Evening star., 1950-01-15

must assume that by spending
between five and six billion dol
lars in the next three years We
will provide the armies of our Al
lies with sufficient equipment for
them to put up actual resistance
to possible aggression.
When these American military
men are asked how they recon-
cile their optimism with the his
torical fact of the Nazi conquest
of Western Europe in 1940-when
81 French and British divisions
melted away under the attack by
much smaller German force
they reply that the situation was
different then. We had not COM
mitted ourselves to help the West
ern democracies before the defeat
occurred and the French felt
themselves hopelessly alone.
Our Defense Weak
Now that they know we are
committed to fight any aggressor,
they say, they will have a greater
inducement to fight. Thus, 1t Is
hoped that the Western armies
behind the Rhine will be able to
fight off a numerically stronger
Russian force with less than one
third Of the forces they had In
1910.
The neo-isolationists take this
with a grain Of salt. They ask
quite frankly what would happen
if the Russians. while holding"
the European front, decide to
strike directly at US through
Alaska, Greenland or Iceland.
None Of these vital strategic
points is prepared to Withstand
a Russian aggression.
At this time we have no ground
forces in Alaska. The reason is
that there is not enough money
to meet all our domestic require
ments and our international obli-
cations and at the same time
build houses for a minimum Of
one combat division in that Ter
ritory.
The neo-isolationists say that
in the event that Russia fools us
and strikes at the strategic posi-
tions which would bring their air
forces close to American territory
there is more than an even chance
that our Western European Allies
would protest, sympathize with US
and offer every conceivable moral
support. But no Western Euro
pean government would remain In
Office for half an hour If 1t at
tempted to live up to the provi-
sions of the Atlantic pact and
created diversion by striking
at the U. S. S. r. In Europe.
Hence. our neo-isolationists say,
we must be prepared to face the
music alone and rely only on our
own efforts. The fear that Russia
might attempt to strike directly
at us Is due to the fact that
America, it now is obvious, Is con-
sidered enemy No. of the Soviet
imperialism. II 1t had not been
for our Intervention Western
Europe might already be behind
the iron curtain. And II 1t had
not been for our unbelievable
policy in the Far East the q. s. s.
R. would not now be the domi-
mating power on the Asiatic main
land, free to do whatever she
likes in that area.
Congress to Speak Up
A strong, mont Communist China
would have been q thorn in the
side Of the Russians and would
have deferred any plans to use
Siberia as jumping of place If
the Kremlin decides to attack
America and bypass its Western
Allies.
The possibility that we will
have to fight the Soviet forces
alone is strong in the minds. Of
many people who now are called
neo-isolationists. Because OF that
possibility they believe that We
must start soon to pay far more
attention to the defense Of the
United States on its own soil than
to continue to throw our wealth,
which is not inexhaustible, about
in the world.
These views are likely to be
heard soon when Congress starts
to scrutinize the new budget, par
ticularly those sections containing
provision for the Marshall Plan
and military aid to Europe. Sec
retary of Defense johnson and
the senior officers of the Air Force
will be asked pertinent questions
as to whether they are able to
assume the defense of the United
States with the present 48 groups
provided for in the budget. The
Army will be asked whether it
can assume full responsibility for
defense of Alaska with the one
combat division it intends to send
there during the summer and
whether the three divisions avail.
able in the United States are suf-
f1cient to guarantee the country's
security IN the event Of Russian
aggression.
The Joint Chiefs Of Staff in all
probability will be asked whether
they are planning on physical help
from our Western European Allies
in the event of surprise attack.
A substantial improvement In
the actual defense of the United
States is demanded by many who
now are afraid that we are dis
sipating our substance abroad and
not providing for our own defense
IN case an aggressor by-passes
Western Europe. At this time, they
say, We are planning to fight an
other war exactly as If the German
strategy of World War II is to be
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