ambition in Europe and
Asia-according to Mr.. Hoover. He re-
calls that five months ago, and again
three months ago. he urged that the
United Nations be so reorganized as to
permit the mobilization Of the non-Com-
munist world on military, economic and
moral lines to meet Soviet aggressions.
The impotency to which the Soviet vetoes
had reduced the United Nations made
this impossible
The step taken on Wednesday to
change the rules of the United Nations
by which Russian distractions within
that organization might be defeated is
applauded by Mr.. Hoover and is along
the lines suggested by him. ITO get ac-
ton" Mr.. Hoover now says, either the
potency of the United Nations under
Chapter VII should be so restored as to
take over real job. or. alternatively. we
should enlarge the North Atlantic Alli-
ance into a world alliance, which could
in this fashion implement Chapter VII
In either case we should ask all nations
who want to stop Russian aggression to
join-and to specify what they will join
with and when. We should further say
at once that the United States, with all
its resources. cannot long endure the
present drain on our economy" These
suggestions from Mr.. Hoover are bold
but concrete, specific and understand
able. They should get a very large and
favorable response from the American