Evening star., 1950-12-02
The Political Mill
Trumon's Fund Request
Lays 1t on the Line
Crisis Leaves U. S. No Choice
But to Be Prepared for War
The Political Mill
By Gould Lincoln

1lColuCIlG Ill ulCOodSS W
Congress requesting an additional
$4,000 100000 for the Department Of
Defense, has laid it on the line-this
country must prepare for a major war.
The only hope in the situation, as it now
appears, is that the Chinese Communists
may be convinced that withdrawal of
their forces in Korea is essential to world
peace. The President said I'VE see no
issue between the Chinese Communists
and the free nations, or between the
Soviet Union and the free nations, which
could not ne honorably solved by peace
full means"
The President, however, made it en-
tirely clear that the United Nations,
including the United States, have no
choice but to increase their military
strength very rapidly" He offered no
suggestion that there should be a with
drawal by the United Nations from the
task of making possible free Korea.
European Enigma.
The hitch, if there turns out to be
one, will come from the unwillingness
of the British and other European ma
tions to go along. The British Prime
Minister and his advisers will confer
"AeAA ACo4ACAlI IL uIk4d11 III W. WdSlll1lSIOI1
within few hours. What solution of
the situation, if any, Mr.. Attlee will
present to the President remains to be
learned, For many months the British
effort has been to bring about peaceful
arrangements with Communist China.
Britain took the plunge when it early
recognized the Communist government
there. Its hope. apparently, was that
fn1 Sfnf ell =
that the Red government in China would
be recognized and admitted to member
ship in the United Nations.
The Communist aggression in South
Korea, however. upset the applicant.
even had the United States Government
been willing to go along with the British
programmes it was reported at one time
to be. Largely through our leadership.
the United Nations committed itself to
resistance to the Communists in Korea.
Obviously state of war between the
Chinese Communists and the United
Nations exists today-although it has
not been so declared. And it is to meet
that situation that President Truman
has now called upon Congress to pro-
vide for greatly increased military
strength.
Congress Can Act Promptly.
1t is fortunate that Congress is in
session to act promptly upon the Presi-
dents latest recommendations. With
the country, as well as Congress- finally
alive to the need for drastic action and
perhaps all-out mobilization, the appro-
priations should be made without delay.
Republican leadership in Congress has
promised the fullest kind of cooperation
for national defense. Not only will the
money be appropriated, but plans are
now under way to amend the Selective
Service Act so as to make it possible
within the shortest possible time to
raise the military manpower of the Ma
ton to the point desired.
When the Korean war first broke out
last June steps were taken to increase
the armed forces of this country Many
warnings came from high officials Of
the Government that "thiS was 1.-THE
first step toward a third World War
and that this country was woefully
unprepared. At the time the military
manpower was million and half,
and since then it has been increased to
two million and a half The goal set
for the close of the present fiscal year
was two million eight hundred theu-
sand. Now, according to the President,
the sights must be raised. Certainly
there is no time to lose.
A Russian Chinese axis is formidable
one. So, at the time of opening of the
Second World War. was the German,
Italian and Japanese axis, with Russia
temporarily on that side. However, it
was destroyed militarily. The world
today. outside of the Iron Curtain coun-
tries. is threatened by this new axis.
and it must be ready to meet the threat.